Run Like a Scalded Dog
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "run like a scalded dog" means running extremely fast or bolting suddenly. It’s a colorful simile rooted in rural imagery.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
When I was a young'un, I sometimes thought I heard 'ran like a scalded dog' as 'scaldy.' But I've heard it all my life. Hillbilly Dude Says...
When I was a young'un, I sometimes thought I heard 'ran like a scalded dog' as 'scaldy.' But I've heard it all my life. Pronunciation
[RUN like uh SKAHL-did DAWG]
Meaning & Usage
- To run very fast; to bolt suddenly (simile / idiom)
Mae:
How fast did he go?
How fast did he go?
Earl:
He ran like a scalded dog when he saw the sheriff.
He ran like a scalded dog when he saw the sheriff.variations: take off like a scalded dog, bolt like a scalded dog, run like lightning
★ "Scalded" evokes a dog burned by hot water - it jumps and runs without hesitation. Southern similes often draw on farm or animal imagery ("madder than a wet hen," "scarce as hen’s teeth"). ★
Origin and Etymology
Documented in Southern and Appalachian speech since the early 20th century, appearing in local newspapers, dialect collections, and comedy routines. Related expressions exist but this vivid simile is strongest in the rural South.
Usage Notes
Still heard today, especially in storytelling, sports commentary, or humorous exaggeration. Outside the South it’s less common but usually understood from context.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "run like a scalded dog." Sometimes "take off like a scalded dog."
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