  Rode Hard and Put Up Wet"Rode hard and put up wet" is a Southern and rural saying that means someone looks worn out, rough, or in poor shape. It comes from horse care - a horse ridden hard and stabled wet would be neglected and miserable. Hillbilly Dude Says...  You'll hear 'rode hard and put up wet' in the country. I've heard it all my life, but I was never around horses. Pronunciation[rohd hard an put up wet] Meaning & Usage- Looking tired or in bad shape (saying)
Buddy:
You alright? You look rode hard and put up wet.
Coworker:
Didn’t sleep a wink last night.- Neglected or not well cared for (saying)
Farmer:
Don’t treat your boots like that - they’ll look rode hard and put up wet in no time.other spellings: worn out, ragged, run down, beat up, and lookin’ rough ★ The saying ties to horse care: a horse ridden hard and stabled wet could sicken or die. Over time, the phrase shifted into everyday speech to describe people or things looking worn-out. ★ OriginFrom rural horse culture in the South and West. Riders knew a horse should be cooled down, brushed, and dried before stabling. Neglecting this gave rise to the phrase. NotesCommon across the South, Appalachia, and Western ranch country. Still widely understood, though mostly used in informal, country-flavored speech. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid quick and flat: "rode-hard-n-put-up-wet." | About We are a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia, but wide as the world. Read more... |
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