  Spoilt RottenIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "spoilt rotten" means a person (often a child) has been pampered or indulged so much that they’ve become selfish, lazy, or ungrateful. Pronunciation[SPOILT ROT-un] Meaning & Usage- Overindulged person (saying)
Mae:
 That boy’s spoilt rotten, never worked a day in his life.
Earl:
Ain’t gonna change ‘less somebody makes him.other spellings: spoiled rotten, overindulged, pampered, and selfish ★ "Spoilt rotten" is always about people, not food. It’s harsher than "spoiled" - like someone’s gone bad from too much pampering. ★ OriginFrom older British English, where "spoilt" was the past tense of "spoil." The phrase "spoilt rotten" crossed into Southern and Appalachian speech, sticking as a strong judgment. NotesCommon in Appalachian and Southern families, especially used by parents and grandparents. Almost always applied to kids, though sometimes to adults who act childish. Say It Like a Southerner"Spoilt" comes out with the "t" clear or sometimes softened: "spoil’t." "Rotten" often shortens to "rot-un." | 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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