Dance with the One That Brung You
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Dance with the one that brung you" is a proverb meaning stay loyal to those who supported you or the plan that got you this far. It’s a colorful way of saying don’t abandon your roots or your allies just because something shinier comes along.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #OldTimers #Southern #Proverbs
Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Dance with the one that brung you' is a good one, but not one I grew up hearin'. Think it might be regional. Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Dance with the one that brung you' is a good one, but not one I grew up hearin'. Think it might be regional. Pronunciation
[DANS with thuh WUN that BRUNG yoo]
Meaning & Usage
- To stay loyal to your supporters (proverb)
Mae:
They’re switching teams now they’re ahead.
They’re switching teams now they’re ahead.
Earl:
They oughta dance with the one that brung ’em.
They oughta dance with the one that brung ’em.- To stick with the plan or method that got you this far (proverb)
Mae:
Should we change our lineup now?
Should we change our lineup now?
Earl:
Nope - dance with the one that brung you.
Nope - dance with the one that brung you.variations: dance with who brung you
★ This saying took off in the South from high school gyms to political campaigns. It’s still common in sports commentary and country music, signaling loyalty and consistency. ★
Origin and Etymology
The phrase dates back to early 20th-century Southern social dances and was popularized in sports and political circles in Texas and across the South. It’s recorded in Southern newspapers and speeches from the mid-1900s onward.
Usage Notes
Most common in the South and among older speakers, coaches, and politicians, but now widely recognized nationally thanks to sports commentators and country songs. Still carries a Southern twang in its original form "brung" instead of "brought."
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "dance with the one that brung you." Sometimes "dance with who brung you."
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 13). Dance with the One That Brung You. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/dance-with-the-one-that-brung-you
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Dance with the One That Brung You." HillbillySlang.com, 13 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/dance-with-the-one-that-brung-you.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Dance with the One That Brung You." HillbillySlang.com. September 13, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/dance-with-the-one-that-brung-you.
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