I’m So Poor I Can’t Even Pay Attention

In Appalachian and Southern humor, "I’m so poor I can’t even pay attention" is a playful exaggeration about being broke. It turns the phrase "pay attention" into mock currency, making it a witty way to talk about poverty or tight times.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

'I’m so poor I can’t even pay attention' is a common phrase in the south.

Pronunciation

[ahym so POHR ahy kant EEV-en pay uh-TEN-shun]

Meaning & Usage

- A humorous way to say very poor (hyperbolic saying)

Mae:

Got anything left?

Earl:

Naw, I’m so poor I can’t even pay attention.

- Used figuratively for being short on resources

Mae:

Think we can cover the power bill?

Earl:

Shoot, I’m so poor I can’t even pay attention.

variations: I'm so broke I can't afford to pay attention

★ This phrase belongs to the tradition of tall-tale poverty jokes in the South and Appalachia. It’s meant to get a chuckle, not to be taken literally. ★

Origin

Likely spread in American rural humor during the early 1900s, where "paying attention" was twisted into a literal kind of payment. Its persistence in Southern and Appalachian speech shows how country wit thrives on wordplay and exaggeration.

Notes

Still used in the South, Appalachia, and beyond, often by older speakers or in storytelling. It’s more of a humorous line than an everyday phrase.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "I’m so poor I can’t even pay attention." Often delivered with a grin or in a joking tone.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is this a serious saying?

No - it’s a joke, part of the tradition of rural exaggeration.

Is it only Southern?

Strongest in Southern/Appalachian speech, but also heard in American humor generally.

Is it offensive?

Not usually - it’s lighthearted, though it pokes fun at being poor.

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