Air Up
"Air up" is a Southern and Appalachian verb phrase meaning to put air into something, usually a tire, ball, or piece of equipment.
synonyms: inflate
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've only heard people say 'air it up' around here, all my life. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've only heard people say 'air it up' around here, all my life. Pronunciation
[AIR up]
/ɛr ʌp/
/ɛr ʌp/
Meaning & Usage
- To inflate with air (verb phrase)
Clara:
The tire looks low.
The tire looks low.
Elmer:
Yeah, I’ll air it up while we’re here.
Yeah, I’ll air it up while we’re here.variations: aired up, airing up, airin’ up
Origin and Etymology
From American rural speech, especially common in Southern and Appalachian English in the 20th century. Likely arose as a shortened form of "put air in," turning "air" into a verb. Still widely used in everyday conversation about cars, trucks, tractors, and farm equipment.
Usage Notes
- Nonstandard in formal English, but common and natural in dialect speech.
- Used in all tenses: air up, aired up, airing up.
- Strongly associated with the South and Appalachia, though also heard in other rural regions.
Kin Topics
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 3). Air Up. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/air-up
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Air Up." HillbillySlang.com, 3 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/air-up.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Air Up." HillbillySlang.com. October 3, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/air-up.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang 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...