Straight as a Row of Corn
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "straight as a row of corn" means perfectly straight, upright, or lined up neatly-just like rows of corn in a well-tended field.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Straight as a row of corn' is one that has variations depending on the region. And may be a little more old timers. Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Straight as a row of corn' is one that has variations depending on the region. And may be a little more old timers. Pronunciation
[STRAYT as uh ROE uh CORN] /streɪt əz ə roʊ ə kɔːrn/
Meaning & Usage
- Perfectly upright posture (simile/adjective phrase)
Mae:
He’s got military posture.
He’s got military posture.
Earl:
Yep-straight as a row of corn.
Yep-straight as a row of corn.- Neatly aligned objects or people (simile/adjective phrase)
Mae:
The teacher lined ’em up for a picture.
The teacher lined ’em up for a picture.
Earl:
They’re straight as rows of corn out there.
They’re straight as rows of corn out there.variations: lined up like rows of corn, straight as an arrow, straight as a fence post, lined up like soldiers
★ In farm country, straight rows meant skill and pride. This simile draws on that everyday image to describe anything precisely aligned or standing tall. ★
Origin and Etymology
Recorded in Appalachian oral histories, Kentucky/Tennessee farm memoirs, and Southern dialect writing. Reflects the rural culture of row-crop farming where "straight rows" symbolized diligence and order.
Usage Notes
Common in rural Southern/Appalachian speech but understandable anywhere. Outside the region it may sound folksy or poetic, but the imagery is clear.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "straight" often clips to "strayt"; "of" is usually "uh." "Corn" may sound like "carn."
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