Couldn’t Hit the Broad Side of a Barn

Couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn is a Southernish phrase that means someone has extremely poor aim or accuracy. The phrase is common in the South but did not originate in Southern or Appalachian speech.

#Southernish

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I can remember my Momma sayin', 'couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn,' but apparently they say it all over.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I can remember my Momma sayin', 'couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn,' but apparently they say it all over.

Pronunciation

[koodn’t hit the BROD side of a BARN]
/ˈkʊdənt hɪt ðə brɔːd saɪd əv ə bɑrn/

Meaning & Usage

- Extremely poor aim (literal or humorous)

Sam:

How’s he doin’ out there?

Tucker:

Buddy, he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.

- Hopeless in accuracy of any kind (figurative)

Lori:

Did he make any baskets?

Mandy:

No ma’am-couldn’t hit a barn tonight.

variations: can’t hit the broad side of a barn

★ If someone tells you you couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn, the barn ain’t the problem-you’re just missin’ everything. ★

Origin

This expression comes from general American frontier humor and appears in 19th-century writings about poor marksmanship. It was used broadly across rural America-including the West and Midwest-long before it became familiar in the South.

Its country imagery makes it feel Southern, but the saying itself belongs to wider American rural speech rather than any specific Southern or Appalachian tradition.

Verdict: Southernish - a rural American expression that sounds perfectly Southern but wasn’t born there.

Notes

Used jokingly to poke fun at someone’s lack of aim or accuracy.
Common in rural areas across the U.S., not just the South.
Frequently applied to sports, hunting, throwing, or anything requiring precision.
Its barn imagery makes it feel Southern, even though it’s not a regional saying.

Common Questions

Is this originally Southern?

No. It comes from general rural American humor, not a specific region.

Why does it feel Southern?

Because barns, marksmanship, and country jokes match Southern storytelling rhythms.

Can it be used outside of shooting?

Yes-sports, darts, tossing keys, anything involving accuracy.

Is there a ruder version?

Many regions have them, but this entry keeps it clean.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 30). Couldn’t Hit the Broad Side of a Barn. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/couldnt-hit-the-broad-side-of-a-barn
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Couldn’t Hit the Broad Side of a Barn." HillbillySlang.com, 30 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/couldnt-hit-the-broad-side-of-a-barn.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Couldn’t Hit the Broad Side of a Barn." HillbillySlang.com. November 30, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/couldnt-hit-the-broad-side-of-a-barn.