   You Can’t Squeeze Blood from a TurnipIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip" means you can’t get something from someone who doesn’t have it. Often used about money, it’s a colorful country way of saying it’s impossible to draw value from where none exists. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #FoodandDrink #Southern #FarmTalk #Proverbs Hillbilly Dude Says...  Out in the country, you'll still hear 'can’t squeeze blood from a turnip if somebody's broke. Hillbilly Dude Says... Out in the country, you'll still hear 'can’t squeeze blood from a turnip if somebody's broke. Pronunciation[yoo KANT skweez bluhd frum uh TUR-nup] Meaning & Usage- Impossible to get what isn’t there (proverb)
Mae:
The man says pay up today.
Earl:
Well, you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip.- To emphasize someone has no resources to give (figurative)
Mae:
They want another dollar?
Earl:
Shoot, you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip.variations: can’t get water from a stone
ain’t got it to give
you can’t get nothin’ outta nothin’
you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip jar
don’t ask me, you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip ★ This saying usually comes up in money talk, but it applies to time, energy, or patience too. It’s a country way of setting limits - you can’t give what you ain’t got. ★ Origin and EtymologyThe phrase goes back to old European proverbs about turnips as poor folk’s food, but it found strong life in the American South and Appalachia, where turnips were cheap and common. The image of trying to get "blood" (life, value) from such a plain vegetable made for a natural rural metaphor. Usage NotesStill heard in Southern and Appalachian storytelling, especially among older speakers. Recognized across the U.S., though it carries a rural, country flavor. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip." Sometimes quickened to "cain’t squeeze blood from a turnip." | ...
About 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... |