wondering about dialect and slang

[HoosierCowgirl]

Hello, friends,
I guess I'm having a senior moment ... I'm working on something set in the 1860s and am wracking my brain trying to think of the right word.

In my modern mind, I'd say "You are so busted ..." but can't think of a good synonym for busted, as in someone who's now going to face charges. Pinched? Collared?

Any input appreciated ...

Ann

[dpaterso]

Reckon you bin caught with yor finger in the pie, mister! Might as well 'fess up! Judge might go easier on ya!

Sorry. :) red-handed?

-Derek

[seven41]

From THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE 1800's, the three terms commonly used were pinched, pulled, or tumbled. Once pinched they were taken to the calaboose or, if they were to be questioned, put in the sweat box.

You might also check Writer's Dreamtools.com. It gives slang and events by decade.

[HoosierCowgirl]

Thanks, Seven ... the bad guy's going to either get lynched, "pinched" or time-travel out of the 1800s into the arms of the SWAT team.

[Vanatru]

That or using a variation on a modern saying:

"Son, you done right pissed me off, I'm gonna have to open a saddlebag of whoop ass on ya."

[seven41]

"Son, you done right pissed me off, I'm gonna have to open a saddlebag of whoop ass on ya."

Use that and you'll lose your western readers in a hurry. We didn't even use that kind of language in the 1940's and 50's. More likely, the good guy or lawman would say, "Now you boys just come along peaceful like and nobody's gonna git hurt."

[Festus]

Seven is right, both in perception and suggested words of a law officer, rarely did 'mouthy language' need to be utilized by the officer. One thing, they knew most everybody in the area, the other thing is that they didn't want to give a reason for the caught crook to cause trouble.

They'd likely, as seven suggested, be brief in their comments.

[HoosierCowgirl]

I did look up some Apalachian slang on another website but it didn't have much about arrest or jail.

I was surprised how many of those terms are still in my dad's and other elders' vocabulary.

Thanks, everybody.

Ann

[Vanatru]

My bad. I should have included the "ha ha" and a smiley at the end. Of course, it's rare that I crack jokes here so I can see how it would be taken as being all serious like and all. ;)

[seven41]

No offense taken. It's just us se'rus writers from Texas get literal.

[JeanneTGC]

My bad. I should have included the "ha ha" and a smiley at the end. Of course, it's rare that I crack jokes here so I can see how it would be taken as being all serious like and all. ;)
Van, you can be serious? Really? I mean, really and truly?

I'm shocked. I never would've guessed.

If it'd been a snake it would've bit me, I guess. :D

[HoosierCowgirl]

I'm sure-nuff in the wrong place if humor is allowed!