Florida has plenty of strange stories, though it turns out that the state’s jargon is equally weird — at least, according to a study last month by Preply.
The study examined slang from each state in the U.S. to determine which ones were best understood by Americans at large.
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Florida ranked No. 14 on the list for the phrase “jiffy feet,” which means a person with dirty feet due to not wearing shoes. However, only around 40% of people knew what the term actually meant.
In fact, around 43% of respondents thought it meant having talented dance moves, the study states.
According to The Jaxson, the term originated due to a convenience store chain in Florida called Huntley’s Jiffy Food Stores — often shortened to “Jiffy” — which would sometimes be frequented by customers walking barefoot.
Meanwhile, the top 10 states with the most misunderstood phrases can be found below:
| Rank | State | Phrase | What most respondents thought it meant | What the phrase actually means | % of incorrect answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | “Taverns” | Bar/Club | A Sloppy Joe sandwich | 88.18% |
| 2 | Maine | “Right Out Straight” | Telling the truth | Being very busy | 85.15% |
| 3 | Mississippi | “Carry” | To have a gun on your person | To drive someone | 75.67% |
| 4 | New York | “Grill” | To ask a lot of questions | Staring rudely | 74.51% |
| 5 | California | “Gnarly” | Slang for the word “cool” | Used to described large waves in the ocean | 73.64% |
| 6 | Kentucky | “Dirty Bird” | A derogatory insult | Slang for KFC | 71.78% |
| 7 | Hawaii | “Grinds” | Slang for someone who works hard every day | Food or a meal out | 70.01% |
| 8 | Montana | “Borrow Pit” | A donation box | A ditch alongside the ride | 69.15% |
| 9 | Missouri | “Put Out” | Vulgar way of saying you agree to something sensual | You are angry | 66.65% |
| 10 | Colorado | “Blucifer” | A blue devil | The blue mustang sculpture outside the Denver International Airport | 64.02% |
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