Ah, the cowboy—the rough and tumble, no-nonsense symbol of American grit, freedom, and independence. He didn’t just ride the open range; he also had a way with words that could be sharper than a spurred boot in the ribs. But let’s be real—cowboys weren’t exactly pulling out dictionaries in between roping steers and chewing on jerky. Their lingo came from the land, from experience, and, let’s be honest, probably a little too much time sitting around the campfire.
Back in 1936, a fella named Ramon Adams decided cowboy talk was too good to be lost to the dust, so he put together Cowboy Lingo, a book that rounded up all the colorful phrases used by the bronc-busting, cattle-driving legends of the West. Cowboys were known for their metaphors—why just say “calm down” when you could tell someone to “pull in your horns” like an aggravated bull? Makes things more fun, doesn’t it?
We have an original copy of Cowboy Lingo in our Library.
These phrases weren’t just for laughs, though. They carried the spirit of the range, the unspoken codes of cowboy honor, and a sense of humor that could get a fella through the toughest of times. Some of these sayings have ridden their way into modern speech—ever heard of “the whole shebang” or “blue lightnin’”? Yep, that’s cowboy talk. And then there are the gems that deserve a revival, like describing someone as “lonely as a preacher on pay night” or “crooked as a snake in a cactus patch.” Now that’s storytelling!
So if you are thinking of impressing us at our next Western movie night at the Western Star (your choice—Blazing Saddles or City Slickers …), gearing up for a night in the bunkhouse in The Barn, or just looking to add a little #cowboy to your vocabulary, these cowboy phrases are sure to come in handy. After all, a well-placed “much obliged” never hurt anybody. So don’t just sit there barkin’ at a knot (wasting time), get a wiggle on (hurry up) and start talking!
Above Board – Somethin’ that’s honest and legitimate. “Ain’t no cheatin’ at this here poker table – every deal’s above board, ‘cept maybe the way Randy keeps winnin’.”
Ace-High – Top-notch, first-class. “That margarita was ace-high, partner—strong enough to make a man weep and start weaving as a prairie breeze.”
All Hat and No Cattle – A big talker with nothin’ to back it up. “Bill says he can ride like the wind, but that fella’s all hat and no cattle—nearly fell off the hitchin’ post.”
Barn Sour – When a horse only wants to head home. “Tried to take ol’ Bessie out for a ride, but she’s barn sour as a preacher at a saloon.”
Bellyaching – Complaining. “Quit yer bellyachin’ and saddle up—we ain’t gettin’ to Bishop’s Castle by sittin’ here talkin’ about our sore behinds.”
Fixin’ To – Gettin’ ready to do somethin’. “I’m fixin’ to show you the rest of the ranch—right after I finish this piece of pie.”
Howdy – The classic cowboy greetin’. “Howdy, stranger! If you’re lookin’ for trouble, you best turn that pickup around ‘fore I introduce you to my six-shooter.”
Jawing – Talkin’ too much. “Old Jim was jawin’ so much ‘bout his rodeo days, I reckon the campfire burned out just listenin’ to him.”
Tarnation – A cowboy’s way of sayin’ “What in the world?!” “Tarnation! That coyote just ran off with my boot—now I gotta hop my way home.”
Tenderfoot – A newbie, a greenhorn. “That tenderfoot tried gittin’ on the ATV from the wrong side—looked like a cat tryin’ to dance in a rainstorm.”
That Dog Won’t Hunt – That idea just ain’t gonna work. “Tryin’ to teach a mule to square dance? Son, that dog won’t hunt.”
Too Much Mustard – Braggin’ too much. “Jake’s got too much mustard, tellin’ tales ‘bout ropin’ a tornado—I’d be more impressed if he could rope a sawhorse without landin’ on his face.”
Yee-Haw! – A cowboy’s cry of excitement. “Yee-haw! That ride nearly threw me into next week, but I stayed on long enough to enjoy the view.”
Varmint – A pest or troublemaker. “That little varmint done stole my trail mix! Ain’t no justice when a tenderfoot eats better than me.”
Yellow-Belly – A coward. “Bart turned yellow-belly when it came time to hike to the top of the Greenhorn—ran faster than a jackrabbit in a brush fire.”
Wobblin’ Jaw – A talker who don’t know when to stop. “Uncle Jerry’s a wobblin’ jaw—gave a whole speech ‘bout the trail mix bar like he was askin’ for refills.”
A Hog-Killin’ Time – A real good time. “We had a hog-killin’ time at Ranch Camp—beer was flowin’, jaws were flappin’, and somehow my boots ended up in the trees.”
A Lick and a Promise – Doin’ a job halfway. “You call that cleanin’ the barn? Looks like you gave it a lick and a promise—mostly a promise.”
Above Snakes – Alive and well. “I might be dusty, bruised, and smell like a longhorn, but I’m still above snakes, so I reckon I’ll survive.”
Burn the Breeze – Ride at full speed. “Jim burned the breeze gettin’ to the Road House when he heard Randy was makin’ margarita’s.”
Chew Gravel – Fall off a mountain bike. “Tried to ride down the trail like a showman—ended up chewin’ gravel like a fool.”
Fit to Be Tied – Mad as a hornet. “Julie was fit to be tied when she found out I used her sweatshirt to wipe off the seats in the side-by-side.”
Get a Wiggle On – Hurry up. “Get a wiggle on, or we’ll be settin’ up the s’mores with the coyotes.”
Pull in Your Horns – Back off, settle down. “You best pull in your horns, son, ‘fore you find yourself lookin’ up from the dirt.”
Rode Hard and Put Up Wet – Lookin’ rough. “Ol’ Hank came back from the hike lookin’ rode hard and put up wet—guess the altitude won that round.”
There ya go, partner! Now you got yourself a proper cowboy vocabulary—use ‘em wisely, or at least use ‘em often!
