Up and Left
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "up and left" means to leave suddenly or without warning, often in a way that surprises everyone present.
synonyms: stormed off, left in a hurry, took off abruptly
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Oh 'up and left' is one of the most common 'up and' phrases - and you'll hear it used out in the country. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Oh 'up and left' is one of the most common 'up and' phrases - and you'll hear it used out in the country. Pronunciation
[UP’n left]
/ʌp.ən lɛft/
/ʌp.ən lɛft/
Meaning & Usage
- To depart abruptly or unexpectedly (verb phrase)
Pearl:
Did y’all see him? He just up and left in the middle of supper.
Did y’all see him? He just up and left in the middle of supper.
Rufus:
Mmhmm. Didn’t even rinse his plate. Must’ve been riled up somethin’ fierce.
Mmhmm. Didn’t even rinse his plate. Must’ve been riled up somethin’ fierce.variations: up and leave
★ If you want to crank up the emphasis, folks say "done up and left," which means they didn’t just leave - they made a point of it. ★
Origin and Etymology
This phrase comes from the older Southern and Appalachian construction "up and [verb]," which dates to the early 1800s and marks a sudden or impulsive action. "Up and left" became one of the most common fixed combinations and spread widely through rural storytelling, Scots-Irish influenced speech patterns, and later through literature and film.
Usage Notes
"Up and left" is typically used to describe a departure that feels abrupt, rude, emotional, or unexpected. It carries more color than simply saying "he left" and often implies frustration, drama, or surprise. While the form appears outside the South today, its strongest cultural home remains the Southern and Appalachian regions.
- Up and left → standard form
- Done up and left → more emphatic, older rural usage
- Often conveys irritation or disbelief from the speaker
- Common in storytelling, family talk, and casual conversation
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 14). Up and Left. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/up-and-left
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Up and Left." HillbillySlang.com, 14 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/up-and-left.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Up and Left." HillbillySlang.com. November 14, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/up-and-left.
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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...