druthers en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈdɹʌðɚz/ (General-American)
- (US) audio
Etymology
From the expression I'd rather (“I would prefer to”), often pronounced "I druther" in some dialects.
Meanings
-
(US, humorous, informal, often, plural, plural-only) Wishes, preferences.
“You were a little to the right, Mr. Finch,” he called. “Always was,” answered Atticus. “If I had my ‘druthers I’d take a shotgun.”
1960 July 11, Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Philadelphia, Pa.; New York, N.Y.: J[oshua] B[allinger] Lippincott Company, →OCLC:If I had my "druthers," I'd screw a chimpanzee. Call it, pointless.
1993, Les Claypool, DMV:"If I had my druthers," he informs us, "I'druther be myself — not because I'm anythin' special, just because it's convenient."
1957, Society of Arts and Crafts, Theatre Arts, volume 41, page 29:If I'd had my "druthers," our engagement would not have been two and one half years long. But schooling made our druthers invalid.
1977, Carole Mayhall, From the Heart of a Woman:"If I had my druthers, I would not be a king. I'd druther be just what I am than any other thing."
1929, Harry McClintock, "If I Had My Druthers":"If you had your druthers—" Old Lew was always saying, "If I had my druthers, gimme one of them there Shevrolics."
1950, Alice Walworth Graham, The Natchez Woman: