Eat Till You Bust
In Southern and Appalachian speech, eat till you bust (or "ate till I busted") means to eat so much you feel like you’re going to explode - a humorous exaggeration tied to big family meals and country cooking.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #FoodandDrink #PeopleandRelationships #DialectandGrammar #Southern
synonyms: overeat, pig out, stuff yourself, gorge
Hillbilly Dude Says...
After Thanksgivin', you'll hear people say that they 'eat till I busted' or 'eat till I popped.' Eat can be past tense. Hillbilly Dude Says...
After Thanksgivin', you'll hear people say that they 'eat till I busted' or 'eat till I popped.' Eat can be past tense. Pronunciation
[EET til yew BUST] /iːt tɪl juː bʌst/
Meaning & Usage
- To eat so much you feel you’ll burst (saying/phrase)
Mary:
Did you try the banana pudding?
Did you try the banana pudding?
Earl:
I did. Ate till I busted. Worth every bite.
I did. Ate till I busted. Worth every bite.variations: eat till you bust, ate till I bust, ate till I busted, eat till you pop
★ "Eat till you bust" isn’t just about overeating - it’s a wink at the Southern tradition of abundant home cooking and generous portions. ★
Origin and Etymology
Documented in Southern and Appalachian oral histories, church cookbooks, and humor columns since the early 20th century. The phrase reflects a long-standing culture of big meals, potlucks, and joking exaggeration around food.
Usage Notes
- Eat till you bust - primary form; "ate till I busted" or "ate till I popped" are common variants.
- Often said with pride or humor after a big meal at family gatherings, church socials, or holiday dinners.
- Comparable to "make a hog of yourself" but more self-deprecating and playful.
- Recognized as a distinctly Southern/Appalachian expression; outsiders may say "I’m stuffed" or "I pigged out" instead.
- Can also be used figuratively: "He worked till he bust" (overdid it).
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 26). Eat Till You Bust. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/eat-till-you-bust
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Eat Till You Bust." HillbillySlang.com, 26 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/eat-till-you-bust.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Eat Till You Bust." HillbillySlang.com. September 26, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/eat-till-you-bust.
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Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site 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...