See Fit / Saw Fit
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "see fit" (and its common past-tense form "saw fit") means to judge something proper, appropriate, or worth doing. It’s a holdover from older English that remains strong in rural talk.
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You heard 'saw fit' in everday conversation in the south. You heard 'saw fit' in everday conversation in the south. Pronunciation
Meaning & Usage
- To consider proper, appropriate, or necessary (verb phrase)
He never saw fit to answer my letter.Well, he’ll see fit to soon enough.Origin and Etymology
From older British English "see fit" meaning "judge fit or suitable." The expression appears in 17th-18th century texts and migrated to America with settlers. "Saw fit" became a rural past-tense form used as a fixed expression in Southern storytelling.
Usage Notes
Outside the South, "see fit" appears mostly in formal contexts, while "saw fit" sounds quaint or old-fashioned. In Southern and Appalachian speech, "saw fit" is still common in everyday talk, especially among older generations.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "see fit" or "saw fit." In the South and Appalachia, "saw fit" is often heard as a fixed phrase.