Riled Up
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "riled up" means agitated, irritated, or worked into a state of excitement or anger. It’s a colorful, old-timey way of saying someone’s upset or stirred.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #DialectandGrammar #Southern
synonyms: agitated, worked up, stirred up, angry, foaming at the mouth
Hillbilly Dude Says...
The expression 'riled up' still gets used often down here. More oftener than I'd like. Hillbilly Dude Says...
The expression 'riled up' still gets used often down here. More oftener than I'd like. Pronunciation
[RAHLD up]
/ˈraɪld ʌp/
/ˈraɪld ʌp/
Meaning & Usage
- Agitated or irritated (adjective phrase)
Mae:
He didn’t like that news?
He didn’t like that news?
Earl:
Nope - he’s riled up something fierce.
Nope - he’s riled up something fierce.- Worked into a state of excitement (adjective phrase)
Mae:
Those hounds are barking like crazy.
Those hounds are barking like crazy.
Earl:
Yep - they’re all riled up over a possum.
Yep - they’re all riled up over a possum.★ "Rile" comes from "roil" (to stir up water). Southern and Appalachian speech kept "rile" and "riled up" long after it faded from standard English. Use it to describe someone flustered, agitated, or hopping mad. ★
Origin and Etymology
Recorded in U.S. English by the early 1800s. Strongest in the South and Midland regions, later spreading more broadly but retaining its rural flavor.
Usage Notes
Still common in Southern/Appalachian speech and rural areas. Recognized nationally but feels colloquial and folksy outside the region.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "riled" = "rahld" (the "i" leans toward "ah"); "up" is clipped and quick.
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