   Dance with the One That Brung YouIn Southern and Appalachian speech, "Dance with the one that brung you" is a proverb meaning stay loyal to those who supported you or the plan that got you this far. It’s a colorful way of saying don’t abandon your roots or your allies just because something shinier comes along. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #OldTimers #Southern #Proverbs Hillbilly Dude Says...  'Dance with the one that brung you' is a good one, but not one I grew up hearin'. Think it might be regional. Pronunciation[DANS with thuh WUN that BRUNG yoo] Meaning & Usage- To stay loyal to your supporters (proverb)
Mae:
They’re switching teams now they’re ahead.
Earl:
They oughta dance with the one that brung ’em.- To stick with the plan or method that got you this far (proverb)
Mae:
Should we change our lineup now?
Earl:
Nope - dance with the one that brung you.other spellings: dance with who brung you ★ This saying took off in the South from high school gyms to political campaigns. It’s still common in sports commentary and country music, signaling loyalty and consistency. ★ OriginThe phrase dates back to early 20th-century Southern social dances and was popularized in sports and political circles in Texas and across the South. It’s recorded in Southern newspapers and speeches from the mid-1900s onward. NotesMost common in the South and among older speakers, coaches, and politicians, but now widely recognized nationally thanks to sports commentators and country songs. Still carries a Southern twang in its original form "brung" instead of "brought." Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "dance with the one that brung you." Sometimes "dance with who brung you." | Latest Accents About We are a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia, but wide as the world. Read more... |
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