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Glite Dictionary
Tar Heel State

Tar Heel State

6.8
A nickname for the state of North Carolina in the United States
  • proper noun
  • /tɑr hiːl steɪt/
translation icon : Estado de Tar Heel
  • The Tar Heel State is known for its rich history and vibrant culture.

Examples

  • It is a proud moment for my adopted hometown and my native Tar Heel State.

    Blog text (26)

  • Many people love to visit the beautiful landscapes of the Tar Heel State during the autumn.

  • Sports fans in the Tar Heel State passionately support their local teams.

Synonyms

North Carolina
vsTar Heel State
131 1.0

A state in the southeast of the United States

is an informal nickname used instead of the formal name
NC
vsTar Heel State
89 1.0

A short form for the state North Carolina in the United States

is a colloquial nickname rather than an abbreviation
Old North State
vsTar Heel State
7.3

A nickname for the state of North Carolina

is a different nickname used for the same state
N.C.
vsTar Heel State
1.6

A state in the southeast of the United States called North Carolina

is a nickname not an abbreviated form

Surface Forms

Tar Heel State main

Morphology

Tar + Heel + state

The phrase is a conventional nickname referring specifically to the U.S. state of North Carolina, so its referential meaning cannot be derived from the literal constituents 'tar', 'heel', and 'state'. A B1 learner who knows the individual words would not reliably infer this cultural/historical nickname without prior exposure, making the expression non-compositional and unpredictable.

Etymology

Tar Heel State comes from old work making tar in North Carolina. One popular story says the workers often got tar on their heels, so people began calling them 'Tar Heels', and the state became known as the 'Tar Heel State'.