Quote:
Originally Posted by BookishDreamer
"Fixing to" (or "fixin' ta" in true Southern drawl) is the one that gets me.
"Have you finished yet?"
"Fixin' to."
I've never understood how you can be "fixing" to do anything! And I've lived in the South my entire life.
Dreamer
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I have been castigated on this one as well (mostly by Yankees - not to be confused with what the Brits call Yanks). I think it drives from "fixing oneself up" as in putting on nice clothes, jewelry, and makeup (as may be required based on gender). So when you are getting ready to go out for a nice evening, you are "fixing" to go (out for the evening). From there it evolved into "getting ready to go", and then stating that "I'm going". Not really much different that the phrase, "I'm going to go to town now." which seems more acceptable to some living north of here.
But remember I am just an engineer, not a linguist, and fixin' to be retired soon.