A long teal gourd hangs from a brass hook above small round spectacles on a shelf against plum.

Original artwork, not a still

Nancy

Nancy (referring to Shelby's new husband): That Jackson is one big hangin' man.

— Steel Magnolias  ·  1989

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

Nancy's bawdy aside sizes up Shelby's new husband with a slangy, suggestive compliment. 'Hangin' man' is a cheeky way of hinting he's impressively built, and the humour comes from how casually she drops it, like ordinary gossip over a fence.

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