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Pitch a Fit

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "pitch a fit" means to throw a tantrum or act out in anger. It’s a lively way of saying someone lost their temper or carried on.

#SouthernSayings   #Appalachia   #People&Relationships   #Southern

Pronunciation

[PITCH uh FIT]

Meaning & Usage

- To throw a tantrum (verb phrase)

At the store
Mae:
Why’s he cryin’ so loud?

Earl:
He’s pitchin’ a fit over candy.

- To get angry or upset (verb phrase, figurative)

At home
Mae:
He didn’t like the news.

Earl:
Nope, he pitched a fit about it.

other spellings: pitching a fit, and pitching a royal fit
★ Folks say "pitch a fit" for everything from a child’s meltdown to a grown person’s fussin’. It’s colorful but not crude, making it common in family talk. ★

Origin

First recorded in American English in the 1800s. "Pitch" here means to throw, and "fit" refers to an outburst or spell. The phrase stuck especially in the South and Appalachia as a lively way to describe temper flare-ups.

Notes

Still widely used across the South and Appalachia. Understood elsewhere in the U.S., though it may sound quaint or regional. Often used about children, but also applied jokingly to adults.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "pitch-uh fit." Quick and clipped in everyday talk.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "pitch a fit" only apply to children?
No - it can describe anyone acting out.
Is it rude?
Not usually - it’s a colorful way to say someone’s throwing a tantrum.
Do people still use it today?
Yes - common in everyday Southern/Appalachian speech.
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