10 Hilarious Sayings You’ll Only Hear in Florida

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10 Hilarious Sayings You’ll Only Hear in Florida

Florida’s mix of sunshine, swamps, hurricanes, and an eccentric cast of characters has inspired plenty of strange, funny, and uniquely Floridian sayings. If you spend any time in the Sunshine State, you’ll likely hear some of these gems. Here are 10 hilarious sayings you’ll probably encounter—and what they mean.

1. “It’s a Florida thing, you wouldn’t understand.”

A favorite response when someone from out of state questions the many quirks of Florida living, from local wildlife to wacky headlines.

2. “Quit your gator mouth!”

A playful way to tell someone to stop talking back or being sassy, referencing the state’s most famous reptile—the alligator.

3. “The hurricane shuffle.”

A riff on Floridians’ storm preparations, describing the flurry of activity at grocery stores and gas stations as everyone gets ready for an impending hurricane.

4. “You’re acting like a manatee.”

Manatees, Florida’s iconic sea cows, are known for being slow and chill. Calling someone a manatee is a lighthearted way to call them lazy or slow-moving.

5. “No rain, no raindrops.”

A phrase to shrug off Florida’s infamous quick rain showers or comment on its disappearing rain, which sometimes leaves everything dry minutes later.

6. “That’s as Florida as orange juice and sunscreen.”

A tongue-in-cheek way to describe anything quintessentially Floridian, whether it’s about the weather, fashion, or the culture of leisure.

7. “Don’t Florida my Florida.”

A humorous warning to outsiders not to disrupt the state’s unique character or bring more chaos, often used with a wink when referencing typical Florida antics.

8. “It’s hotter than a Tampa tea kettle.”

This saying highlights Florida’s notoriously sweltering heat, especially during the peak of summer—a local exaggeration with a splash of regional pride.

9. “You Florida’d it.”

Used when someone makes an unusual decision or does something only a Floridian would do. It’s a badge of honor for embracing the state’s weirdness.

10. “Beach hair, don’t care.”

A breezy expression for the untamed, sun-bleached, wind-blown hair that every Floridian gets after a day on the coast—and a reminder of the state’s laid-back lifestyle.

Florida Sayings Quick Reference Table

SayingWhat It Means
“It’s a Florida thing, you wouldn’t understand.”Local quirkiness defies explanation.
“Quit your gator mouth!”Stop being sassy or loud.
“The hurricane shuffle.”Frenzy before hurricanes.
“You’re acting like a manatee.”Calm or lazy like a manatee.
“No rain, no raindrops.”Weather changes quickly; don’t worry.
“That’s as Florida as orange juice and sunscreen.”Uniquely Floridian traits.
“Don’t Florida my Florida.”Don’t make the state weirder—playful warning.
“It’s hotter than a Tampa tea kettle.”Emphasizing extreme heat.
“You Florida’d it.”Did something crazy, Floridian-style.
“Beach hair, don’t care.”Embracing a relaxed coastal look.

Florida sayings capture the wild, wacky, and warm character of the state and its people—embrace them, and you’ll sound like a local in no time!

Sources

[1] https://intrepidquips.com/florida-captions-and-quotes/
[2] https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/florida-slang-terms
[3] https://www.movoto.com/guide/fl/florida-words/
[4] https://www.clickorlando.com/features/2023/12/22/parked-in-goofy-do-you-know-any-of-this-florida-slang/
[5] https://www.wattpad.com/1282296025-writing-tips-florida-slang-terms

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