  Actin’ UglyIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "actin’ ugly" means behaving badly - being rowdy, disruptive, or mean-spirited. It’s usually a scolding, said to children or anyone carrying on in an unkind way. Hillbilly Dude Says...  This is another one my neighbor from across the mountain would say - 'actin’ ugly' - but wasn't said in our family. I'd have to think it's regional. Pronunciation[AK-tin UHG-lee] Meaning & Usage- To misbehave or be disruptive (verb phrase)
Mae:
Them kids was actin’ ugly the whole service.- To be unkind or mean-spirited in behavior (verb phrase)
Earl:
Don’t be actin’ ugly toward your sister.other spellings: acting up, misbehaving, rowdy, mean, hateful, out of line, and ugly acting ★ When someone’s "actin’ ugly," it’s not about looks - it’s about behavior. The phrase almost always comes out as a warning or correction. ★ OriginFrom the older English sense of "ugly" meaning unpleasant or offensive. In Appalachia and the South, it stuck as a common way to describe bad or mean behavior. NotesVery common in Appalachian and Southern family talk, especially among parents and elders. Rare outside the region, where "ugly" is usually limited to appearance. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "ak-tin ug-lee." The "g" in "acting" is dropped. | About We are a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia, but wide as the world. Read more... |
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