The United States of America has 50 States spread out throughout a vast country. Each corner of every region has spectacular features which makes each area unique. Each state has unique sayings and phrases that distinguish them from one another. Among some of these unique phrases, are what Michiganders can’t resist saying.
Michigan was officially founded in late January back in 1837, after Congress awarded the “Toledo Strip” to Ohio and Michigan the Upper Peninsula. This is when Michigan officially entered the Union as a State. As Michigan had still existed before 1837, it was just technically considered a territory until then. Interestingly enough, it was around this time that the Ohio and Michigan rivalry began.
7 Phrases Michiganders Can’t Resist Saying
The Michigan Government and citizens alike were largely upset to give Ohio the “Strip of Toledo” as this was seen as a major port at that time. It was strongly believed that whichever state controlled this port, would prosper greatly. As these territories now separated, they were officially Michigan and Ohio. This set the region as well as the accents and unique words along with it!
Phrases That People Say
Some people around the U.S. always talk about the mountains, or the ocean, or how bad traffic is. While traffic could be talked about in any busy city throughout the United States. Every state has a few things that only it’s residents say. A Lot of these phrases and sayings get used so much on a daily basis.
Eventually, all of these phrases have become a part of everyday normal conversation between locals. When certain topics come up in Michigan, Michiganders can’t resist saying these phrases! From “The U.P.” to the “Bridge” we Michiganders can’t resist the urge to say these phrases. Find out which 7 phrases Michiganders can’t stop saying below. Also try to keep track of how many of these you say on the daily!
“Give it 10 minutes, it will change”
Kids take dip in Lake Michigan as thunderstorm clouds approach Chicago on Aug. 10, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
If you’re from Michigan odds are you have heard or even said this. This phrase directly has to do with our weather. I cannot keep track of how many times I’ve heard this in the great Mitten State. Whether it’s rain or shine, this phrase applies.
“Ope”
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 13: A customer shops at a grocery store on February 13, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
For some reason, hardly anyone in Michigan says “oh my bad” when they accidentally get cut off inside the grocery store. Millions of Michganders find themselves saying “Ope” instead. This phrase acts as both a “oh” and “my bad” lumped into one.
“Well the weatherman is never right”
February 13: Morning walkers disappear into the big fat snowflakes in the snow storm. (Photo by Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
I swear every time there is a winter storm being forecasted, nobody ever believes it and yet somehow, they still do. Either the weatherman predicts too little snow or too much, but they can never be right. Of course, this is just the belief truth be darned to Michiganders!
“Up North”
Nearly anytime Michiganders talk about a location North of Saginaw, “Up North” tends to get used here. There is an internal debate on where exactly the starting point for “Up North” truly is. The important part is if you’re talking about a cabin on a lake somewhere North of where you live, “Up North” get used in conversation here!
Cozy Modern Cabins office Manistique Michigan ca. 1980. (Photo by: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“Secretary of State”
Interestingly enough, the term “Secretary of State” for how Michiganders use it, is rather unique to us. The majority of U.S. States apparently just refer to it as “The DMV” or the “Department of Motor Vehicles”.
The Florida DMV office in Miami. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issued a memo last Friday telling county tax collectors to no longer allow people to update their gender identities on drivers licenses and to prove that the gender on the license is the person’s biological sex using “supporting documents,” records show. (Monique O. Madan/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“Michigan Left”
This term has completely replaced this phrase “U-Turn” in this state. I think it’s safe to say no other state residents are using the term “Michigan Left” when they’re talking about left turns onto one-way streets.
A stop sign and a new no left turn sign guide the flow of traffic on a New York City street. (Photo by Tony Savino/Corbis via Getty Images)
“How are the roads?”
February 13: There was little traffic on roads as the snow storm came in.
Anytime it snows or even rains in Michigan, everyone instinctively asks people they run into “how are the roads”. As someone who has worked in retail, even if I don’t care, I have caught myself asking numerous customers “how are the roads” even if I heard the same answer 10 times!
