  Get Lit UpIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "get lit up" means to be on the receiving end of something fierce - a whipping, a scolding, a fight, a sting, or even a night of hard drinking. Hillbilly Dude Says...  I had a teacher that decided I should get a paddlin' for leaning back in my chair. Ten licks. I traded her 1000 sentences for seven licks. But I still 'got lit up' with some bruises. And that's what people would still call it nowadays around here. Pronunciation[LIT up] Meaning & Usage- To be punished or scolded (verb phrase)
Mae:
I got lit up for talkin’ back.- To be hurt or attacked suddenly (verb phrase)
Earl:
Stepped in a yellow jacket nest and got lit up head to toe.- To be beaten or argued down (verb phrase)
Mae:
He got lit up in that fight.- To get drunk or overly excited (verb phrase)
Ruby:
We all got lit up last night on shine.other spellings: get chewed out, get stung, get beat up, get drunk, and get excited ★ "Get lit up" shows what happens when something (or somebody) comes at you hard. Could be a whipping, a sting, a fight, or a strong drink - context tells the story. ★ OriginFrom the same fiery image as "light you up." Instead of doing the lighting, this phrase puts you on the receiving end. Popular across the South and Appalachia. NotesHeard all over Appalachia and the South. While "light you up" is the active side, "get lit up" carries the outcome - being whipped, stung, fought, or drunk.
Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "git lit up." Quick and sharp. | 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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