   Ain’t Worth a Hill of BeansIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "ain’t worth a hill of beans" means worthless, of little value, or not important. It’s a folksy way of dismissing something as not amounting to much. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #FoodandDrink #Measurements #Southern #MoneyWorkandChores Hillbilly Dude Says...  People out in the country still say 'ain’t worth a hill of beans' Hillbilly Dude Says... People out in the country still say 'ain’t worth a hill of beans' Pronunciation[AYNT wurth uh HILL uh BEENZ] Meaning & Usage- Worthless or of little value (idiom)
Mae:
Think it’s a fair trade?
Earl:
Nope, it ain’t worth a hill of beans.- Unimportant, doesn’t matter (figurative)
Mae:
Will it rain tonight?
Earl:
Don’t make no difference - it ain’t worth a hill of beans either way.★ Country folks often measure value by crops. A "hill of beans" is such a small, common thing that it became a figure for something trivial. ★ Origin and EtymologyThe phrase dates back to the 1800s in American English. Beans were a cheap, everyday food - a "hill of beans" was easy to come by, so saying something wasn’t worth even that meant it had no value at all. It took deep root in Southern and Appalachian speech. Usage NotesStill widely used in the South and Appalachia, though understood everywhere. Outside the region, it may sound quaint or old-fashioned, but it’s easily recognized. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "ain’t worth a hill-uh beans." The "of" often drops to "uh." | ...
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... |