Mean as a Snake
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "mean as a snake" is a vivid simile for someone who’s vicious, ornery, or ill-tempered. It draws on the real-life danger of snakes in rural life.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Animals #PeopleandRelationships #Nature #Southern #FarmTalk
synonyms: vicious
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Oh this is a goto when somebody truly is mean - they 'mean as a striped snake' - sometimes 'mean as a striped snake' - but we pronounce it 'stripe-ed.' Hillbilly Dude Says...
Oh this is a goto when somebody truly is mean - they 'mean as a striped snake' - sometimes 'mean as a striped snake' - but we pronounce it 'stripe-ed.' Pronunciation
[MEENZ a STRIPE-ed
SNAY-eek]
/miːnz ə ˈstraɪpɪd sneɪk/
SNAY-eek]
/miːnz ə ˈstraɪpɪd sneɪk/
Meaning & Usage
- Describing someone as vicious or ill-tempered (simile)
Mae:
Is he friendly?
Is he friendly?
Earl:
No ma’am, he’s mean as a striped snake.
No ma’am, he’s mean as a striped snake.- Figurative warning about temperament (simile)
Mae:
The boss was in a mood today.
The boss was in a mood today.
Earl:
Yep, mean as a snake.
Yep, mean as a snake.variations: mean as a striped snake
★ This saying reflects rural life where venomous snakes pose real danger. It’s a quick way to paint a mental picture of someone’s bad temper without getting fancy. ★
Origin and Etymology
Documented in 19th- and early 20th-century Southern/Appalachian speech. Snakes like copperheads, rattlers, and moccasins were common hazards, making "mean as a snake" a natural simile for anger and danger.
Usage Notes
Still common in Southern and Appalachian talk, especially among older generations. Recognized elsewhere but feels distinctly country and old-timey in delivery.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "mean as a snake." Often drawn out for emphasis: "meeean as a snaaake."
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