Learned to Whisper in a Sawmill
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "learned to whisper in a sawmill" is a humorous way of saying someone talks very loudly or doesn’t know how to whisper softly. It draws on the image of trying to whisper over the roar of saw blades.
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I didn't hear 'learned to whisper in a sawmill' until I was grown up, but I like it. I didn't hear 'learned to whisper in a sawmill' until I was grown up, but I like it. Pronunciation
Meaning & Usage
- To talk very loudly (humorous comparison)
He’s on the phone in the next county.Yeah - must’ve learned to whisper in a sawmill.Origin and Etymology
Documented in Southern and Appalachian humor columns, oral histories, and dialect compilations from the mid-20th century onward. Reflects the logging and milling industries central to the region’s economy and language.
Usage Notes
Still used today in the South and Appalachia, especially among older speakers and in playful scolding. Outside the region it’s less common but instantly understandable as a "country" saying.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it with a smile: "Learned to whisper in a sawmill?" It’s a rhetorical question, poking gentle fun at someone’s loudness.