   Plow Around the StumpIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "plow around the stump" is a folksy way of saying "take the wiser, easier path instead of fighting something immovable." It’s a vivid bit of farm wisdom turned life advice. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern #FarmTalk Hillbilly Dude Says...  Versions of 'plow around the stump' can be heard out in the country. It could be more regional. Pronunciation[PLOW uh-ROUND thuh STUMP] Meaning & Usage- Choose the easier or wiser path; avoid unnecessary struggle (proverb / figurative)
Mae:
I’m fixin’ to argue with him over every detail.
Earl:
Honey, just plow around the stump.other spellings: Life’s simpler when you plow around the stump, and Don’t try to plow through the stump ★ This saying comes straight from real farm life: new fields were full of tree stumps, and plowing into them could break equipment or injure the mule. Wise farmers simply plowed around until the stump rotted. ★ OriginRooted in Appalachian and Southern farm experience. Settlers clearing new ground left tree stumps in place; "plowing around" became a metaphor for sidestepping obstacles rather than confronting them head-on. NotesStill heard in rural storytelling, sermons, and folksy advice. Outside the South it’s recognizable but less common. Often appears on "Southern wisdom" lists and coffee mugs. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "plow around the stump." In rural speech "around" may sound like "’round." | Latest Accents About We are a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia, but wide as the world. Read more... |
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