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Lazier’n Cyarn

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "lazier’n cyarn" means extremely lazy or too lazy to move. The word "cyarn" (from "carrion") refers to dead flesh - so the saying compares someone’s laziness to something already dead.

#SouthernSayings   #Appalachia   #DialectandGrammar   #OldTimers

synonyms: lazy as a dead dog, bone idle, worthless, shiftless

Pronunciation

[LAY-zee-urn KARN] /ˈleɪziɚn kɑːrn/

Meaning & Usage

- Extremely lazy; lifelessly idle (phrase / idiom)

Calling someone out for not lifting a finger
Uncle Bill:
You been sittin’ there all day.

Aunt Lou:
He’s lazier’n cyarn on a hot road.

variations: lazier than carrion, lazier than kyarn

Origin and Etymology

Recorded in Appalachian and Southern dialect since the 1800s. The term "cyarn" (from "carrion") has appeared in Tennessee and Kentucky mountain speech for over a century. Comparing laziness to "cyarn" reflects the region’s love of colorful exaggeration-painting someone as so lazy they might as well be dead.

Usage Notes

Common among older rural speakers across Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and Alabama. Often said teasingly rather than meanly.

  • "Meaner’n cyarn" and "uglier’n cyarn" are related expressions.
  • "Cyarn" rhymes loosely with "barn" or "yarn," depending on the speaker.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

What does "lazier’n cyarn" mean?
It means extremely lazy, comparing a person’s energy to something dead and decaying.
Where does "cyarn" come from?
It’s an Appalachian form of "carrion," meaning dead flesh, found in regional dialect since the 1800s.
Is it still used today?
It survives mainly among older Southern and Appalachian speakers, often as a colorful insult or joke.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)

    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 4). Lazier’n Cyarn. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/lazier-than-cyarn

  • MLA (9th edition)

    "The Hillbilly Dude." "Lazier’n Cyarn." HillbillySlang.com, 4 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/lazier-than-cyarn.

  • Chicago (17th edition)

    The Hillbilly Dude. "Lazier’n Cyarn." HillbillySlang.com. October 4, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/lazier-than-cyarn.

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