Hunkerin’ Down
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "hunkerin' down" means to squat low or settle in and wait something out. While now used nationwide, it carries a strong country and Southern flavor, tied to storm talk and staying put.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
When we say 'hunkerin down' it's not always about a storm. Could be any incomin' challenge. Hillbilly Dude Says...
When we say 'hunkerin down' it's not always about a storm. Could be any incomin' challenge. Pronunciation
[HUNK-er down]
Meaning & Usage
- To crouch or squat down (verb phrase, literal)
Mae:
Why’s he sittin’ like that?
Why’s he sittin’ like that?
Earl:
Just hunkered down in the brush.
Just hunkered down in the brush.- To settle in and wait something out (verb phrase, figurative)
Mae:
What we gonna do with this storm comin’?
What we gonna do with this storm comin’?
Earl:
Ain’t much to do but hunker down.
Ain’t much to do but hunker down.variations: hunkering down
★ In Southern and Appalachian talk, "hunker down" is as much about patience as posture - a way of saying stay put till things pass. ★
Origin and Etymology
From Scots and Scotch-Irish dialects, where "hunker" meant to squat. Carried into Appalachian English by settlers, it later spread across the South. The figurative sense - "settle in and wait" - grew strong in the 20th century.
Usage Notes
Still especially common in the South and Appalachia. National media use it too, but in everyday conversation it’s more at home in rural and Southern speech.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "hunk-er down." Stress on "hunk."
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 5). Hunkering Down. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/hunkering-down
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Hunkering Down." HillbillySlang.com, 5 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/hunkering-down.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Hunkering Down." HillbillySlang.com. October 5, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/hunkering-down.
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