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

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If you heard 'I'll whup the tar out of you' growin' up, you best stop what you're doin. It's more of a silly threat to say these days.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If you heard 'I'll whup the tar out of you' growin' up, you best stop what you're doin. It's more of a silly threat to say these days.

Pronunciation

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

Meaning & Usage

- To beat or punish severely (expression)

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 and Etymology

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.

Usage 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

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.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 23). Whup the Tar Out of. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/whup-the-tar-out-of
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Whup the Tar Out of." HillbillySlang.com, 23 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/whup-the-tar-out-of.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Whup the Tar Out of." HillbillySlang.com. September 23, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/whup-the-tar-out-of.

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