Actin’ Ugly
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "actin’ ugly" (sometimes written "acting 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.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern #ScoldingandTeasing
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. 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.
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.
Don’t be actin’ ugly toward your sister.★ 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. ★
Origin and Etymology
From 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.
Usage Notes
Very 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 Southerner
Said plain: "ak-tin ug-lee." The "g" in "acting" is dropped.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 5). Acting Ugly. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/acting-ugly
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Acting Ugly." HillbillySlang.com, 5 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/acting-ugly.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Acting Ugly." HillbillySlang.com. October 5, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/acting-ugly.
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