Phrases You'll Only Understand If You're From St. Louis Missouri

Situated along the Mississippi River in the heart of the United States is the city of St. Louis. Nicknamed the Gateway to the West, this Missouri town is made famous for its iconic arch, finger-lickin’ BBQ and world-class sports teams. While known nationally for its up-and-coming gastronomical scene and powerful social movements, this city, rooted deeply in Midwest culture, is recognizable locally for its trademark sayings. Here are the 10 phrases any St. Louisan knows all too well.

“Go Cards!/LGB”

Whether it’s Cardinals baseball or Blues Hockey, sports are folded into the DNA of this river city. On cold winter nights, the chorus of “Let’s Go Blues” or LGB, flows out of the Scottrade Center, while summer evenings bring the melody of “Gooooo Cards” from Busch Stadium. No matter if you’re a seasoned fan or a budding STL sports enthusiast, scream these simple phrases on cue and you’ll feel right at home among the country’s sports fans.

“Let’s get some t-ravs.”

“Do you have a joke for me?”

This is what you’ll hear from every adult crouched over their front stoop on Halloween night. As children run around the streets of St. Louis on October 31, not only are they armed with a pillowcase full of candy and a stellar costume, but also, a joke. Unlike the rest of America, a simple “trick or treat” won’t work here. Requesting a joke for a piece of candy is a long-standing St. Louis tradition and is unique to the city.

“Just take Farty-Four.”

When describing Highway 40, the stretch of Interstate 64 that runs through St. Louis, you’re bound to get a glimpse of the St. Louis whiny “a”. Although firmly rooted within a Midwest state, St. Louis developed a Northern Midland vowel swap (a for o) after the construction of Route 66 linked Chicago with St. Louis and brought with it the Windy City’s dialect.

“Soulard or the Grove tonight?”

The Gateway to the West is known for its distinct collection of neighborhoods, each with their own personality. St. Louisans choose to soak up these unique subcultures when the sun dips low. For locals, a night on the town is often a matter of choosing the neighborhood, or really, the vibe of the night. There’s Soulard, St. Louis’ oldest neighborhood, known for its iconic red brick town homes and some of the best brews in the city. Or, steps away from Forest Park are the swanky spots of the Central West End. St. Louis’s hipster heaven, the Loop, is the city’s live music hub, while Ballpark Village is STL’s newest sports epicenter across the street from Busch Stadium (mechanical bull included). Or there’s the Grove, the colorful, LGBTQ-friendly district known for its elaborate street art and killer dance floors.

“It’s Bread Co.”

While commonly referred to as Panera nationwide, the bakery-cafe chain will forever be named St. Louis Bread Company in the town where it was founded. Mention Panera to any St. Louisan, and expect a prompt, albeit polite, correcting.

“You’ve never been to the City Museum?!”

A far cry from the stuffy museums of your youth, the St. Louis City Museum is a 600,000 square-foot jungle gym made entirely of repurposed industrial materials found within the city limits. Located in a revamped shoelace factory on Washington Avenue, the City Museum was dreamt up by late sculptor Bob Cassilly, hoping to create an artistic haven in playground form. Here, children and adults alike are not only encouraged to touch the art, but interact with it. Crawl through replicated Missouri caves, shimmy amongst life-sized trees, whip down a seven-story slide or climb to the suspended airplane outside. Paying homage to St. Louis’ unique Art Deco style, this urban playground is a whimsical masterpiece.

“Do you see the arch?”

The crowning joy of this humble river city is the monument that put it on the map—the Gateway Arch. Completed in 1965, the tallest arch in the world, at 192 meters (692 ft.) tall, stands as a testament to American westward expansion. Today, visitors can take an elevator pod to the top, to get unmatched view of the city, or wander the Lewis and Clark museum below. But for the St. Louis local, a mere glimpse of the arch sparks a deep pride in the city they call home.

“It’s by Forest Park.”

Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country, is a common geographical landmark for any true St. Louisan. Created as the grounds of the 1904 World’s Fair, Forest Park is home to some of the city’s most visited sites—the St. Louis Art Museum, the Zoo and the Muny amphitheater.

“What high school did you go to?”

Ah, the pièce de résistance of any St. Louis list. The mother of all questions, and the single most defining phrase in the St. Louis area. Your answer can not only tell a St. Louis native of your geographical upbringing, but the caliber of your education, the worthiness of your sports teams and most importantly, if you know anyone in common. So goes the nature of a close-knit town. Expect the obligatory, “Do you know [insert high school acquaintance here]?” as a follow-up question.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.