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Whup the Tar Out of

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Whup the Tar Out of" means to beat or punish someone severely - a colorful regional variant of "whip the tar out of" or "whoop the tar out of."

#SouthernSayings   #Appalachia   #OldTimers   #Southern

Pronunciation

[WHUP thuh TAR out-uh] /wʌp ðə tɑr ˈaʊtə/

Meaning & Usage

- To beat or punish severely (expression)

Everyday speech
Pearl:
He took my seat again.

Jeb:
Do it one more time and I’ll whup the tar out of you.

variations: Whoop the Tar Out of, Whip the Tar Out of, Whup the Snot Out of, Beat the Tar Out of
★ In Southern/Appalachian English "whup" is the authentic pronunciation of "whip" or "whoop" when it means to beat someone. "Tar" is a traditional stand-in for "stuffing," "heck," or "sense" - making this a vivid way of saying "punish hard." ★

Origin

From "whip" meaning to strike or beat. "Whup" is the Southern pronunciation, documented since the 19th century. "Tar" as a figurative stand-in dates back to at least the mid-1800s in rural speech. Together they form one of the South’s most iconic colorful threats.

Notes

Still widely heard in Southern/Appalachian speech, often said jokingly as a parental or playful threat. Outside the region people may know "beat the tar out of," but "whup the tar out of" sounds distinctly Southern.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it natural: "whup the tar outta" - pronounced with "whup" (not "whoop") and "outta" (not "out of"). Sometimes also said "whup the snot out of."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "whup" mean the same as "whip"?
Yes - it’s the Southern pronunciation/spelling.
What about "whoop the tar out of"?
That’s the mainstream spelling, but Southerners actually say "whup."
Can I say "whup the snot out of"?
Absolutely - "snot" and "tar" are interchangeable in these colorful expressions.
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