Quit Dawdlin’
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "quit dawdlin’" (often written "quit dawdling") is a scolding command that means stop wasting time or moving slowly. It’s a folksy way parents, teachers, and grandparents urge kids to hurry up.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern #FarmTalk #MoneyWorkandChores #ScoldingandTeasing
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If there are kids around, you're bound to hear 'quit dawdlin’.' Hillbilly Dude Says...
If there are kids around, you're bound to hear 'quit dawdlin’.' Pronunciation
[KWIT DAW-dlin]
Meaning & Usage
- A command to stop wasting time (imperative phrase)
Mae:
Ain’t they ready yet?
Ain’t they ready yet?
Earl:
Not yet - I told ’em to quit dawdlin’.
Not yet - I told ’em to quit dawdlin’.variations: stop wasting time
quit piddlin’
hurry up
quit dawdlin’ and eat your supper
kids, quit dawdlin’ or we’ll be late
quit dawdlin’ and do your chores
★ "Quit dawdlin’" is one of those classic Southern/Appalachian scoldings. It works best with kids and kin - often said with equal parts frustration and affection. ★
Origin and Etymology
From the verb "dawdle," meaning to move slowly or waste time. In Southern and Appalachian English, the clipped form "dawdlin’" became everyday family talk, and "quit dawdlin’" turned into a stock command.
Usage Notes
Still widely used in Southern and Appalachian households. Often paired with sayings like get your tail in gear and quit piddlin’. Outside the region, people may recognize it, but it’s less common in daily speech.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "quit dawd-lin." The "g" is dropped: "dawdlin’."
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 5). Quit Dawdling. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/quit-dawdling
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Quit Dawdling." HillbillySlang.com, 5 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/quit-dawdling.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Quit Dawdling." HillbillySlang.com. October 5, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/quit-dawdling.
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