They in There Like June Bugs
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "They’re in There Like June Bugs" is a colorful way to describe a crowd piling into a place or rushing something en masse.
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Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'they in There Like June Bugs' if people are packed into a space. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'they in There Like June Bugs' if people are packed into a space. Pronunciation
[THEY’RE in THERE like JUNE BUGS] /ðɛr ɪn ðɛr laɪk dʒuːn bʌɡz/
Meaning & Usage
- Crowding in or swarming eagerly (simile)
Linda:
Did you see the store when they opened the doors?
Did you see the store when they opened the doors?
Bobby:
Yeah, they’re in there like June bugs.
Yeah, they’re in there like June bugs.variations: On It Like June Bugs, In Like June Bugs, Thick as Skeeters, Packed Like Sardines (mainstream equivalent)
★ June bugs (a type of beetle) swarm porch lights, barns, and open doors on summer nights. This everyday rural image makes the perfect metaphor for people crowding or swarming. ★
Origin and Etymology
Rooted in Southern and Appalachian life where June bugs are a summer constant. Farmers, kids, and porch-sitters alike would see them collect by the dozens, inspiring this vivid simile.
Usage Notes
Still heard in rural Southern/Appalachian speech. Outside the region it’s colorful but may puzzle listeners who don’t picture June bugs gathering.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "They’re in there like June bugs" - sometimes shortened to "In there like June bugs."
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