Drunk as Cooter Brown
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Drunk as Cooter Brown" means very drunk or intoxicated - a vivid regional expression with a story behind it.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I didn't hear 'drunk as Cooter Brown' growin' up, but - like some others - you can hear it a couple counties over. So it must be regional. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I didn't hear 'drunk as Cooter Brown' growin' up, but - like some others - you can hear it a couple counties over. So it must be regional. Pronunciation
[DRUNK as COO-ter BROWN] /drʌŋk æz ˈkuːtɚ braʊn/
Meaning & Usage
- Extremely drunk (simile)
Jimmy:
Did you see him at the barn dance?
Did you see him at the barn dance?
Mary:
He was drunk as Cooter Brown.
He was drunk as Cooter Brown.variations: Cooter Brown Drunk, Drunk as a Skunk (mainstream equivalent), Lit Up Like a Christmas Tree
★ The name "Cooter Brown" appears in numerous Southern states’ folklore. In one version, Cooter Brown was a man living on the Mason-Dixon line who stayed drunk through the Civil War to avoid being drafted by either side. Regardless of the tale, the name became shorthand for someone spectacularly intoxicated. ★
Origin and Etymology
Rooted in Southern folklore. The "Cooter Brown" character is always described as perpetually drunk or drinking to avoid trouble. The expression spread throughout the South and Appalachia as a go-to way to describe being extremely drunk.
Usage Notes
Still common in Southern/Appalachian speech. Outside the region it may puzzle listeners unfamiliar with the "Cooter Brown" legend, but the "drunk as" part makes the meaning obvious.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "drunk as Cooter Brown" or "Cooter Brown drunk" - both are common variants.
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