You Best Believe
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "You best believe" means "You’d better believe it" or "Believe it for sure." It’s an emphatic, authentic variant of the "best = had better" construction.
synonyms: believe it, count on it, trust me
Hillbilly Dude Says...
"You best believe" (or simply "Best believe") is a classic Southern and Appalachian expression meaning "You’d better believe it" or "Believe me for sure." It’s an emphatic way to confirm or stress something. Hillbilly Dude Says...
"You best believe" (or simply "Best believe") is a classic Southern and Appalachian expression meaning "You’d better believe it" or "Believe me for sure." It’s an emphatic way to confirm or stress something. Pronunciation
[YOO BEST buh-LEEV] /juː bɛst bəˈliːv/
Meaning & Usage
- Emphatic Affirmation (imperative / confirmation)
Martha:
They’re givin’ away free pie at the diner?
They’re givin’ away free pie at the diner?
Sam:
You best believe it!
You best believe it!variations: you’d better believe it, believe it for sure
★ This phrase turns "best" = "had better" into an emphatic confirmation. Dropping the "you" ("Best believe") makes it even snappier and very Southern-sounding. ★
Origin and Etymology
Descended from older English "had best believe"" which survived in Southern/Appalachian speech as "you best believe." Documented in dialect fieldwork and oral histories throughout the South.
Usage Notes
Still widely heard in Southern and Appalachian regions. Outside the region it’s easily understood but sounds colorful or colloquial.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: often "You best believe it" or just "Best believe" without the "you." Emphasis often lands on "believe."
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 23). You Best Believe. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/you-best-believe
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "You Best Believe." HillbillySlang.com, 23 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/you-best-believe.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "You Best Believe." HillbillySlang.com. September 23, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/you-best-believe.
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