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Crazier'n a Road Lizard

In Southern and Appalachian speech, crazier than a road lizard means someone is acting wild, unpredictable, or downright eccentric - like a lizard darting across a hot road.

#SouthernSayings   #Appalachia   #Animals   #PeopleandRelationships   #Nature   #Southern

synonyms: wild, eccentric, off one’s rocker, unpredictable
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Some of these phrases I can't pinpoint hearin' or not (many, many others are engrained), but I've read 'em. 'That boy’s crazier than a road lizard' is one. 

Pronunciation

[KRAY-zee-ur than uh ROWD LIZ-urd] /ˈkreɪziɚ ðæn ə roʊd ˈlɪzɚd/

Meaning & Usage

- To describe someone as wild or unpredictable (saying/phrase)

Troy:
He jumped in the creek in December!
Earl:
Yeah. He’s crazier than a road lizard.
variations: crazy as a road lizard, crazier than a road lizard, wild as a road lizard
★ Road lizards - small reptiles that dash frantically across hot country roads - became a natural metaphor in the South for someone with wild, jittery, unpredictable behavior. ★

Origin

Documented in Deep South and Appalachian oral storytelling and humor since at least the mid-20th century. The phrase evokes the sight of lizards skittering across dusty roads in the summer heat - a familiar image in the rural South.

Notes

  • Crazier than a road lizard - the most common form; "crazy as a road lizard" also appears.
  • Used for both people and situations ("this storm’s crazier than a road lizard").
  • Comparable to "mad as a March hare" or "crazy as a sprayed roach," but with a distinctly Southern critter image.
  • Rarely heard outside the South/Appalachia - most non-Southerners wouldn’t know what a road lizard is.
  • Still pops up in Southern storytelling, fishing forums, and humorous columns.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does it literally refer to a lizard?
No - it’s a metaphor comparing someone to a lizard darting on a hot road.
Is it unique to the South?
Yes - the "road lizard" imagery is especially tied to Southern rural roads and critters.
Is it still used today?
Yes - mostly in rural speech, humorous anecdotes, and playful jabs.
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About
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