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.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern

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/

Meaning & Usage

- To inflate with air (verb phrase)

Clara:

The tire looks low.

Elmer:

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

Common Questions

What does "air up" mean?

To inflate, usually by putting air in a tire or ball.

Is it only Southern?

It’s especially common in Southern and Appalachian dialect, but sometimes heard in other rural areas.

Do people still say it today?

Yes-especially in the South, where "air up a tire" is the everyday way of saying "inflate a tire."

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.