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I'm from Missouri.

Posted by Smokey Stover on June 28, 2006

In Reply to: I am from missouri posted by Gary Martin on June 27, 2006

: : : I am from missouri

: : That must seem mysterious in that abbreviated form. The more complete phrase is "I'm from Missouri. Show me." Missouri, a state in middle of the US, is known as the "Show Me" state. As legend would have it, they take a stubborn pride in being skeptical, not accepting an assertion without visible proof. So the phrase in question literally means "I don't quite believe you. Show me proof."

: That was also what Harry S. Truman had on the back of the 'buck stops here' sign on his desk.

My zwei groschen. Bob's right about the "Show me" state, but I think most people who have heard of the Show Me state, as such, need only hear "I'm from Missouri," in the appropriate context, to know that the speaker is expressing skepticism. On the other hand, "I am from Missouri" simply would not be heard; the contraction "I'm" is virtually mandatory here. Of course, if someone expressed doubt that you were really from Missouri, you might say "I AM from Missouri," assuming that to be true.
The SS Pedantic.

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