It Ain’t Done It
"It ain’t done it" is a documented Southern and Appalachian exclamation rejecting a claim as false - a lively way to say "that’s not true!" or "that never happened."
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #DialectandGrammar #OldTimers #Southern
synonyms: it ain’t so, that ain’t right, that dog won’t hunt, false, never happened
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Growin' up I heard 'it ain’t done it' whenever somebody was pointing out something wasn't true. This is definitely an old timers thing, I haven't heard it in years. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Growin' up I heard 'it ain’t done it' whenever somebody was pointing out something wasn't true. This is definitely an old timers thing, I haven't heard it in years. Pronunciation
[IT AYN’T DUNN IT]
/ɪt eɪnt dʌn ɪt/
/ɪt eɪnt dʌn ɪt/
Meaning & Usage
- Exclamation rejecting a claim as false (Southern/Appalachian idiom)
Elmer:
Did you hear Cletus jumped over the barn with his four-wheeler?
Did you hear Cletus jumped over the barn with his four-wheeler?
Estel:
It ain’t done it! That boy barely clears a ditch.
It ain’t done it! That boy barely clears a ditch.variations: none widely recorded
★ Think of this one as the Southern equivalent of "No way!" - it’s short, direct, and just a little playful. ★
Origin and Etymology
Heard in East Tennessee and Alabama family speech. Documented as a Southern colloquialism. Blends two common Southern speech patterns ("it ain’t so" + "he done did it") into a unique regional exclamation meaning "not true."
Usage Notes
- Documented in both East Tennessee and Alabama family speech traditions.
- Used to quickly reject a claim as false - especially in informal or teasing conversation.
- Not widely recognized outside the Southern/Appalachian region but easily understood in context.
- Cross-link to related expressions such as "it ain’t so," "that ain’t right," and "that dog won’t hunt."
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 8). It Ain’t Done It. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/it-aint-done-it
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "It Ain’t Done It." HillbillySlang.com, 8 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/it-aint-done-it.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "It Ain’t Done It." HillbillySlang.com. October 8, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/it-aint-done-it.
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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...