That Really Creams My Corn

That really creams my corn means that really irritates me. Even though it sounds like down-home Southern talk, the expression is *not* originally Southern or Appalachian. It is best understood as a modern, humorous euphemism built around food imagery.

#Southernish

synonyms: that burns me up, that gets under my skin, that rubs me the wrong way, that ticks me off

Hillbilly Dude Says...

"Whew. That right there? That just about creams my corn. Makes me wanna set my glasses down real careful and count to ten."

Hillbilly Dude Says...

"Whew. That right there? That just about creams my corn. Makes me wanna set my glasses down real careful and count to ten."

Pronunciation

[that REE-lee KREEMZ my KORN]
/ðæt ˈriːli kriːmz maɪ kɔrn/

Meaning & Usage

- Irritates or annoys

Mae:

He left the gate open again.

Earl:

Lord, that really creams my corn.

- Playful, clean substitute for stronger language

June:

You okay?

Cal:

I’m fine. I’m just sayin’-that kinda creams my corn, is all.

variations: that creams my corn, that sure creams my corn, it really creams my corn

★ This one is best delivered with a grin. It’s a clean way to vent without gettin’ ugly about it. ★

Origin

"That really creams my corn" is a modern, humorous complaint phrase built from everyday food imagery-specifically "creamed corn." It functions as a light, family-friendly euphemism for being annoyed, especially in situations where a speaker wants to avoid harsher or more profane wording. Because it uses a distinctly "country kitchen" image and follows the rhythm of older rural-style complaints, many people assume it is a traditional Southern saying. However, it is not historically tied to Southern or Appalachian speech communities and is better treated as a broadly American, novelty-style euphemism that happens to sound Southern.

Verdict: Southernish. A country-flavored complaint that fits Southern tone, but wasn’t preserved as a genuine Southern dialect phrase.

Notes

Meant to be used for mild frustration rather than serious anger.
Often chosen as a clean alternative to stronger language.
Sounds Southern because of food imagery and folksy rhythm, but it is not historically Southern in origin.

Common Questions

Is "that really creams my corn" a real Southern saying?

It sounds Southern and may be said in the South, but it is not historically Southern in origin.

What does it mean?

It means something really irritates or annoys you.

Is it crude?

No. It is generally used as a clean, humorous euphemism.

When would someone use it?

When they want to complain lightly without using harsh or profane language.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 21). That Really Creams My Corn. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/that-really-creams-my-corn
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "That Really Creams My Corn." HillbillySlang.com, 21 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/that-really-creams-my-corn.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "That Really Creams My Corn." HillbillySlang.com. December 21, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/that-really-creams-my-corn.