snipe huntin’
In Southern and Appalachian speech, a "snipe hunt" is a prank where someone is sent to catch a made-up critter called a snipe. The joke? There ain’t no such thing - it’s a country rite of passage built on laughter and trickery.
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I never fell for goin out 'snipe huntin’' - but not because I wasn't invited a few times! Pronunciation
Meaning & Usage
- A prank hunting trip for a nonexistent animal (noun phrase)
Where’s the new kid?Still out snipe huntin’ with a pillowcase.- A fool’s errand (figurative)
What’d the boss have you doin’?Nothin’ but a snipe hunt - wild goose chase.Origin
The prank likely grew out of older European fool’s errands, but in the South and Appalachia it became a campfire tradition. Generations of kids were sent into the dark with bags, waiting on critters that never showed.
Notes
Still part of Southern and Appalachian humor, especially at camps, church outings, or family gatherings. Outside the region, some know it through scouting, but many have never heard of it.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "snipe huntin’." The final "g" is dropped, giving it that porch-talk ring.