Got Tickled
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Got Tickled" means you started laughing uncontrollably or got the giggles - a hallmark regional expression for "cracked up."
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #DialectandGrammar #Southern
synonyms: cracked up, giggles, laughing
Hillbilly Dude Says...
We had to go to a college play when I was in high school. It was a drama, but about Dracula (with seems like a oxymoron). When Dracula appeared onstage, he was a 6' 7" dude with giant hair like a 'stump full of grandaddies'. So I "got tickled" - and couldn't stop laughin' the rest of the performance. Hillbilly Dude Says...
We had to go to a college play when I was in high school. It was a drama, but about Dracula (with seems like a oxymoron). When Dracula appeared onstage, he was a 6' 7" dude with giant hair like a 'stump full of grandaddies'. So I "got tickled" - and couldn't stop laughin' the rest of the performance. Pronunciation
[GAHT TIK-uhld] /ɡɒt ˈtɪkəld/
Meaning & Usage
- Burst out laughing / got the giggles (expression)
Elmer:
Why'd you leave the room when Estel came in?
Why'd you leave the room when Estel came in?
Horace:
I got tickled at the hole in the back of his britches and couldn't stop laughin'.
I got tickled at the hole in the back of his britches and couldn't stop laughin'.★ In Southern/Appalachian English, "got tickled" is the go-to way of saying "I cracked up laughing" - especially in situations where you’re not supposed to. It’s one of the region’s most recognizable expressions. ★
Origin and Etymology
From the older English "tickle" meaning "delight." Southern/Appalachian speech extended it to mean "burst out laughing," documented in rural newspapers, oral histories, and storytelling since at least the late 19th century.
Usage Notes
Still widely heard in Southern/Appalachian speech. "Got tickled" is especially used for laughing when you shouldn’t - at church, in school, or during a serious event. Outside the region "tickled" is understood as "pleased," but "got tickled" for "cracked up laughing" is less common.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "got tickled" - used for laughing or cracking up, especially when you shouldn’t. Often extended as "I got so tickled"" or "We got tickled at that."
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 23). Got Tickled. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/got-tickled
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Got Tickled." HillbillySlang.com, 23 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/got-tickled.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Got Tickled." HillbillySlang.com. September 23, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/got-tickled.
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