Every place you go has its own way of giving compliments. In some cities, people get real fancy with it, tossing around big words and dramatic phrases and such. Lubbock isn’t really like that. Not at all. Around here, compliments are usually very simple, straightforward, and sometimes so casual you don’t notice you’re even being complimented at all.

But if you’ve lived in Lubbock long enough, you’ve probably learned that some of the phrases we use here mean a whole lot more than they sound like on the surface.

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The phrase, “he’s a good dude”, for example, is basically the highest compliment someone around here can get. It doesn’t need a massive explanation or a long list of reasons. If someone in Lubbock says you’re a good dude, it means that people trust you, respect you, and 9/10, you’re truly a good dude.

You’ll also hear people talk about a restaurant or business being “worth the drive” to visit. That’s a huge one here. In other cities, that might mean an hour on the highway, but here, that just means it’s across town. However, if locals are willing to go to the other side of town, it’s a pretty strong endorsement.

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Food compliments in Lubbock seem to follow their own rules. A place might have a really impressive menu or a fancy atmosphere, but what we want to know here is: do they make a good chicken-fried steak? If the answer is yes, then the restaurant is fantastic, and we see no problems.

Another phrase that carries some weight around here is “they take care of their people.” You’ll hear this when someone talks about a local business owner, a neighbor, or someone who really helps the friends and family around them as much as humanly possible. Caring people matter much more than flashy success around here.

None of these compliments sounds overly dramatic, fake, or showy, and that’s kind of the point. Lubbock praise tends to be rather understated, honest, practical, and backed up by experience.

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Phrases You Always Hear in West Texas

Gallery Credit: Chrissy

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