We locals have a special way of talking that may seem like a foreign language. Get acquainted with these nine silly sayings so you can keep up with the conversation.

Keep this list as a handy guide to translating Illinois speak. Check it out:

1. "Meet me in the washroom."
Flickr/tszchungwing
While it may sound like we're talking about a laundry room or something, what we actually mean is the bathroom or restroom. You do wash your hands in there...
2." Want a cheese toasty?"
Wikimedia Commons/Mack Male
One of the Midwest's silly sayings is calling a grilled cheese a cheese toasty. Not everyone knows what this means and people are often confused.
3. "How about a horseshoe?"
Flickr/ryan harvey
Why would anyone want a horseshoe, you might ask? True Illinoisans know that they've just been offered a delicacy. This open-face sandwich is to die for.
4. "Grab your gym shoes."
Pixabay/modi74
Even when you aren't actually going to the gym, these are your gym shoes. You might know them better as sneakers or tennis shoes.

Related Stories

Enjoy A Picture-Perfect Weekend In The Windy City When You Visit Chicago’s CitizenM Hotel

Enjoy A Picture-Perfect Weekend In The Windy City When You Visit Chicago’s CitizenM Hotel

 This Speakeasy Hidden Below A Restaurant In Illinois Is Perfect For A Date Night

This Speakeasy Hidden Below A Restaurant In Illinois Is Perfect For A Date Night

 7 Waterfront Retreats In Illinois That Are Perfect For Warm Weather Adventures

7 Waterfront Retreats In Illinois That Are Perfect For Warm Weather Adventures
5. "Knee high by the Fourth of July."
Wikimedia Commons/Illustratedjc
This is one of those silly sayings that really places Illinois in the Midwest. We know how to tell whether or not the corn crop is going to be good this year.
6. "My skeeter bite is itching."
Wikimedia Commons/JJ Harrison
Skeeter is short for mosquito. It likely started as something we all said as kids, and it just stuck.
7. "With jimmies on it."
Flickr/Amy
You'll hear this one at the local ice cream stand, especially from those who have been around for more than half a century. It's just sprinkles.
8. "Let's go to the city."
Public Domain Pictures/Petr Kratochvil
What city? In Illinois it's pretty obvious that Chicago is the largest city, so some just call it "the city."
9. "Someone's salty."
Flickr/Graeme Maclean
This is a phrase that means someone is upset, usually over something trivial. For instance, if your brand new iPhone hit the ground and broke, you'd be pretty irritated, but you can fix it.

Next to not being familiar with how we talk here, there are 12 more big mistakes you don’t want to make as a tourist in Illinois.

What other silly sayings are native to Illinois? Share your phrases with us!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles