   Fit to Be TiedIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "fit to be tied" means extremely angry, upset, or frustrated. It’s a colorful way of saying someone’s mad enough to burst. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #People&Relationships #OldTimers #Southern Hillbilly Dude Says...  I hear 'fit to be tied' sometimes, but I'd consider this more of an old timers thing. Pronunciation[FIT tuh bee TAHYD] Meaning & Usage- Extremely angry or upset (verb phrase, figurative)
Mae:
How’s she takin’ it?
Earl:
She’s fit to be tied, that’s how.★ "Fit to be tied" is usually exaggeration - folks say it when they’re frustrated or angry enough to fuss, not when they’re truly out of control. ★ OriginLikely from the idea of being so upset you’d need to be tied down to keep from lashing out. Recorded in American English since the 1800s, it became especially common in Southern and Appalachian speech. NotesStill alive in Southern/Appalachian talk, especially among older speakers. Outside the region, it’s understood but often sounds old-fashioned or folksy. Related to sayings like mad as a hornet. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "fit t’ be tied." Quick and clipped: "fit t’be tied." | 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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