You Get What You Get and Don’t Pitch a Fit

You get what you get and don’t pitch a fit means don’t complain about what you’re given. It’s a modern rhyming saying used by parents and teachers to teach gratitude and manners.

#Southernish

synonyms: don’t complain, be thankful, make do, hush up

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I never heard 'you get what you get and don’t pitch a fit' 'til I was grown. Ain't a bad sayin', though.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I never heard 'you get what you get and don’t pitch a fit' 'til I was grown. Ain't a bad sayin', though.

Pronunciation

[YOO get whut yoo GET an’ don’t PITCH uh FIT]
/ju ɡɛt wʌt ju ɡɛt ænd doʊnt pɪtʃ ə fɪt/

Meaning & Usage

- Accept what you’re given without complaining

Hazel:

I wanted the blue cupcake!

Mama:

You get what you get and don’t pitch a fit.

variations: you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit, don’t pitch a hissy fit

Origin

This modern rhyme began appearing in American classrooms and parenting books in the late 20th century, often as a gentle behavioral reminder for children.

Its catchy rhythm and mild Southern flavor - "pitch a fit" being old Southern slang for *throwing a tantrum* - helped it spread widely across the South and Midwest.

Verdict: Southernish. Modern parenting rhyme built on classic Southern phrasing.

Notes

Common in classrooms, preschools, and homes across the South.
Mixes an old Southern idiom ("pitch a fit") with modern rhyme.
Used mostly with kids - but adults say it jokingly, too.
Often followed by a smile or playful warning tone.

Common Questions

What does "you get what you get and don’t pitch a fit" mean?

It means accept what you’re given and don’t complain.

Is it Southern?

Partly - "pitch a fit" is pure Southern, but the rhyme itself is modern and nationwide.

Where did it come from?

Likely from late-20th-century American parenting culture; exact origin unknown.

Are there variations?

Yes - "you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit" is equally common.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 7). You Get What You Get and Don’t Pitch a Fit. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/you-get-what-you-get-and-dont-pitch-a-fit
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "You Get What You Get and Don’t Pitch a Fit." HillbillySlang.com, 7 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/you-get-what-you-get-and-dont-pitch-a-fit.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "You Get What You Get and Don’t Pitch a Fit." HillbillySlang.com. November 7, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/you-get-what-you-get-and-dont-pitch-a-fit.

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