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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Hillbilly Dude Says...
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. Hillbilly Dude Says...
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
[DOANT git uh-BUHV yore RAY-zin]
Meaning & Usage
- Don’t forget your roots (warning/advice)
Mae:
He’s actin’ like he’s too good for us now.
He’s actin’ like he’s too good for us now.
Earl:
Yep. Somebody needs to tell him, don’t get above your raisin’.
Yep. Somebody needs to tell him, don’t get above your raisin’.- Stay humble; don’t act highfalutin (figurative)
Mae:
She won that contest and got uppity.
She won that contest and got uppity.
Earl:
Don’t get above your raisin’, honey.
Don’t get above your raisin’, honey.variations: don’t get above your raising
★ This saying reflects a key Southern/Appalachian value: humility and loyalty to one’s people. It’s also been immortalized in bluegrass and country music ("Don’t Get Above Your Raisin’" by Ricky Skaggs). ★
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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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 5). Don’t Get Above Your Raising. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/dont-get-above-your-raisin
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Don’t Get Above Your Raising." HillbillySlang.com, 5 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/dont-get-above-your-raisin.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Don’t Get Above Your Raising." HillbillySlang.com. October 5, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/dont-get-above-your-raisin.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...