Heard in Missouri: "but good!"

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

On Dec 19, 2007, at 9:18 AM, David Donnell wrote:

> Question about an expression I just heard: "but good!"
>
> I just returned from St Louis where I was visiting my 88 yr old
> mother. (Born & raised in southeast Missouri, near Cape Girardeau.)
>
> Addressing me and her friend/contemporary, my mom related a
> conversation about someone's 16 yr old daughter: the girl had stayed
> out until 3 a.m., sans permission, with her cell phone turned off...
> Very worrisome to the parents, natch.
>
> My mom's friend then asked if the girl would be punished. My mom
> responded, "I asked [the father] if she was grounded...he said BUT
> GOOD!"
>
> The expression never registered with me before, although it sounded
> familiar rolling off her tongue; it apparently means something like
> "and how!"
>
> Is anyone familiar with this critter?

it's in the
>
>
> (Hard to Google such a ubiquitous 2-word combo.)
>
> DD
> Missouri-native in NYC
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org