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Straight as a Row of Corn

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "straight as a row of corn" means perfectly straight, upright, or lined up neatly-just like rows of corn in a well-tended field.

#SouthernSayings   #Appalachia   #OldTimers   #Southern   #FarmTalk

Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Straight as a row of corn' is one that has variations depending on the region. And may be a little more old timers. 

Pronunciation

[STRAYT as uh ROE uh CORN] /streɪt əz ə roʊ ə kɔːrn/

Meaning & Usage

- Perfectly upright posture (simile/adjective phrase)

Mae:
He’s got military posture.
Earl:
Yep-straight as a row of corn.

- Neatly aligned objects or people (simile/adjective phrase)

Mae:
The teacher lined ’em up for a picture.
Earl:
They’re straight as rows of corn out there.
variations: lined up like rows of corn, straight as an arrow, straight as a fence post, lined up like soldiers
★ In farm country, straight rows meant skill and pride. This simile draws on that everyday image to describe anything precisely aligned or standing tall. ★

Origin

Recorded in Appalachian oral histories, Kentucky/Tennessee farm memoirs, and Southern dialect writing. Reflects the rural culture of row-crop farming where "straight rows" symbolized diligence and order.

Notes

Common in rural Southern/Appalachian speech but understandable anywhere. Outside the region it may sound folksy or poetic, but the imagery is clear.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it natural: "straight" often clips to "strayt"; "of" is usually "uh." "Corn" may sound like "carn."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does it only describe posture?
No-you can use it for fences, rows of people, or anything neatly aligned.
Is "row of corn" interchangeable with "rows of corn"?
Yes-both forms appear in Southern/Appalachian speech with the same meaning.
Is it still current?
Yes-still heard in rural speech, especially from older generations.
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About
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
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