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.
synonyms: lazy as a dead dog, bone idle, worthless, shiftless
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've only read 'lazier’n cyarn' - so I'm assuming this one is more regional and old timers. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've only read 'lazier’n cyarn' - so I'm assuming this one is more regional and old timers. Pronunciation
[LAY-zee-urn KARN]
/ˈleɪziɚn kɑːrn/
/ˈleɪziɚn kɑːrn/
Meaning & Usage
- Extremely lazy; lifelessly idle (phrase / idiom)
Uncle Bill:
You been sittin’ there all day.
You been sittin’ there all day.
Aunt Lou:
He’s lazier’n cyarn on a hot road.
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
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 5). Lazier Than Cyarn. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/lazier-than-cyarn
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Lazier Than Cyarn." HillbillySlang.com, 5 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/lazier-than-cyarn.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Lazier Than Cyarn." HillbillySlang.com. October 5, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/lazier-than-cyarn.
advertisement...
Most Popular
About
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...