Cuttin’ Up

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "cuttin’ up" means acting silly, playful, or mischievous - clowning around, laughing, or sometimes being rowdy when you ought not to be.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

Growin' up, teachers would accuse kids of 'cuttin’ up.' And my neighbor from across the mountain would tell me and my friend to stop 'cuttin’ up' that if we were getting too loud.

Pronunciation

[KUH-tin UP]

Meaning & Usage

- To act silly or playful (verb phrase)

Mae:

Y’all quit cuttin’ up and get back to your lessons.

- To misbehave or be disruptive (verb phrase)

Mae:

Them boys wouldn’t hush - just cuttin’ up the whole service.

variations: acting up, clownin’ around, goofin’ off, cutting loose, acting silly, misbehavin’

★ "Cuttin’ up" is usually lighthearted. It can be scolding if kids are out of hand, but it just as often means joking and having a good time. ★

Origin

The phrase likely grew from the idea of "cutting loose" or "cutting capers" - both older English ways of describing playful antics. In Appalachia and the South, it stuck as "cuttin’ up."

Notes

Very common in Appalachian and Southern speech. Folks outside the region may understand it, but they’re less likely to use it naturally.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "cut-in up." The "g" is dropped: "cuttin’."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "cuttin’ up" always mean misbehaving?

Not always - it can mean just joking and having fun.

Do people outside the South use it?

They may recognize it, but it’s much more common in Southern and Appalachian talk.

Is it still used today?

Absolutely - you’ll hear it at schools, churches, and family gatherings across the South and Appalachia.

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