   All Bowed UpIn Southern and Appalachian speech, "all bowed up" means puffed up, defensive, or ready to fight. It can also describe traffic, machinery, or chores being jammed up and stopped. The all adds emphasis, making it a colorful, old-timey saying. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #DialectandGrammar #Southern #FarmTalk synonyms: puffed up, riled up, jammed up, stuck, seized up Hillbilly Dude Says...  'All bowed up' is one of 'em that you'll hear more as you get out into the country. And it's more regional. Hillbilly Dude Says... 'All bowed up' is one of 'em that you'll hear more as you get out into the country. And it's more regional. Pronunciation[AWL BOH-d up] /ɑːl boʊd ʌp/ Meaning & Usage- Defensive or ready to fight (idiom)
Hazel:
He got all bowed up when I told him to slow down.
Earl:
That boy’s temper is quicker than kindlin’.- Stopped or jammed (idiom)
Ruby:
Why’s the hay baler sittin’ still?
Clyde:
It’s all bowed up again.variations: all bow’d up, all bowin’ up ★ "All bowed up" is the emphatic form of bowed up. Southerners often add "all" for flavor, just like "plumb tuckered out" or "slam full." ★ Origin and EtymologyDrawn from Southern/Appalachian oral tradition of the 20th century. The base form bowed up likely came from the image of animals bowing their backs when riled. Adding "all" turned it into a stronger, more colorful idiom used in everyday country talk. Usage Notes
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