Yooperisms

There are certain phrases that you only hear in the U.P. This is just a handful but some of my favorites.

Holy wah! - Loosely defined as utter surprise, or inexplicable joy and rapture. It’s the Yooper derivative of Holy Cow, Holy Mackerel, Holy Smoke, Holy Moley, and other similar holies.

Pank - To “pank” in Yooper-speak means to firmly press down on something, be it snow, dirt or anything else that is compressible. Why we call it “panking” we don’t know, and technically it is not defined this way in the dictionary.

Yooper Scooper - This snow moving implement is basically a really deep shovel with a u-shaped handle that you push rather than lift. It works like a charm and probably moves 4-6 square feet of snow in one scoop.

Trolls - The affectionate term Yoopers have for “those who live below the (Mackinac) bridge” in that lower peninsula of Michigan.

Tech Toot - This is a term coined back in the 1960s-70s to identify a student at Michigan Technological University. Because the school specializes in engineering (e.g., trains, planes and automobiles, among other things), I presume the toot of an engine was the origin of the name. It’s rarely used anymore, just like the old heavy canvas book bags with leather straps that were popular during the same period.

Timmies - A “timmy” refers to someone who is afraid (timid) to cross the Mackinac Bridge. Did you know that dozens of people are chauffeured daily across the bridge because they are too nervous to be behind the wheel for the crossing? The Mackinac Bridge Authority has a Drivers Assistance Program available 24/7 to provide drivers for all vehicle types.

And in the spirit of summer…

The song Escanaba Girls - For those who grew up in the 1980s, you’ll remember this tune, a take-off of the famous Beach Boys song “California Girls.” The song started in downstate Michigan but really put Escanaba and Yooper girls on the map.

One of my favorite yooperisms: Holy wah!