Ain’t Hit a Lick at a Snake

In Southern and Appalachian speech, ain’t hit a lick at a snake means someone hasn’t done a bit of work - they’re being lazy or unhelpful, not even taking action when it’s obvious.

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synonyms: hasn’t lifted a finger, lazy, idle, hasn’t done a thing

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I haven't heard 'ain’t hit a lick at a snake' in a really long time. This one would definitely be old timers.

Pronunciation

[AYNT hit uh LICK at uh SNAKE] /ˈeɪnt hɪt ə lɪk ət ə sneɪk/

Meaning & Usage

- To do nothing at all; be lazy (saying/verb phrase)

Clara:

He’s been there all morning and ain’t hit a lick at a snake.

Ike:

Figures - always talk, no work.

variations: ain’t hit a lick at a snake, not hit a lick at a snake, didn’t hit a lick at a snake, ain’t hit a lick

★ Southerners use "ain’t hit a lick at a snake" to point out laziness with humor - if you won’t even swat at a snake, you surely won’t do anything else. ★

Origin

A long-standing Southern and Appalachian expression built on colorful exaggeration. It compares extreme laziness to failing to take a swing at a snake, something anyone would normally do instinctively. Documented across the region since at least the early 20th century.

Notes

Ain’t hit a lick at a snake - means hasn’t done any work or lifted a finger ("He’s been here all day and ain’t hit a lick at a snake.")
Can be shortened to "ain’t hit a lick" as a quick way to say "lazy."
Part of the Southern/Appalachian tradition of humorous, vivid comparisons to everyday rural life.
Still used today among older speakers and in storytelling, though less common among younger generations.
Can be applied to chores, jobs, or even mental effort ("He ain’t hit a lick at studying.")

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "ain’t hit a lick at a snake" literally mean there’s a snake?

No - it’s a metaphor for not doing any work at all.

Can you just say "ain’t hit a lick"?

Yes - that’s a shorter form meaning the same thing.

Where did this saying come from?

From Southern/Appalachian rural life, where snakes were common and "hitting a lick" would be the bare minimum reaction.

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