Halflings are famous for their love of food, drink, the smoking pipe, and the comforts of the rural hearth and home. It's not surprising that their sayings reflect these agrarian themes. Some of the halfling sayings below would be familiar to human farmers, but some are uniquely halfling. Sprinkle your halfling character's or NPC's conversation with some of the sayings below to "add some spice to your muffin!"
(From my reddit post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/d100/comments/184e03n/lets_build_d200_halfling_sayings/
other contributors are cited)
The scones are in the oven! -- the situation is looking good, something is about to begin
He/She's one sausage short of a good breakfast!--said of someone acting crazy/stupid
Friendly as a sober dwarf -- cranky, stubborn, not agreeable/friendly at all
"Well, if no one else has a story, I guess I'll start. Once upon a time... " -- the beginning of a tall tale, said anytime there is a lull in the action
That really burns my biscuits! -- that makes me angry
Bless your heart. -- said ironically of someone doing something very stupid
That shaved your sideburns, eh? -- you had a close call, were almost hit by an attack, etc.
Stop blowin' smoke rings -- stop trying to deceive/lie
As hot as high summer. Very hot
As loud as a rooster at dawn. Very loud
As quiet as a field mouse. Very quiet
As flat as a pancake. Very flat
As sweet as honey. Very sweet
You are the apple of my eye. I like you
Comparing apples to peaches. Comparing unlike things
Rotten to the core. Very bad
That's the worm in the apple. -- that's the problem with the plan
Sell like hotcakes. Sell very well, very marketable
Don't honey-coat it. Don't hide bad news
That's the way the cookie crumbles. That's as expected.
As fun as an elf at happy hour. Boring, not fun at all.
To buy a lemon. Buy something worthless
To turn lemons into lemonade. To make something good from a bad situation.
To bear fruit. To pay off, to reach results
Cool as a cucumber. Very cool, in temperature or attitude.
Forbidden fruit. Something that is prohibited.
In a pickle. In trouble.
Like two peas in a pod. Very similar, good friends.
Low hanging fruits. Something easy to attain.
Life is a bowl of cherries. Life is good.
As easy as pie. Very easy
To have a finger in the pie. To be involved, entangled
Have one's cake and eat it too. Having something both ways
Piece of cake. Very easy.
Pie in the sky. Empty promise
Busy as a bee. Very busy
Slow as molasses. Very slow
Half-baked. Crazy idea.
Hard nut to crack. Difficult situation
From soup to nuts. -- Everything, all-inclusive.
In a nutshell. Summarized, a summary.
Bite off more than you can chew. Overextend.
Bite the hand that feeds you. To hurt someone who helps you.
Like a pig in mud -- happy.
To let someone leave with an empty stomach -- to treat someone rudely / badly / unfairly
Eat like a sparrow. Eat little.
Eat like a horse. Eat much.
Eat humble pie. Make an apology.
Food for thought. Something to think about.
Have a lot of peas on my plate. Very busy.
There's no such thing as a free lunch. Can't get something for nothing.
Good egg. A friendly/good person.
Bad egg. A mean person.
Walking on eggshells. Being careful, trying not to offend.
The fat is in the fire. A big problem/trouble is approaching.
Your goose is cooked. You are defeated.
Gravy. Something that is a bonus.
Drop like a hot potato. Drop quickly.
Bring home the bacon. To earn/obtain money.
Chew the fat. Chat casually.
Small potatoes. Unimportant.
Stick to your ribs. A filling/satisfying meal.
Fine kettle of fish. A messy/difficult situation.
Have bigger fish to fry. Have more important things to do.
As warm as toast/Toasty warm. Comfortably warm.
That's the "bread and butter." -- that's the key/essential element of the situation.
You're lacking your sideburns -- you're careless/young/inexperienced
To "butter up" someone. To flatter someone.
Like winching up the well bucket. -- something that takes a long time
Half a loaf is better than none. Something is better than nothing.
Not worth a hill of beans. Not valuable.
Spill the beans. To tell a secret.
Not my cup of tea. Not my expertise.
Cry over spilled milk. Worry about something that has passed.
Don't start an alehouse yarn. Don't wait/delay.
To drink the last drop in the ale keg. To be pushy, to take an unfair share.
Once in a blue moon. Rarely.
Speak of the devil. Speaking of someone just before they appear.
Storm in a teacup. To make a fuss over something unimportant.
A cat in gloves catches no mice. Nice guys finish last.
A sour pickle. A crabby person.
Bland as boiled potatoes. A boring person
Smooth as butter. A smooth talker.
Juicy as a ripe tomato. Attractive/sexy.
Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Don't assume something will be successful.
The cream always rises to the top. The best is eventually revealed.
A piece of cake. An easy task.
[add "-lad" or "-laddy" to the end of masculine names] -- Affectionate, diminutive ending: Eric-lad, Conan-laddy, etc.
[add "-mae" to the end of feminine names] -- Affectionate, diminutive ending: Sally-mae, Linda-mae, Molly-mae, etc.
Flaky as a biscuit. A person or idea that is crazy/daft.
To blow smoke. To lie/deceive.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Assert strongly that something is true or must be accepted.
To smoke something out. To uncover/discover something hidden.
When there's smoke, there's fire. There's often truth behind a rumor.
To smoke the peace pipe. To negotiate with hope of resolving a dispute.
Up in smoke. Something has failed / been destroyed.
Too big for your britches. Arrogant.
A frog strangler. An intense rainfall.
Knee high to a grasshopper. Short in stature.
This is a good time for a wee snack. -- said anytime there is a lull in the action
Better a safe hole then a burning house -- better to be cautious
Time to put apples in the cider barrel -- it's time to prepare
You're squinting at the bottom of your mug -- you're drunk
Like pee-ing in a wicker basket - Impossible/ useless
Don't grab the dwarf by the beard - Don't start a fight for no good reason
Take your last puff o' the pipe-- to die
Shiny buttons - slang for coins
Bad news for the undertaker - someone survived / was healed / recovered from illness
As the crow flies - In a straight direction, ignoring terrain
Having turnips in your ears - deaf / not paying attention
Like a dragon squattin' on its hoard -- something stubborn / immovable
Something is coming home to roost -- something is a delayed but inevitable consequence
Like a fox in a hen house -- a frenzied combat
To see a daisy in the briar patch - to see good in a bad situation
Like an elf at an archery contest -- something that never fails
Like a dwarf at a frowning contest -- something that never fails
Like leavin' home -- something that is sad
Like sittin' fireside -- something that is soothing/comforting
Pitching a tent in the rain - doing something too late or in inappropriate conditions
Smokin' [someone's] weed -- believing someone's tall tale / lie / deception
Like hooking a trout in a barrel -- something very easy
Get briars/fleas in your footpatches - become irritated/annoyed/angry
Reaching the bottom of the honey pot -- getting low on resources
A goblin in a goatskin - something disguised / a tall tale / a lie
One kitten short of a litter--lacking something
Don't let your milk curdle -- don't get mad
Taking a nap on an anthill -- getting into trouble
A hard nut to crack -- something difficult / tough
Even squirrels fall from trees. - Sometimes even experts are wrong.
A seedling in a shady spot -- something that will never work, is pointless
Like digging your hole [halfling home] in the sand -- doing something in a way that will never work
Flies can't enter a closed mouth - a halfling telling you to shut up
Only halfway through the apple pie. -- just getting started
The pumpkins are head high. -- time to begin something / finish something, time's a wastin'
You can't teach an old dog new tricks -- someone is stuck in the old/traditional way of doing things
Like giving a cat a bath -- doing something that won't work
Cold as a stream in springtime! -- very cold
Like a sheep after shearing day -- feeling naked/exposed
Lookin' at head-high wheat -- looking at a good situation / time to begin something
You're missin' the cobbler now , ain't ya?-- you're regretting your decision
Taking a hop over a mudpuddle -- doing something risky
"As sure as my feet are hairy" - something believed to be true with a high level of confidence [u/Wavertron]
"We've time enough for third breakfast" - no need to rush, there is a lot of time [u/Wavertron]
A devil with horns - a problem/puzzle that is extra-difficult [u/MGSOffcial]
As bright as the harvest moon - something very bright [u/MGSOffcial]
Pointed like a fork - something that can go wrong in more than one way [u/MGSOffcial]
"Outside our lands evil may abound, but talking about it will only bring it 'round." [u/Ajaxiss]
Where the brambles are allowed to grow -- anywhere outside Halfling territory. [u/sonofabutch]
Served a bowl of cold porridge — false hospitality, insincere flattery, smiling rudeness. [u/sonofabutch]
Eyes up — a warning that non-Halflings are about and Halflings shouldn’t reveal secrets. [u/sonofabutch]
Time enough to smoke — a break lasting at least ten minutes. If of shorter duration, a Halfling will likely be annoyed at being forced to "waste good pipe weed." [u/sonofabutch]
Time enough to eat — a break lasting at least an hour or two. If of shorter duration, a Halfling will likely be annoyed at being "rushed" through the meal. [u/sonofabutch]
Time enough to doze — a break lasting at least several hours. If of shorter duration, a Halfling will likely be rather annoyed and cranky when awakened. [u/sonofabutch]
Lick my foot! -- kiss my butt [u/PorFavoreon]
A bit of shade on a hot afternoon -- something that gives protection
Like a rabbit in a briar patch -- something that is difficult to access or well-protected
I think we're about to win the pie eating contest, boys/girls! -- said when success/victory is in sight
A dart throw away -- something about 20 feet away
Fodder for my sling bullet -- anything within 120 feet
Pulling a cart without a pony -- doing something the hard way
Leaving home without your lunch bucket -- doing something very absent-minded/stupid
Going to the big city -- doing something stressful and dangerous
Going for an after-dinner stroll -- doing something pleasant and relaxing
The candle in the kitchen window -- something that leads you out of danger
Like a halfling in a footrace -- something likely to fail/lose
Like a rabbit without a date -- someone who is very frustrated
I can hit the eye of a gnat at 30 paces. -- said by the best halfling slingers
Like a visit to the county fair -- something that is very fun
As useful as a shiny coin when it's time to churn butter -- not useful at all
"You've found your pipe but lost your weed." -- you just did something pointless/useless/counter-productive
Like an ogre trying to lay hands on a buttery halfling -- something doomed to failure
Like old porridge for breakfast -- something very boring and sad
A weed in the garden -- a person who (or thing that) is suspicious, disguised, etc.
Like a pastry chef on fasting day -- someone who has nothing to contribute / cannot help
Like putting perfume on an orc -- a futile attempt to make something better
I might be short, but I'm quick! -- a halfling rogue classic
The taller they are, the harder they fall! -- a classic combat taunt employed by halflings
We're in the thick custard now! -- we're in a dangerous/difficult situation
Your face is about to say hello to my frying pan! -- a combat taunt
My darts sting like the fire ants of Lower Bottomham! -- a serious threat in combat
This [poultice/salve/tincture/healing potion/etc.] could cure the midwinter melancholy! -- used to describe a very strong medicine, indeed!
You're as stubborn as a dwarf!
You're as arrogant as an elf!
My stature may be short, but you'll find my courage stands tall.
Let's dance a jig -- a halfling rogue's invitation to brawl
Step softly and carry a sharp dagger.
Winter ale is better than summer ale, . . . or is it the other way 'round?
A good fiddle tune will lift your spirits and set your feet a tappin'.
Whistling is good for the soul.
The best [druids/shamans/etc.] live close to the earth. -- said by halfling druids/shamans
Like summersaulting down a hill -- something very fun
Like fishing on a workday -- something very fun
We're plum out of weed now -- we're defeated
A "one breakfast kind of day" -- a bad day (halflings prefer at least two breakfasts)
As cozy as my halfling hole -- a very cozy location, like a halfling's house (but sometimes said in a PG-13 sense)
Like playing dice with humans -- something very easy (because halflings are very lucky)
Like putting a bonnet on a giant -- something very difficult (esp. for a short creature)
Time to play the mole when the fox is about -- time to hide
It's harvest time, boys (or girls) -- said by halfling fighters on the eve of battle
Like sitting at home by my fire, smoking my pipe -- the best of all possible worlds.
