Smell Like a Billy Goat
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "smell like a billy goat" means to smell very strong or unpleasant-sweaty, musky, barnyard-strong. It’s a colorful farm-life comparison.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Goats aint' right. And 'you smell like a billy goat' is not a compliment. And if it's from a goat, a normal shower ain't gonna do it. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Goats aint' right. And 'you smell like a billy goat' is not a compliment. And if it's from a goat, a normal shower ain't gonna do it. Pronunciation
[BIL-ee GOHT] /ˈbɪli goʊt/
Meaning & Usage
- To have a strong, unpleasant body odor (simile/metaphor)
Mae:
You been out in that hay all day?
You been out in that hay all day?
Earl:
Yep-no wonder I smell like a billy goat.
Yep-no wonder I smell like a billy goat.- Anything with a pungent, musky smell (figurative extension)
Mae:
These gym socks smell like a billy goat.
These gym socks smell like a billy goat.
Earl:
Soak ’em good.
Soak ’em good.variations: smell like a nanny goat (variant), stink like a billy goat, reek to high heaven
★ Folks say "billy goat" because male goats are famously pungent-especially in rut-so the phrase hits stronger than "nanny goat." ★
Origin and Etymology
Rooted in farm and homestead life across the South and Appalachia, where goat keeping is common and animal smells are a familiar point of reference. The billy-goat variant is widely recognized in rural speech.
Usage Notes
Used jokingly or scoldingly, often with kids after outdoor play or adults after hot, dirty work. Outside the region it’s easily understood but reads distinctly Southern and folksy.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "billy" often comes out quick ("billy"), and "goat" may flatten to "gote."
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