  Down in the Evenin'In Appalachian and Southern speech, "down in the evenin’" means late evening, near sundown. The "down" doesn’t point to direction - it adds a rhythmic, folksy flavor to marking time of day. Hillbilly Dude Says...  If you need to get home before it gets too dark, you might say, 'it's startin' to get down in the evenin’, I better head to the house. Pronunciation[down in thuh EE-vuh-nin] Meaning & Usage- Late evening, near sundown (adverbial phrase)
Mae:
When y’all headin’ over?
Earl:
Sometime down in the evenin’, after the stock’s fed.other spellings: down in the evening, down in the evenin’, late evening, and toward sundown ★ "Down in the evenin’" doesn’t mean downhill - it means late evening, and adds that musical rhythm mountain talk is famous for. ★ OriginAdding "down" to time expressions comes from older English speech rhythms carried by Scots-Irish settlers. Appalachians kept the pattern alive, especially when telling stories or marking time loosely. NotesStill used in rural and Appalachian speech. To outsiders it may sound literal, but locals know "down in the evenin’" means late evening or toward sundown. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid slow and natural: "down in the evenin’." The "down" is light, almost a lead-in, giving the phrase its homely rhythm. | 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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