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Bad Off

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "bad off" means in very poor condition-often seriously ill, but also used for hard times (money, work, or circumstances).

#SouthernSayings   #Appalachia   #PeopleandRelationships   #DialectandGrammar   #Southern   #BodyandHealth

synonyms: real sick, in a bad way, poorly, hard up, in rough shape
Hillbilly Dude Says...
When the flu hit our road, folks said Miss Dora was bad off. Around here that means she wasn’t just sick-she was laid low. 

Pronunciation

[BAD off] /bæd ɔːf/

Meaning & Usage

- Seriously ill / in poor health (phrase)

Clara:
How’s your uncle doin’?
Elmer:
Not good. He’s bad off with pneumonia.

- In difficult circumstances (phrase)

Estel:
Since the plant shut down, they’re bad off-scrapin’ by on odd jobs.

Origin

Attested in American English by the 19th century as a set phrase meaning "in a poor state." The construction persisted strongly in Southern and Appalachian speech, where it’s commonly used for both sickness and hardship.

Notes

  • Common intensifiers: real bad off, awful bad off, mighty bad off.
  • Frequently used in health talk alongside expressions like what ails you or the verb ail.
  • Outside the South/Appalachia it’s understood, but the phrasing can sound old-fashioned.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "bad off" always mean sick?
No. It most often means very ill, but can also mean in hard financial or life circumstances.
Is "bad off" only Southern?
The phrase exists in wider American English, but it’s especially natural and persistent in Southern and Appalachian speech.
Can you use it with degrees?
Yes-folks say "real bad off," "awful bad off," or "worse off" when comparing.
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