   Raisin’ CainIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "raising Cain" means making trouble, causing a ruckus, or behaving rowdily. You'll often hear people say something close akin to 'he's out there raisin' all kinda Cain!' It comes from the biblical story of Cain, who killed his brother Abel, and has been used in American slang for over 150 years. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern Pronunciation[RAY-zin CAYN] Meaning & Usage- To cause trouble or make a disturbance (verb phrase)
Mae:
 What’s all that noise?
Earl:
Just the young’uns raisin’ Cain near the rides.- To act up or behave wildly (verb phrase)
Mae:
Them boys been raisin’ Cain all afternoon.variations: raising cain, raisin all kinda cain, raining all kinds of cain ★ "Raisin’ Cain" is a catch-all phrase - it can mean anything from harmless mischief to real rowdiness, depending on the tone and setting. ★ Origin and EtymologyFrom the biblical Cain, who committed the first murder. By the mid-1800s, Americans were using "raise Cain" as slang for raising you-know-what or causing trouble. It stuck especially strong in Southern and Appalachian speech. Usage NotesStill common in Appalachia and the South. Recognized everywhere in the U.S., but outside the region it sounds old-fashioned or colorful rather than everyday. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "ray-zin’ cayn." The "g" in "raising" is usually dropped. | ...
About Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site 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... |