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Gooder’n Grits

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "gooder’n grits" means something is very good, excellent, or highly pleasing. It’s a playful, folksy comparison that elevates whatever’s being praised by stacking it up against grits - a Southern staple.

#SouthernSayings   #Appalachia   #FoodandDrink   #Southern

Pronunciation

[GOOD-er ’n grits]

Meaning & Usage

- Very good; excellent (adjective phrase)

At the table
Mae:
How’s that pie?

Earl:
It’s gooder’n grits.

- High praise in country talk (figurative)

Braggin’ on a friend
Mae:
Ain’t he somethin’?

Earl:
He’s gooder’n grits, that’s for sure.

other spellings: better than grits
★ Using "gooder" isn’t a mistake here - it’s playful dialect. Folks lean into it on purpose to sound country and colorful. ★

Origin

Draws from two pieces of Southern/Appalachian speech: 1. "Gooder" - a nonstandard comparative used in rural dialect and child-speech. 2. "Grits" - a Southern staple food, seen as plain, wholesome, and dependable. Together, it forms a humorous, down-home expression of strong approval.

Notes

Still heard in Southern storytelling, family talk, and humorous praise. It carries a strong regional flavor and is less common outside the South, though it’s understood widely.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "good-er ’n grits." The "than" is shortened to "’n."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "gooder’n grits" mean literally better than grits?
Not exactly - it’s a figurative way to say "very good."
Is it old or modern?
Old - documented in Southern dialect collections from the mid-20th century.
Do people still use it today?
Yes - though often with a smile, since it’s playful and old-fashioned.
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