Covered Up

In Southern and Appalachian speech, covered up means "busy," "overwhelmed," or "swamped" - a figurative way of saying you’re buried under tasks or people.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Southern #MoneyWorkandChores

synonyms: swamped, buried, snowed under, up to one’s ears

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Oh 'covered up' is a normal term for 'being busy' around here, it's common.

Pronunciation

[KUV-urd UP] /ˈkʌvɚd ʌp/

Meaning & Usage

- To be very busy or overwhelmed (saying/phrase)

Betty:

Can y’all take another job this week?

Ray:

Wish we could. We’re covered up right now.

variations: covered up with work, all covered up, covered up in orders

★ "Covered up" in this sense is figurative - it paints a picture of being buried under work, customers, or tasks. Southerners say it the same way others say "swamped." ★

Origin

Documented in Southern/Appalachian speech from the early 20th century onward. The metaphor likely stems from rural and farm life ("covered up in hay," "covered up in chores") and parallels older British expressions but remained strongest in the South.

Notes

Covered up - used for being overwhelmed or extremely busy.
Common constructions: "covered up with work," "covered up in orders," "all covered up."
Still widely heard in Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia, and other Southern states.
Comparable to "swamped," "snowed under," and "up to my ears in"" but much more Southern/Appalachian in flavor.
Outsiders will usually understand but not naturally use the phrase themselves.

Kin Topics

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Common Questions

Does "covered up" literally mean covered?

Not here - it’s figurative for "overwhelmed" or "busy."

Is it unique to the South?

The literal meaning is universal, but the figurative "busy/overloaded" meaning is strongly tied to Southern and Appalachian speech.

Can it be used for people or things?

Yes - "We’re covered up in customers," "She’s covered up with laundry," "They’re covered up in hay."

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