Hush Up
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "hush up" means be quiet or stop talking. It can be sharp scolding or light teasing, depending on tone.
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Hillbilly Dude Says...
Instead of 'shut up', hush up is more polite down here. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Instead of 'shut up', hush up is more polite down here. Pronunciation
[HUHSH uhp]
Meaning & Usage
- Be quiet; stop talking (imperative)
Mae:
They’re makin’ a racket.
They’re makin’ a racket.
Earl:
Tell ’em to hush up.
Tell ’em to hush up.- Playful disbelief (figurative)
Mae:
She married a millionaire.
She married a millionaire.
Earl:
Oh, hush up!
Oh, hush up!variations: be quiet
shut up (softer)
quit talkin’
settle down
hush up, y’all
hush up now and listen
oh hush up, you don’t mean it
★ "Hush up" can sound stern when said to children, but among adults it’s often teasing or affectionate. Tone makes all the difference. ★
Origin and Etymology
From the old verb "hush" (to be silent), first recorded in the 14th century. "Hush up" as a phrasal form became common in American rural speech, especially in the South and Appalachia.
Usage Notes
Still widely used in Southern/Appalachian speech. Elsewhere in the U.S. it may sound quaint or old-fashioned, but people recognize it from Southern talk and culture.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "hush up." Sometimes softened to "hush."
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