Puke a Buzzard off a Gut Wagon

In Southern and Appalachian speech, enough to puke a buzzard off a gut wagon means something is so disgusting or foul-smelling that even a buzzard - known for eating carrion - couldn’t stomach it.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Animals #OldTimers #Southern #FarmTalk

synonyms: disgusting, revolting, nauseating, enough to gag a maggot

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I believe I've only read something was so bad that it'd 'puke a buzzard off a gut wagon,' although I can't say for sure I haven't heard from a good friend a time or two.

Pronunciation

[PYOOK uh BUZZ-erd off uh GUT WAG-un] /pjuːk ə ˈbʌzərd ɒf ə ɡʌt ˈwæɡən/

Meaning & Usage

- Extremely disgusting; revolting (saying/adjective phrase)

Grady:

Whew, that smell’s enough to puke a buzzard off a gut wagon.

Ellie Mae:

Roll the window up - can’t take it no more.

variations: enough to puke a buzzard off a gut wagon, enough to make a buzzard puke, enough to make a buzzard gag, enough to puke a vulture off a gut wagon, enough to puke a dog off a gut wagon

★ This is Southern hyperbole at its finest - if it’s bad enough to make a buzzard puke, you know it’s bad. It’s also said with "dog" or "vulture" instead of "buzzard," but "buzzard" is the classic. ★

Origin

Rooted in rural farm and slaughterhouse life. A "gut wagon" hauled off entrails and scraps, often attracting buzzards. This phrase emerged in Southern/Appalachian speech by the mid-20th century and likely circulated orally even earlier. It’s a vivid example of the region’s colorful exaggerations.

Notes

Enough to puke a buzzard off a gut wagon - classic Southern/Appalachian phrase meaning something is extremely disgusting or foul.
Variants include "enough to make a buzzard puke," "enough to make a buzzard gag," and "enough to puke a vulture off a gut wagon."
Draws on everyday rural imagery - buzzards, gut wagons, and butchering - to emphasize revulsion.
Still used today in storytelling, humor, and informal conversation, especially among older speakers.
Part of the region’s tradition of colorful, over-the-top comparisons ("ugly enough to scare a buzzard off a meat wagon," "hotter than a billy goat in a pepper patch").

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does this literally mean a buzzard would puke?

No - it’s an exaggerated way to describe something extremely revolting.

Is "buzzard" the only version?

It’s the most authentic. "Dog" or "vulture" show up as playful variants but "buzzard" dominates in documented usage.

Is this saying still used today?

Yes - mainly in rural communities and by older speakers, but it remains one of the South’s most vivid hyperboles.

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