Sight

In Southern and Appalachian English, "a sight" means something remarkable, impressive, or worth seeing - often used without "to behold."

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern

synonyms: remarkable, impressive, spectacle, something to see

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Papaw leaned back after the finale and said, "Wuttin those fireworks a sight?" Around here, that means "Weren’t they something to see?"

Pronunciation

[SUH-ITE] /saɪt/

Meaning & Usage

- Something remarkable or worth seeing (noun)

Elmer:

Wuttin those fireworks a sight?

Estel:

Sure were - I ain’t seen nothin’ like it.

variations: a sight better, a sight of (meaning "a lot of")

★ "A sight" is a Southern shortcut for "a sight to behold" - you’ll also hear "a sight better" or "a sight of people" meaning "a lot better" or "a large number of people." ★

Origin

From older English "sight" meaning "something seen." The clipped form without "to behold" survived in Southern/Appalachian speech and shows up in regional writings from the 19th century onward.

Notes

Common across Appalachia and the rural South.
Often appears in rhetorical questions ("Wuttin that a sight?") or exclamations ("That’s a sight!").
Can also intensify comparisons ("a sight better" = "a lot better").

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Common Questions

Does "a sight" mean literally "vision"?

In this usage it means "something remarkable," not just "something seen."

Where is it used?

Throughout the South and Appalachia, especially in rural and older speech.

Is it still used today?

Yes - especially in folksy or nostalgic speech.