What does "shindig" mean to you. . . (Update in #51)

[Pegasus]

and where do you live (general region)?

 

Had a lively discussion over dinner and the connotations I have with "shindig" are different than the rest of the family.

Edited October 8, 2017 by Pegasus

[alisoncooks]

Party/get-together

(NC)

Edited October 7, 2017 by alisoncooks

[Critterfixer]

Party, social gathering. 

AR

Edited October 7, 2017 by Critterfixer

[hjffkj]

Social gathering/party. Something laid back, not formal. DE

Edited October 7, 2017 by hjffkj

[bettyandbob]

Party. Fun event.

[Caroline]

An event

 

I am from Maryland.

Edited October 8, 2017 by Caroline

[Lady Florida.]

An informal fun social gathering/party, often with music though it doesn't have to be live music.

[fraidycat]

Without context, it's just a general get together. It could be a SHINDIG-a big fancy party, or a shindig-a couple of friends playing euchre.

This

[OrganicJen]

For me it means a casual party.  I grew up on the west coast mainly and the mountain west area but have lived all over the country.  

[marbel]

A party. There was a music/variety TV show in the 60s with that name. I guess that's where I first heard it but I'm not sure. My daughter and I use it sometimes to describe any sort of get-together. If we're having company over, she'll ask "when does this shindig start?"

 

I was living in western New York and then California when the TV show aired.

Edited October 7, 2017 by marbel

[Guest]

An informal party.

[Guinevere]

A party, but with people you are very comfortable with. Expect something a bit raucous.

 

Eta Midwest

Edited October 7, 2017 by Guinevere

[JIN MOUSA]

Party

 

Without context, if I had to pick, I'd say a casual party. But I have no issue with it being used for a bigger/fancier party.

 

eta I grew up in Texas

Edited October 7, 2017 by JIN MOUSA

[Kalmia]

Fun Party

 

I live in New England. My family uses the word.

[Pam in CT]

Casual/informal get-together spanning all generations.  Flip flops & shorts, BBQ and beer, beach volleyball type vibe.

[maize]

Party or get together of some kind.

[Lecka]

An informal party with music.

 

Ironically -- a fancy dinner party. This would be a "little shindig."

[Annie G]

Casual party. However, we do sometimes refer to more formal things as a shindig with close friends kind of jokingly. Like our best friends just had a daughter get married and near the end of all the wedding planning I told my friend that I'll be glad when the shindig is over so we could resume our couples dinner dates. 

 

Midwest

[StephanieZ]

= a party. Nothing more or less. Any party could be a shindig, although I guess maybe not a tiny low key one, more of a lively one, but not necessarily a huge or wild one. It's a casual synonym for party in my mind. 

 

I'm from northern VA (very urban/intellectual), but my mom grew up in Indiana and my dad in NJ, so that might have influenced my definition. 

[Guest]

A party. Like, a party with "cool" people; a "happenin'" party. I'm in the Mid-Atlantic.

[Mbelle]

An event/party of any size and fun.

[MercyA]

A party, but with people you are very comfortable with. Expect something a bit raucous.

 

Eta Midwest

 

Raucous was exactly the word that came to my mind, too.  :)  An informal party, often with music and games.

 

I'm in the Midwest. 

Edited October 8, 2017 by MercyA

[Guest]

A get-together of any kind.

[gardenmom5]

pnw.  a party or celebration of some sort.  what kind depends more upon who is calling it a shindig.  someone who likes understatement - it could be formal.  for someone  who is casual . . it could be an outdoor bbq.

but there must be cake . . . .

[EMS83]

party

if I had to tease out specifics, something casual, indoor/outdoor, possibly with beer involved.

 

GA, but Midwestern parents (idk if that matters)

[purpleowl]

It's a casual synonym for party in my mind. 

I like this phrasing. It's not necessarily that the party itself is casual, because it could be a big/fancy party, but it's a casual term to use for it. 

 

I grew up in Georgia and live in north Florida.

[SKL]

Midwest.  For us, it's a fun word for a loosely organized party / gathering for adults or mixed ages.

[Bluegoat]

A fairly casual but large fun party.  

[EKS]

Some sort of gathering--west coast.

[displace]

Party or get together or event. Grew up in the south.

[Janeway]

A party or a get together of sorts...where things are planned and meant to be enjoyable.

[nixpix5]

A funny term for any get together, party or event. We will say it in jest but usually don't use it as a serious term. We are in the PNW

[justasque]

In my mind, the people at a shindig are wearing 60's shift dresses and dancing to some swingin' tunes from the hi-fi in someone's living room, where the decor is mid '60's suburbia.

[Guinevere]

In my mind, the people at a shindig are wearing 60's shift dresses and dancing to some swingin' tunes from the hi-fi in someone's living room, where the decor is mid '60's suburbia.

 

More like...banjos.

[klmama]

In my mind, it's a big, noisy, very successful party with music.  

[foxbridgeacademy]

Would be a loose but large gathering, outdoors, probably a cookout/potluck thing, with beer (my mom throws "shindigs" my dad's family has "get-togethers", no beer.).  I'm from Southern Indiana which is culturally more like the South than the Midwest.

 

ETA- I looked through the replies and it seems that most mid-westerner's have a similar view.

Edited October 8, 2017 by foxbridgeacademy

[TechWife]

Party/get-together

(NC)

Same on both counts.

[Seasider]

Before reading other replies...

 

A party, typically a large one that requires advance preparation. Often accompanied with adjectives like "big" and/or "fancy." Maybe something like a graduation ceremony, milestone birthday or anniversary, kicking cancer...something you wouldn't use an ordinary terms like "wedding" or "birthday party" to describe.

 

Like "bless your heart," this term can be used with all sincerity OR a touch of disdain, depending on how it's said. Like someone might think another is putting on airs or acting too big for their britches by having such a fancy affair. It's all in the tone.

 

Deep South/Southeast. Now off to see if my answer is even close to what others say...

 

ETA oh yeah, must involve music and dancing and most likely a cake or dessert fancier than popsicles and pound cake. I'm surprised that many answered it's casual. I mean, you don't always have to dress up nice but it is the sort of things people know about days or weeks in advance (and thus much chat about whether or not you'll be headin' over to RaeAnne's place for the shindig next Friday night).

Edited October 8, 2017 by Seasider

[catz]

Get together or a party.  Could be any size.  I've heard it referred to as a really small casual gathering on up and not have a particular connotation about the size or scale of the event.  I'm in the upper Midwest.

 

Usage :

"The Johnson's are having a little shindig at their house after little league for the families.  There will be snacks and soda and sprinkers for kids to run through."

 

"Suzie is pulling out all the stops for the birthday shindig this weekend.  Should be the town event of the decade. "

[J-rap]

A lively, casual event.

[Crimson Wife]

Party that could be casual, formal, or something in-between.

[Barb_]

100% agreement. That never happens. What was the discussion?

[HS Mom in NC]

Southwest

Social gathering/event.  Could be more formal or less formal.

 

[Tap]

Party.  Context of conversation or location usually tells you the level of formality, but it can be used to describe any kind of get together.  PNW

[Melissa in Australia]

A get together. I think I have heard it from the Beverly Hillberries

[nevergiveup]

Party!

Can be a bit more formal than a hootenanny.

[Carrie12345]

I use the term all the time, but now I'm struggling to define it, lol.

 

I feel like, when the shindig is small, the word is used to joke about its lack of formality.  And yet, when the shindig is elaborate, the word is used to joke about it NOT being low key.

 

So, I don't know.  I guess it's just a "jokey" word to me.  I mean, come on.  SHINDIG!

[Elizabeth86]

party -central appalachia

Edited October 8, 2017 by Elizabeth86

[Pegasus]

Party!

Can be a bit more formal than a hootenanny.

 

Loving the responses!  Our discussion launched from the meaning of shindig and quickly started making comparisons/contrasts with hootenanny and hoe down!

 

Looks like most folks agree with my DH and DDs in that a shindig is a casual party. They even thought it had connotations of southern and/or country as well. Definitely music, dancing optional, and probably beer. What *I* would call a hootenanny.  Meanwhile, a hoe down MUST have country music and dancing.

 

If *I* call something a shindig, it means I have to dress nicer than everyday office wear. So, a reception with clients and hors d'oeuvres with the men wearing suits and ties and women dressed equivalently.

 

Maybe it depends on the qualifier: "small shindig" versus "fancy shindig".

[Guest]

I thought that it was an old-fashioned word for a hoedown. Like an informal social party with dancing, food, and alcoholic drinks.

 

I'm from the midwest and I now live in the Rocky Mountain west, and I've never heard of it used in regular conversation.

Edited October 8, 2017 by Fifiruth