I recently used the phrase “dress my feet,” in front of someone from Louisiana, and they had no idea what I was talking about and had never heard the phrase. Are people from other areas unfamiliar with this phrase and use something different?

49 comments

1. That’s definitely a new one for me. I’d just say I’m putting shoes on.

   It’d take me a second but I think I’d understand it.

2. I was born in south carolina, spent a lot of my youth in the south, traveled for many years throughout new england, and the midwest, and settled in Los Angeles for the last eleven years, and nowhere in my travels did I ever hear someone use this term.

3. I’m from the PNW and I would assume you were putting bandages on your foot wounds.

4. I’m from California and have never heard “dress my feet.”

5. Never heard it phrased that way. Not difficult to figure out what you mean it just seems odd.

   There’s no particular phrase it’d just be “let me get my socks and shoes and I’ll be ready” or some such depending on the scenario.

6. Never heard that before

7. Do you dress your feet before or after you dress your butt and arms?

8. Never said in New England.

9. I think this is a “you” thing.

10. I’ve never come across that saying my whole life

11. Never heard that before

12. That sounds like you have blisters needing attention.

13. From NC and I’ve been In the Midwest for years. Never heard this phrase outside of referring to bandages.

14. I have never heard that in my life.

15. Never heard this in my life

16. Never heard this phrase before. I grew up in the Mid-Atlantic and I have a lot of family in the NYC area.

17. I would probably ask you if you had trenchfoot

18. No, I’ve never heard that. I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone say they’re dressing a given body part unless they’re referring to bandages.

    Do you also say you’re dressing your legs when you put on pants? Or is this only for feet?

19. I guess I understand it but nobody I know says that.

    Neither the southerners around me nor my midwestern relatives

20. I’m from NY and have never heard this phrase.

21. That’s not something I’ve ever heard.

22. From NY, live in NJ. Never heard this phrase.

23. Life long New Englander (saying to point out not far from NY) and have never heard this term

24. Alabama here. Would 100 percent think you were talking about putting bandages on your feet. We’d say, “let me put some shoes on” or something similar.

25. Midwest checking in: never heard that phrase before, and we love phrases

26. I’ve lived in NJ almost all my life and I’ve never heard this phrase.

27. Never heard that phrase before. Ever.

28. From TX, also lived in CA for three years. Never heard this phrase. I just say “get my shoes.” The putting them on part is implied.

29. I think you’re making this up.

30. My dad is from Rochester my sister has lived in Syracuse most of her life and I’ve never heard this ever

31. I grew up in Oswego county and have never heard that.

32. 38 years on the planet, never heard that one before.

33. No come on, be serious. You’ve just made this phrase up. Just now. That’s silly.

34. I can’t say I’ve ever heard that.

35. Not a phrase I have heard in New England or the Midwest or from my family and friends on the west coast.

    I like it, but haven’t heard it.

36. Definitely never heard that. Who’s saying it besides you? Saying you’ve heard it all your life could be your parents or family saying it

37. I’ve heard get your feet cut as in new shoes lol

38. This thread is not going the way OP expected

39. Never heard the term in Minnesota.

40. [This](https://jasondrexler.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/speaking-mainish-wicked-good-stuff/) article about Maine stuff from 2012 is literally the only mention i can even find of that phrase on the internet.

41. Never heard anyone say that

42. In Louisiana, we dress our food.

43. WNYer here. Never heard anyone say that. Definitely seems like it’s a very localized saying!

44. I clicked on this expecting the explanation to be a lot more interesting and metaphorical. Disappointed.

    No, I have never heard it in my life.

45. I have never ever heard this in all my entire life and experience. Not even in any kind of media, except maybe in the context of dressing wounds. I think you have made this up, OP. Or it’s something you and your family say.

46. OP is clearly trolling, nobody would ever say something so ridiculous

47. What comes to mind when I read that phrase is a person has a foot wound that needs to be dressed. I have never heard dress my feet to mean putting shoes and socks on.

    Edit:corrected autocorrect’s mistake

48. I’m in NYC, and this is the first time I’ve ever heard of it.

49. Is that an Albany expression? I’m from Utica and I’ve never heard anyone use that phrase.

    I would have literally no clue what you mean by “dressing your feet”.