Gag a Maggot 
In Southern and Appalachian speech, gag a maggot (often "enough to gag a maggot") means something is so disgusting or foul that even a maggot - a creature that feeds on rot - would gag.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Animals #Southern #FarmTalk #Euphemisms
synonyms: disgusting, revolting, nauseating, enough to turn your stomach
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'gag a maggot' all my life, but I don't think I've ever said it because it's disgustin'. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'gag a maggot' all my life, but I don't think I've ever said it because it's disgustin'. Pronunciation
[GAG uh MAG-it] /ˈɡæɡ ə ˈmæɡɪt/
Meaning & Usage
- Extremely disgusting (saying/adjective phrase)
Billy:
Lord, that’s enough to gag a maggot.
Lord, that’s enough to gag a maggot.
Sue Ellen:
Roll the window up quick.
Roll the window up quick.variations: gag a maggot, enough to gag a maggot, make a maggot gag
★ This saying’s power comes from the idea that if even a maggot - which thrives on rot - can’t stand it, it’s truly vile. Southerners love it for its over-the-top imagery. ★
Origin and Etymology
Documented in Southern and Appalachian speech since at least the mid-20th century. The expression builds on the region’s tradition of colorful exaggeration tied to farm and rural life, where maggots were a familiar sight around dead animals or butchering sites.
Usage Notes
- Gag a maggot - classic Southern/Appalachian expression for extreme disgust or foul smell.
- Variants include "enough to gag a maggot" or "make a maggot gag."
- Often paired with other colorful hyperboles like "puke a buzzard off a gut wagon."
- Still recognized today, especially among older speakers and in storytelling or humorous exaggeration.
- Rooted in everyday rural experiences and blunt descriptions of filth or stench.
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 25). Gag a Maggot. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/gag-a-maggot
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Gag a Maggot." HillbillySlang.com, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/gag-a-maggot.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Gag a Maggot." HillbillySlang.com. September 25, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/gag-a-maggot.
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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...