Lousy
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "lousy" means bad, worthless, or pitiful. Originally it meant "infested with lice," from the word "louse," but it came to describe anything unpleasant or sorry.
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That’s a lousy excuse for supper - cold beans and burnt cornbread. Folks use "lousy" for anything pitiful or no good. That’s a lousy excuse for supper - cold beans and burnt cornbread. Folks use "lousy" for anything pitiful or no good. Pronunciation
Meaning & Usage
- Pitiful, poor quality (adjective)
This is a lousy meal.Well, it’s all we got.- Infested with lice (adjective, older)
Them young’uns came home lousy with nits.Best boil them sheets.Origin and Etymology
From Old English *lūs* (louse). Originally "lousy" meant "lice-ridden." By the 19th century, it had broadened in American speech to mean "bad" or "worthless." Appalachian English kept both the literal and figurative senses alive.
Usage Notes
Still common across Appalachia and the South, though it’s also widespread in standard English. The "lice" meaning is older but still understood, especially among older speakers. Today it’s most often just another way to say "sorry" or "pitiful."
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it plain: "louz-ee." Easy, two beats.