Talk Like a Cowboy: Sayings That Built the West

HOST:

Chip Schweiger, here. Welcome to another edition of Way Out West. 

The podcast that takes you on a journey through the stories of the American West, brings you the very best cowboy wisdom, and celebrates the cowboys and cowgirls who are feeding a nation. 

Now out here Way Out West, we’ve got a way of talking that’s sharper than a cactus spine and twice as tough. Cowboys didn’t waste words. They didn’t dress things up. When they spoke—you listened.

Ever hear someone say, "He’s all hat and no cattle?"
Or maybe, "Don’t squat with your spurs on?"
Or my personal favorite, "Ride for the brand."

These aren’t just catchy sayings.
They’re lessons—straight from the trail—wrapped in grit, wit, and plain ol’ truth.

So, today on the show, we’re throwin' open the chuckwagon of cowboy slang—digging into where it came from, what it meant back then, and why it still matters today. We’ll even see how a little plain speaking can make life—and business—a whole lot simpler.

So tighten your cinch and set your jaw. We’re ridin' straight into the heart of cowboy talk.

After the episode, check out the show notes at WayOutWestPod.com/cowboy-slang

[MUSIC]

Howdy and welcome back. 

You know, before we dive headfirst into cowboy sayings, I gotta tell you—there’s something I’ve always admired about the way old cowboys talked.

It wasn’t just what they said—it was how they said it.
Short. Honest. Sometimes rough around the edges, but always clear as a high desert morning.

I remember sitting around at early morning breakfasts with some old-timers when I was younger, listenin’ to them trade stories. No big speeches. No fancy words.
Just sharp looks, a dry joke, maybe a slow tip of the hat—and somehow, you always knew exactly what they meant.

That's the spirit we're chasin' today. Not just the words themselves, but the why behind ‘em. 

Why cowboy talk feels so real. And why it sticks with you longer than a fancy speech ever could.

Alright—let's not waste any more daylight. Let’s ride into Chapter One, which I’m calling Talk Straight or Don’t Talk at All.

CHAPTER 1: Talk Straight or Don’t Talk at All

Life on the trail didn’t leave time for long speeches or fancy words.

When you’ve got a thousand head of cattle, a thunderstorm brewing, and a greenhorn about to lose his seat, you better say what you mean—and say it quick.

Cowboys mastered the art of plain speaking because every second counted.

They didn’t have Zoom calls or email threads. They had nods, glances, and quick words over the roar of the herd.

The beauty of cowboy talk? It wasn’t just short—it was sharp.

One well-aimed phrase could teach a lesson, draw a line, or call out nonsense faster than you could clear the cylinder of a six-shooter.

And you know what?

In a world full of noise today, that cowboy style still rings true.

CHAPTER 2: Where Cowboy Slang Came From

Cowboy language wasn’t made up in a saloon.

It was hammered out over hard miles and harder lessons, blending the cultures and experiences of the people who built the West.

• Mexican vaqueros gave us words like rodeo, lasso, chaps, and corral.
• Civil War vets carried military slang onto the open plains.
• Freedmen, Native Americans, and homesteaders added their voices too.
• Humor, hardship, and a touch of exaggeration tied it all together.

It was a language of survival, grit, and respect—the kind of language you earned, not learned.

And it stuck.

Even today, whether you’re ranching, running a business, or just living life, cowboy talk reminds us to keep it real.

CHAPTER 3: Cowboy Sayings That Still Hit Home

Alright, let’s dig into some of the best cowboy sayings—ones born under the open sky but just as useful under office lights.

1. "All Hat and No Cattle"

You’re all show and no substance. In the cowboy class, it meant a man who strutted around in fancy gear without having a steer to his name.

Today? It’s the guy full of promises but light on results.
Cowboys didn’t waste time with talkers—they trusted doers.

2. "Don’t Squat with Your Spurs On"

Common sense at its finest. If you try to squat wearing spurs, you’re fixin' for a painful surprise.

The modern lesson? Think before you act.
Set yourself up for success, not for self-inflicted wounds.

3. "Ride for the Brand"

This one’s personal. Back in the day, when a cowboy rode for the brand, he wasn’t just working a job—he was showing loyalty.
You stood by your boss, your outfit, and your crew no matter what.

Today? It’s about loyalty, commitment, and pride in what you stand for.

I remember early in my career, I worked with a client who wasn’t the biggest, but they were honest, hardworking folks. Another, flashier opportunity came along—a bigger contract, more prestige.
Some folks told me to jump ship.
But I remembered the cowboy way—ride for the brand that took you in, not the one that flashes the biggest buckle.

I stuck with the folks who trusted me from the start.
And wouldn’t you know it?
Over time, their business grew like wildflowers after a rainstorm—and they took me along for the ride.

Plain speaking, plain loyalty—it still matters.

4. "You Can’t Tell the Size of a Man’s Herd by the Hat He Wears"

Similar to all hat, no cattle, but with a little more bite. Big talk doesn’t mean big success.

The modern lesson is to judge people by their actions, not appearances.

5. "He's as Windy as a Sack Full of Fartin' Snakes"

Yep, you heard that right! Colorful? You bet. Accurate? Even more so.

It’s the cowboy way of saying someone talks too much—and says too little.

And the modern lesson here is to cut the fluff. Speak plain and true.

6. "Don’t Drink Downstream from the Herd"

Another slice of trail wisdom. Where cows go, mess follows.
Be smart about where you draw your water—or your information.

And the Modern Lesson here is to check your sources before you take anything in.

Well, Now that we’re halfway across the prairie of cowboy sayings, let’s give our horses a rest for just a minute.

Stick around, because when we come back, we’re gonna hit some of the sharpest, truest talk the West ever gave us. Sayings 7-12.
And we’ll touch on the Power of Plain Speaking

Don’t wander off—be right back.

[Music]

In a time when the odds were stacked high and the gates were closed to many, one cowboy refused to be kept out.

In the next episode of This Week in The West, from my friends at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, ride into the story of Myrtis Dightman—the trailblazing legend known as the "Jackie Robinson of bull riding."

Through grit, courage, and sheer determination, Dightman shattered barriers, qualified for the National Finals Rodeo seven times, and blazed a trail for generations of Black cowboys to follow.

New episodes drop every Monday—on your favorite podcast provider.

[Music]

HOST:
Welcome back. Now let’s ride through numbers 7-12.

7. "This Ain’t My First Rodeo"

If you’ve been around the block, you’ve heard this one.

Back then It meant you knew how to handle a bronc or a stampede.

Today, it’s shorthand for experience—and a quiet warning that you’re not easily fooled.

8. "If You Find Yourself in a Hole, the First Thing to Do is Stop Diggin’"

Simple. Wise. Brutal. When you’re makin’ a mistake, quit makin’ it worse.

Modern Lesson: Own your errors early—and move on smart.

9. "Don’t Call Him a Cowboy ‘Til You’ve Seen Him Ride"

Talk’s cheap. Skill shows. You’re not a cowboy because you dress the part—you’re a cowboy because you do the work.

Modern Lesson: Respect is earned by action, not appearance. Cowboy is a state of mind. Not how you dress, not what you say, but what you do. 

10. "Tougher Than a Boot Full of Cactus"

This one’s pure admiration. When someone’s tougher than a cactus in a boot, you know they’ve weathered storms most folks can’t imagine.

Modern Lesson: True toughness isn’t loud—it’s steady.

11. "Quicker Than a Miner's Dog at a Cookoff"

Fast, hungry, and determined—that’s the vibe. Cowboys admired folks who didn’t waste time, whether rounding up cattle or jumping on opportunity.

12. "Keep Your Powder Dry"

An old military term turned cowboy wisdom.

Back then, it meant literally keeping your gunpowder dry and ready.
Today, it means stay prepared—because trouble can stir up faster than dust on a dry plain.

CHAPTER 4: The Power of Plain Speaking

At the heart of cowboy talk is something the modern world could use a whole lot more of: plain speaking.

Cowboys didn’t sugarcoat. They didn’t dress things up. And they sure as Hell didn’t say one thing and mean another.

Their words were straight, simple, and sometimes rough—but they were always honest.

In business and in life, talking plain earns you something fancier than a gold pocket watch—it earns you trust.

In a noisy world full of jargon, hedging, and empty promises, a straight shooter stands out like a white hat in a black hat town.

And that’s what speaking cowboy is all about. 

OK, before we wrap us this week, we’ve got one more thing. I know you know what it is.

[BULL SOUND]

Chapter 5: Cowboy Glossary Term of the Week 

Yep, that distinctive call from Buster the Bull means it’s time for the cowboy glossary term of the week. 

This week’s term is Greenhorn —

And a greenhorn is a term for a newcomer, a rookie, or someone fresh to the ways of the trail.

You don’t call someone a greenhorn to be cruel—it’s just the honest truth until they’ve earned their spurs.

[OUTRO MUSIC]

CLOSING: Talk Like a Cowboy Challenge

Alright folks, here’s your challenge:

This week, pick one cowboy saying—and use it.
Whether you’re praising hard work, calling out nonsense, or just adding a little Western color to your day, talk like a cowboy.

Speak plain. Speak true. And if you don’t have anything worth sayin'—well, just remember what the old-timers said:

"Never miss a good chance to shut up."

That’s it for this ride, amigo
Thanks for ridin' along with me Way Out West.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please consider leaving us a review on Apple or a rating on Spotify. That’ll help get this to more fans of the American West. And, if you’ve done that already, thank you.

This is Chip Schweiger reminding you keep your powder dry—and always, always ride for the brand.

We’ll see ya down the road.