Blow Up Like a Bullfrog

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "blow up like a bullfrog" means to get angry, puffed up, or overfilled-either from temper or from eating too much. It paints a picture of a bullfrog swelling its throat when riled or full.

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synonyms: fit to bust, puffed up, swelled up, mad as a hornet, full as a tick

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I use 'blowed up like a bullfrog - because it tickles me. You'll hear this one out in the country.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I use 'blowed up like a bullfrog - because it tickles me. You'll hear this one out in the country.

Pronunciation

[BLOHD up lahk uh BULL-frog]
/bloʊd ʌp laːk ə ˈbʊl.frɔg/

Meaning & Usage

- To become angry or agitated

Lou:

He blowed up like a bullfrog when they shorted his paycheck.

Ray:

Ain’t took much to do it, neither.

- To become overly full or stuffed (after eating)

Mama:

You done blowed up like a bullfrog-can’t move, can ya?

Daddy:

Not till dessert.

variations: blowed up like a bullfrog, swell up like a bullfrog

★ After Thanksgiving, you might hear somebody talkin' about being blowed up like a bullfrog. ★

Origin and Etymology

Inspired by the image of a bullfrog inflating its throat when croaking or threatened. The phrase likely arose in rural Southern and Appalachian talk by the early 1900s, first meaning "angry or puffed up," then expanding to include "stuffed or overfull." "Blowed" is the natural past form of "blow" in older and regional Southern English.

Usage Notes

Still common in Southern storytelling and porch talk. Tone ranges from teasing to descriptive-more funny than cruel.

"He blowed up like a bullfrog over nothing." → got angry quick.
"After that third plate, he blowed up like a bullfrog." → ate too much.
"Don’t blow up like a bullfrog now." → lighthearted warning.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

What does "blow up like a bullfrog" mean?

It means to get mad or puffed up, like a bullfrog swelling its throat.

Is it only Southern?

It’s found mostly in Southern and Appalachian speech, sometimes reaching the Ozarks and rural Midwest.

Why "blowed" instead of "blew"?

"Blowed" is an older, natural past form of "blow" used in traditional Southern and rural English.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 8). Blow Up Like a Bullfrog. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/blow-up-like-a-bullfrog
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Blow Up Like a Bullfrog." HillbillySlang.com, 8 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/blow-up-like-a-bullfrog.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Blow Up Like a Bullfrog." HillbillySlang.com. November 8, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/blow-up-like-a-bullfrog.