laid up

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "laid up" means confined, stuck, or put out of commission - usually from sickness, injury, or even a machine breaking down. It’s a plain, everyday way of saying something (or someone) is down for the count.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

"Can’t help you with hay today - I’m laid up with this bum knee."

Pronunciation

[LAYD up]

Meaning & Usage

- Confined by sickness or injury (verb phrase)

Mae:

Where’s your brother been?

Earl:

He’s laid up with pneumonia.

- Broken or out of commission (verb phrase, figurative)

Mae:

Why ain’t you plowin’?

Earl:

Tractor’s laid up again.

other spellings: down sick, out of commission, stuck in bed, broke down, he’s laid up with the flu, and tractor’s laid up in the shed

★ "Laid up" is plain country talk. It works for people and things alike - Granny can be laid up in bed, or the pickup can be laid up in the shop. ★

Origin

Comes from the old sense of "lay up" meaning to rest, store, or set aside. It took root in American English, with Southern and Appalachian folks keeping it alive in everyday talk.

Notes

Widely understood across English, but outside the South it can feel old-fashioned. In Southern and Appalachian speech, it’s still a common, natural phrase for sickness or breakdowns.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "laid up." Quick and clipped in Southern speech, often stretched a little: "lay’d up."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "laid up" always mean sick?

No - it can mean sick, injured, or even a machine that’s broken down.

Is it only Southern?

It’s used everywhere, but sounds especially natural in Southern and Appalachian talk.

Do people still say it today?

Yes - it’s alive and well in country speech, even if it feels old-timey elsewhere.