Fixin’ To, Right Quick, and Directly Hillbilly Ways of Talking About Time

Three of the most common time-markers in Appalachian and hillbilly talk are:

• Fixin’ to → about to, intending to
• Right quick → fast, in a hurry
• Directly → sometime soon, eventually

Each one carries its own shade of meaning, and locals know the difference.

When somebody says they’re "fixin’ to," it means they’re preparing or intending to do something soon. It doesn’t mean they’re literally fixing anything - it’s just the hillbilly way of saying "about to."

Outsiders sometimes laugh at it, but it’s deeply rooted. Scots-Irish settlers often used "fix" to mean "prepare," and the phrase stuck around in Appalachian English.

"Right quick" means in a hurry, fast, or without much delay. You’ll hear it in sentences like "I’ll be back right quick" or "Run over to the store right quick." It’s a way of stressing speed without sounding rushed or panicked.

Here’s the one that confuses outsiders the most. "Directly" in Appalachian talk does not mean immediately. It means "after a while," or "in a little bit." It’s a flexible promise - you’ll get to it when you get to it.

That’s why a local might say "I’ll tend to it directly," and you shouldn’t expect it in the next five minutes.

Together, these phrases paint a picture of Appalachian time - more relaxed, more rooted in speech than in clocks. They show how language shapes expectations. A "fixin’ to" is urgent, "right quick" is speedy, and "directly" could stretch on for hours.