Don’t Get Above Your Raisin’
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "Don’t get above your raisin’" means don’t forget your roots or act superior to the people and values you grew up with. It’s a classic down-home warning to stay humble.
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I never really heard 'don’t get above your raisin’,' but it does get used, maybe regionally. Just a reminder to not forget where you came from. I never really heard 'don’t get above your raisin’,' but it does get used, maybe regionally. Just a reminder to not forget where you came from. Pronunciation
Meaning & Usage
- Don’t forget your roots (warning/advice)
He’s actin’ like he’s too good for us now.Yep. Somebody needs to tell him, don’t get above your raisin’.- Stay humble; don’t act highfalutin (figurative)
She won that contest and got uppity.Don’t get above your raisin’, honey.Origin and Etymology
Rooted in Scots-Irish and rural American speech. "Raisin’" refers to your upbringing or raising, not dried grapes. Common throughout the Appalachian Mountains and the rural South since at least the 19th century.
Usage Notes
Still widely used in the South and Appalachia, especially among older generations. Recognized elsewhere mainly because of country music, but far more natural-sounding in Southern voices.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "Don’t get above your raisin’." The final "g" is dropped from "raisin’."
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