Katie Bar the Door

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Katie Bar the Door" is a warning that something bad or dramatic is about to happen - the verbal equivalent of "brace yourself."

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern

synonyms: watch out, look out, brace yourself, trouble coming

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Katie bar the door' is another one of those I've only read, so I'm assuming it's more regional (and old timers).

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Katie bar the door' is another one of those I've only read, so I'm assuming it's more regional (and old timers).

Pronunciation

[KAY-tee bar thuh DOOR]
/ˈkeɪ.ti bɑːr ðə dɔːr/

Meaning & Usage

- A warning of impending trouble (idiom)

Ruby:

If Uncle Earl shows up at the reunion again"

J.D.:

"Katie bar the door!

variations: Katy Bar the Door, Katie-Bar the Door

★ Think of "Katie Bar the Door" as a dramatic Southern way to say "Here we go!" or "Get ready - all heck’s about to break loose." ★

Origin and Etymology

Derived from the old Scottish ballad "Get Up and Bar the Door" (Child Ballad #275) brought to the American South by Scots-Irish immigrants. The "Katie" form appears in Southern newspapers and oral tradition by the late 19th century and remains a colorful Appalachian warning phrase.

Usage Notes

Distinctively Southern/Appalachian; rarely used outside the region except as a literary flourish.
Most common as a humorous or dramatic preface to impending chaos.
Spelling varies, but Katie Bar the Door is the most standard and search-friendly.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

What does "Katie Bar the Door" mean?

It’s a warning to watch out or brace yourself for trouble.

Where does "Katie Bar the Door" come from?

It stems from the Scots-Irish ballad "Get Up and Bar the Door," which migrated into the South and morphed into a common saying.

Is "Katie Bar the Door" Southern?

Yes. It’s deeply rooted in Southern/Appalachian speech and storytelling.

Do people still say it today?

Less often than before, but it’s still used in nostalgic or dramatic contexts, especially in the upland South.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 29). Katie Bar the Door. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/katie-bar-the-door
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Katie Bar the Door." HillbillySlang.com, 29 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/katie-bar-the-door.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Katie Bar the Door." HillbillySlang.com. September 29, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/katie-bar-the-door.

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