Butter My Buns and Call Me a Biscuit

Butter my buns and call me a biscuit is a Southernish expression meaning "that's amazing" or "ain’t that something." It’s a playful, exaggerated exclamation of surprise or delight that sounds richly Southern but traces to modern humor. Authentic options include 'Well, I'll Be,' 'I Declare,' 'Hush Your Mouth,' and other exclamations.

#Southernish

synonyms: well I’ll be, ain’t that something, land sakes, I’ll be darned

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I definitely never heard 'butter my buns and call me a biscuit' growin' up - much too blue for Appalachia.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I definitely never heard 'butter my buns and call me a biscuit' growin' up - much too blue for Appalachia.

Pronunciation

[BUH-duhr mah BUNZ
an cawl mee a BISK-it]
/ˈbʌdər ma bʌnz ən kɔːl mi ə ˈbɪskɪt/

Meaning & Usage

- Exclamation of surprise or delight

Mae:

You mean you done fixed that tractor already?

Roy:

Well, butter my buns and call me a biscuit! I sure did.

variations: well butter my buns and call me a biscuit, left off butter my buns and call me a biscuit

★ When you hear this one, somebody’s either mighty surprised pleased-and smilin’ big. It’s a fun way to sound Southern without takin’ yourself too serious. ★

Origin

Although it sounds like something from an old diner counter, this saying is modern, appearing mainly in novelty décor, memes, and humorous writing since the early 2000s. Its charm lies in its rhythm and imagery-tying biscuits and butter, Southern staples, to good-natured surprise.

Verdict: Modern and humorous; Southernish rather than authentically Southern.

Notes

Used lightheartedly to show amusement, surprise, or delight.
Most common in humorous writing, novelty merchandise, and casual conversation mimicking Southern speech.
Rarely found in traditional dialect collections or older literature.
Effective as a modern folk-style exclamation that "sounds Southern."

Common Questions

What does "butter my buns and call me a biscuit" mean?

It means "Well, I’ll be!" or "Ain’t that something!"-a comic way to show surprise or amusement.

Is this a real Southern saying?

Not historically. It’s a modern phrase that borrows the sound and imagery of Southern speech.

When did it start being used?

Most examples appear from the 2000s onward, in novelty contexts and online humor.

Why biscuits?

Biscuits are iconic in Southern food culture, making them perfect for a tongue-in-cheek, down-home metaphor.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 18). Butter My Buns and Call Me a Biscuit. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/butter-my-buns-and-call-me-a-biscuit
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Butter My Buns and Call Me a Biscuit." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/butter-my-buns-and-call-me-a-biscuit.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Butter My Buns and Call Me a Biscuit." HillbillySlang.com. October 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/butter-my-buns-and-call-me-a-biscuit.

...