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. 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/
/bæd ɔːf/
Meaning & Usage
- Seriously ill / in poor health (phrase)
Clara:
How’s your uncle doin’?
How’s your uncle doin’?
Elmer:
Not good. He’s bad off with pneumonia.
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.
Since the plant shut down, they’re bad off-scrapin’ by on odd jobs.Origin and Etymology
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.
Usage 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.
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 2). Bad Off. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/bad-off
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Bad Off." HillbillySlang.com, 2 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/bad-off.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Bad Off." HillbillySlang.com. October 2, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/bad-off.
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Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...