I’ve Had About As Much Fun As I Can Stand

"I’ve had about as much fun as I can stand" is an Appalachian and Southern saying, borrowed from a 1960s country song, used as a tongue-in-cheek farewell or wrap-up line.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia

Hillbilly Dude Says...

My Momma and Grannie would both say, 'Well, I’ve had about as much fun as I can stand.' I’m not sure how widespread it was, but it stuck with me - and I still use it myself.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

My Momma and Grannie would both say, 'Well, I’ve had about as much fun as I can stand.' I’m not sure how widespread it was, but it stuck with me - and I still use it myself.

Pronunciation

[ahv HAD uh-bout as much FUN as ah kin STAND]

Meaning & Usage

- Polite or humorous farewell (saying)

Mae:

Well, I’ve had about as much fun as I can stand.

Earl:

Guess that means it’s time to head on home.

- Dry, sarcastic comment (saying)

Mae:

These folding chairs are about to wear me out.

Earl:

Yep - I’ve had about as much fun as I can stand.

variations: I’ve enjoyed as much of this as I can stand, That’s about all the fun I can take, I’ve had all the fun I can handle, fun’s over, time to go

★ This saying doesn’t mean the speaker disliked the experience. It’s usually playful, a way of politely declaring "that’s enough for me." ★

Origin and Etymology

The phrase traces to the 1960s country song "I’ve Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand," written by Bill Anderson and recorded by Porter Wagoner. Fans and performers carried it into everyday talk, where it stuck as a humorous farewell line across Appalachia and the South.

Usage Notes

Still heard among Appalachian and Southern families, especially older generations. It works both sincerely and jokingly, depending on tone. Likely spread by country music, so it may not have been universal in Appalachia - but many families, like mine, adopted it as part of everyday speech.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said slow and deliberate for comic effect. Deadpan.

Kin Topics

Appalachia

Common Questions

Does this mean the speaker had a bad time?

Not at all - it’s often said jokingly, even after a good visit.

Is it unique to Appalachia?

Versions of this phrase appear in broader Southern speech, but it’s especially remembered in Appalachian families thanks to country music roots.

Do younger folks still use it?

Less often, though you’ll still hear it from older relatives, especially at the end of gatherings.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 4). I’ve Had About As Much Fun As I Can Stand. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/ive-had-about-as-much-fun-as-i-can-stand
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "I’ve Had About As Much Fun As I Can Stand." HillbillySlang.com, 4 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/ive-had-about-as-much-fun-as-i-can-stand.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "I’ve Had About As Much Fun As I Can Stand." HillbillySlang.com. September 4, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/ive-had-about-as-much-fun-as-i-can-stand.

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