Gully Washer

In Southern and Appalachian speech, a "gully washer" means a heavy rainstorm strong enough to carve out ditches and gullies. It’s a vivid way of saying the rain came down hard and fast.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #WeatherandSeasons #Nature #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

When there's a down pour, it's often called a 'gully washer' down here.

Pronunciation

[GULL-ee WAH-shur]

Meaning & Usage

- A sudden, heavy rainstorm (noun)

Mae:

Creek’s runnin’ muddy again.

Earl:

Yep - that gully washer filled it quick.

variations: frog strangler, cloudburst, downpour, soaker, that storm was a gully washer, a gully washer hit the holler

★ A "gully washer" paints a country picture - rain so strong it reshapes the land. It’s often used alongside "frog strangler" for extra color. ★

Origin

The phrase comes from rural life, where sudden cloudbursts could erode hillsides and wash out gullies. Farmers and country folk coined "gully washer" to describe these destructive but common storms.

Notes

Still common in the South and Appalachia, especially among older speakers. Sometimes heard in other rural regions, but it carries a strong Southern flavor. It often pairs with "frog strangler" as a colorful double-description of heavy rain.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "gull-ee wash-er." The words run quick together in Southern speech.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does a "gully washer" mean flooding?

Not always, but it means rain heavy enough to rush through ditches and low spots.

Is it the same as a "frog strangler"?

Close - both mean heavy rain, but "gully washer" emphasizes the water cutting through the land.

Do people still use it today?

Yes - especially in Southern rural talk and storytelling about storms.