   Don’t Fool With Somethin’ That Ain’t Botherin’ YouIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "Don’t fool with somethin’ that ain’t botherin’ you" is a folksy way of saying "leave well enough alone." It’s authentic dialect advice passed down orally, especially in rural communities. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern #Proverbs synonyms: Leave well enough alone Hillbilly Dude Says...  You'll hear cousin versions of 'don’t fool with somethin’ that ain’t botherin’ you' around here. Pronunciation[DONT fool wuh SUMP-in at AINT BOTHER-in ya] Meaning & Usage- Leave well enough alone; don’t mess with something harmless (proverb / figurative)
Mae:
Should I spray that hornet nest?
Earl:
Honey, don’t fool with somethin’ that ain’t botherin’ you.★ This saying draws on everyday rural sense: if something’s not harming you - a snake, a hornet’s nest, an old engine - leave it alone. "Fool with" and "ain’t" are authentically Southern/Appalachian for "mess with" and "isn’t." ★ OriginDocumented as a natural speech pattern in Appalachian and Southern oral histories and in interviews. While not printed as a set proverb, the wording closely matches dozens of recorded pieces of advice from elders. NotesStill widely used in rural Southern/Appalachian communities, especially about animals, remedies, or machinery. Outside the South it’s rare to hear this phrasing, though "leave it alone" is universal. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "don’t fool with sum-thin that ain’t botherin’ you." "Fool with" is a classic Southern/Appalachian verb meaning "mess with" or "tamper with." | 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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