Slang: Michigan Edition

Have you ever heard the sayings “Pot to Piss in” or “Piss Poor”

Welllll if you have, this is where they came from.

“Piss Poor” – Back in the day urine was used to tan hides of animals. People would “piss” in a pot and then sell the urine to the tanners to make some cash. This became known as being “piss poor,” because you were so poor that you had to sell your urine

“Pot to piss in” – This meant you were too poor to even have a pot to sell your urine in. This was beyond dirt floor poor