Killed It Dead

In Southern and Appalachian speech, killed it dead is a colorful, emphatic way of saying you thoroughly or completely killed something - whether literally (like a snake) or figuratively (a plan, a rumor, a bad idea).

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Southern #FarmTalk

synonyms: finished it off, ended it completely, stopped it cold

Hillbilly Dude Says...

The expression 'killed it dead' can definitely be heard around here, it's common.

Pronunciation

[KILLD-it-DEHD] /ˈkɪld ɪt dɛd/

Meaning & Usage

- To destroy or stop something completely (saying/verb phrase)

Clyde:

Did you get that copperhead?

Bessie:

I sure did - I killed it dead.

variations: killed it dead, kill it dead, killed him dead

★ Southerners use "killed it dead" for emphasis, sometimes even for jokes or exaggeration - "That gossip’s been killed dead" or "That deal’s been killed dead." ★

Origin

A long-standing Southern and Appalachian expression built on intentional redundancy for emphasis. Documented in rural speech and folk humor across the South since at least the early 1900s.

Notes

"Killed it dead" is a hallmark of Southern and Appalachian hyperbole. The phrase adds force to an already complete action - killing - by doubling it with "dead." This type of colorful redundancy shows up across the region ("beat the tar out of," "slam full," "burnt slap up"). While outsiders may find it humorous, it’s genuine and everyday speech to Southerners.

Used literally ("He killed that snake dead") and figuratively ("That plan’s killed dead now").
Emphasizes finality - nothing left, totally ended or stopped.
Shows regional fondness for doubling words or adding redundant descriptors for effect.
Still widely recognized and understood as a Southernism, especially among older speakers.
Often found in rural storytelling, hunting or farm anecdotes, and even sermons ("The preacher killed that point dead").

Kin Topics

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Common Questions

Why "killed it dead" instead of just "killed it"?

It’s intentional redundancy for emphasis, a hallmark of Southern and Appalachian speech.

Is "killed it dead" only used for literal killing?

No - it’s also used figuratively to describe ending rumors, deals, plans, or even sports performances ("He killed it dead on that last play.").

Is this expression still used today?

Yes - especially in rural areas and among older speakers, but it’s widely understood as a Southernism.

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