fixin' to
Getting ready to do something, usually pretty soon.
Also called fixing to, fixin to.
Updated September 21, 2026
fixin' to pronunciation
/FIX-in tuh/
Meaning
Southern future talk for "about to" or "intending to." You might be fixin' to leave in two minutes, or fixin' to leave after one more story on the porch. It marks plans that feel close, even when the clock is fuzzy. Closely related spellings are fixing to and fixin to.
How folks use it
- “I'm fixin' to crank that tractor before the rain hits.”
- “She was fixin' to tell him off when the preacher walked in.”
Origin and etymology
Grew out of fixing meaning preparing or arranging. Southern US English turned "be fixing to" into a near-future helper in the 1700s and 1800s. DARE places it strongest in the South Atlantic and Gulf states. Appalachian records show fixing to by the Civil War years. Finna is a related, more reduced form in African American English.
Frequently asked questions
Does fixin' to mean right this second?
Usually soon, not always immediate. It can stretch while somebody finishes coffee or one more chore.