   Aways AgoIn Southern and Appalachian speech, "aways ago" means a while ago or a long time back. It’s a regional variation that compresses "a while ago" into a shorter, more natural phrase. synonyms: a while ago, some time back, long ago Hillbilly Dude Says...  I've heard and said 'aways ago' all my life, it's a common one out in the country. Hillbilly Dude Says... I've heard and said 'aways ago' all my life, it's a common one out in the country. Pronunciation[uh-WAYZ uh-go] /əˈweɪz əˌɡoʊ/ Meaning & Usage- A while back; some time ago (expression)
Hazel:
Didn’t we see him at the fair?
Earl:
Yeah, that was aways ago.variations: always ago, a ways ago, a'ways ago ★ Though sometimes written as "always ago" in dialect notes, the authentic spoken form is "aways ago." ★ Origin and EtymologyThe phrase developed in Southern and Appalachian dialects as a colloquial shortening of "a while ago." It has been noted in regional speech since at least the early 20th century, though rarely printed outside of dialect writing or fiction. Usage Notes
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