Comments on: Boy Howdy

By: Lynnie

Lynnie — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:51:41 +0000

Have heard “Boy howdy!” shouted in southern churches as a synonym to “Amen!” (In churches with particularly rowdy “amen corners”.)

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:29:48 +0000

This is definitely a Southernism. I’ve heard it used often by people from all over the Deep South — Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and those parts of North Florida that are still Southern. It is simiilar in some ways to “I heard that!” I would characterize it as a conversational intensifier, indicating emphatic agreement or underscoring a point. I’ve also heard a variant used in Southern rodeo circles: “Boy howdy and jam your hat on tight!” This phrase is used to indicate the anticipation of trouble or difficulty. Cowboy #1: “I heard Billy Bob spent the rent money on his entry fee — you think his wife’ll be mad?” #2: “Boy howdy and jam your hat on tight!” #1: “I heard that!”

By: Roswell

Roswell — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 06:25:23 +0000

My brain hurts, but I get it now…. Thank you:)

By: bob

bob — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:47:54 +0000

“Boy Howdy!” as a response reminds me of the phrase “And how!” I wonder if there is a connection there, that would have been an intermediate stage, such as “Did that hurt?” –> “Boy! And how did it!”

And “Man!” has the same usage as “Boy!” to emphasize what follows. Never heard “Girl!” though.

By: Jim Brown

Jim Brown — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:04:58 +0000

This term is used sarcastically in response to a slow thinker’s revelation of a pretty obvious fact: “Well, Boy Howdy!”