Put Water to It
In Appalachian and Southern talk, "put water to it" means to add water to something - food, drink, plants, or anything that needs thinning, stretching, or refreshing.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you've got a tree looking puny, you might 'put water to it.' Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you've got a tree looking puny, you might 'put water to it.' Pronunciation
[put WAH-ter to it]
Meaning & Usage
- Add water to thin or loosen (verb phrase)
Mama:
This soup’s a mite salty.
This soup’s a mite salty.
Daddy:
Just put water to it and it’ll be fine.
Just put water to it and it’ll be fine.- Give water to refresh or keep alive (verb phrase)
Dan:
That tree’s lookin’ thirsty. Better put water to it.
That tree’s lookin’ thirsty. Better put water to it.- Make do by stretching something (verb phrase)
Grandma:
Not enough tea for everyone?
Not enough tea for everyone?
Aunt Lou:
I’ll put water to it so we all get a glass.
I’ll put water to it so we all get a glass.variations: add water, water it down, thin it out, stretch it, hydrate
★ This saying shows up in kitchens, gardens, and farms - anywhere water can stretch, refresh, or keep something going. ★
Origin and Etymology
Plain English in form, but widely heard in Appalachian speech. Its flexibility - from soup pots to orchards - helped it become a set phrase.
Usage Notes
Still common among older Appalachian and Southern speakers. Used both literally (watering food or plants) and figuratively (stretching something to make do).
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain and quick: "put wah-ter t’ it."
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, August 29). Put Water to It. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/put-water-to-it
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Put Water to It." HillbillySlang.com, 29 Aug. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/put-water-to-it.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Put Water to It." HillbillySlang.com. August 29, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/put-water-to-it.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang 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...