Cuss Out
To cuss someone out means to scold or verbally lash them - usually in anger. A plainspoken Southern way to describe giving someone a sharp tongue-lashing.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #DialectandGrammar #Southern #ScoldingandTeasing
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you grew up around here, you'd never used the word 'curse' in your life - we'd say 'cuss you out' instead. Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you grew up around here, you'd never used the word 'curse' in your life - we'd say 'cuss you out' instead. Pronunciation
[KUHS out]
/kʌs aʊt/
/kʌs aʊt/
Meaning & Usage
- To Scold or Reprimand Angrily (verb phrase)
Estel:
He cussed me out for scratchin’ the truck.
He cussed me out for scratchin’ the truck.
Elmer:
Well - sounds like you earned it.
Well - sounds like you earned it.★ Often followed by forgiveness. Southern scoldin’s might come loud, but they usually end soft. ★
Origin and Etymology
From the Southern and Appalachian pronunciation of "curse." "Cuss out" likely arose in the 1800s, mirroring similar phrases like "chew out" and "tell off." Its polite counterpart "bless out" developed later.
Usage Notes
Still widely used across the South and beyond. "Cuss" is accepted colloquial speech, though considered informal or rough in tone.
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 10). Cuss Out. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/cuss-out
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Cuss Out." HillbillySlang.com, 10 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/cuss-out.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Cuss Out." HillbillySlang.com. October 10, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/cuss-out.
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