   Every Tub Must Sit on Its Own BottomIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "Every tub must sit on its own bottom" is an old-time proverb meaning each person must take responsibility for themselves. It’s a classic piece of folk wisdom passed down by older generations. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #OldTimers #Proverbs Hillbilly Dude Says...  'Every tub must sit on its own bottom' isn't one I've heard that I can remembers - so I assume it's regional and old timers. Pronunciation[EV-ree TUB must SIT on its OWN BAH-tum] Meaning & Usage- Everyone must take responsibility for themselves (proverb)
Mae:
Nobody’s gonna pay your rent for you.
Earl:
Yep - every tub must sit on its own bottom.- Each person or project must stand alone (proverb)
Mae:
They won’t bail you out at that job.
Earl:
Every tub must sit on its own bottom - best learn quick.other spellings: each tub must sit on its own bottom ★ This is one of those "old-timer" sayings that signals self-reliance - a bedrock Southern/Appalachian value. "Tub" here means a vessel with legs; "bottom" is the base it rests on. It’s a metaphor for self-support. ★ OriginCollected in African American and Appalachian folk speech since at least the 1800s. Appears in the Dictionary of American Regional English and WPA oral histories. Strongly associated with the American South and still quoted by older generations. NotesLess common among younger speakers today but instantly recognizable to older Southerners. Rare outside the South and Appalachia, which makes it a distinctive regional proverb. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "every tub must sit on its own bottom." Sometimes "each tub’s gotta sit on its own bottom." | Latest Accents 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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