 Ain’t Got a Pot to Pee In"Ain’t got a pot to pee in" is an old saying meaning someone is extremely poor, without even the bare essentials. In Appalachia and the South, it carried extra weight because chamber pots ("slop jars") were part of daily life. Hillbilly Dude Says...  I hear 'ain’t got a pot to pee in' plenty, but it's not one I remember using myself. Pronunciation[aynt got uh pot tuh pee in] Meaning & Usage- Extremely poor, lacking essentials (saying)
Neighbor:
How’s Earl gettin’ by?
Uncle Joe:
He ain’t got a pot to pee in, but he’s still smilin’.other spellings: so poor, broke, flat busted, without means, and destitute ★ The phrase is usually said with humor, but it describes real poverty. In many families, it was a plain way of saying "we were dirt poor." ★ OriginThe saying comes from the days when chamber pots were a basic household item. If you "didn’t have a pot to pee in," you lacked even the simplest necessity. The longer version adds "or a window to throw it out of." NotesHeard across the U.S. and Britain, but especially common in Appalachia and the South where chamber pots remained a household reality well into the 20th century. The stronger word ("p*ss") was often used, though polite versions swap in "pee." Say It Like a SouthernerSaid quick and flat: "ain’t-got-a-pot-tuh-pee-in." | 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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