Leave Some for Mister Manners
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "leave some for Mister Manners" is a playful table warning meaning "don’t take it all-mind your manners and leave some for others."
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #FoodandDrink #Southern #Proverbs
synonyms: mind your manners, don’t be greedy, leave some for the rest
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Growin' up, my Momma often reminded us 'Always leave some for Mr Manners," and we say it in our family. Not sure how widespread this one is, it's hard to call. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Growin' up, my Momma often reminded us 'Always leave some for Mr Manners," and we say it in our family. Not sure how widespread this one is, it's hard to call. Pronunciation
[LEEV sum fer MIS-ter MAN-ers]
/liv sʌm fɚ ˈmɪstər ˈmæn.ərz/
/liv sʌm fɚ ˈmɪstər ˈmæn.ərz/
Meaning & Usage
- Reminder to share / show courtesy at the table (saying)
Clara:
Hand me one more biscuit?
Hand me one more biscuit?
Elmer:
Now, now-leave some for Mister Manners.
Now, now-leave some for Mister Manners.variations: always leave some for Mr. Manners
★ If I suggest you leave some for Mister Manners, then quite possibly that's my current pseudonym. ★
Origin and Etymology
Mid-20th-century Southern/Appalachian household saying, most often remembered from parents and grandparents at the supper table. Lightly attested in print (memoirs, blogs, oral histories), but well rooted in lived speech as a gentle teaching phrase about sharing and courtesy.
Usage Notes
- Used with kids (and grown-ups) as a friendly reminder not to take the last of something.
- Typically heard at family meals, church suppers, and potlucks.
- Not widespread outside the South/Appalachia; elsewhere one hears "leave some for others" without the "Mister Manners" figure.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 27). Leave Some for Mister Manners. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/leave-some-for-mister-manners
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Leave Some for Mister Manners." HillbillySlang.com, 27 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/leave-some-for-mister-manners.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Leave Some for Mister Manners." HillbillySlang.com. October 27, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/leave-some-for-mister-manners.
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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...