   Drunk as Cooter BrownIn Southern and Appalachian speech, "Drunk as Cooter Brown" means very drunk or intoxicated - a vivid regional expression with a story behind it. Hillbilly Dude Says...  I didn't hear 'drunk as Cooter Brown' growin' up, but - like some others - you can hear it a couple counties over. So it must be regional. Hillbilly Dude Says... I didn't hear 'drunk as Cooter Brown' growin' up, but - like some others - you can hear it a couple counties over. So it must be regional. Pronunciation[DRUNK as COO-ter BROWN] /drʌŋk æz ˈkuːtɚ braʊn/ Meaning & Usage- Extremely drunk (simile)
Jimmy:
Did you see him at the barn dance?
Mary:
He was drunk as Cooter Brown.variations: Cooter Brown Drunk, Drunk as a Skunk (mainstream equivalent), Lit Up Like a Christmas Tree ★ The name "Cooter Brown" appears in numerous Southern states’ folklore. In one version, Cooter Brown was a man living on the Mason-Dixon line who stayed drunk through the Civil War to avoid being drafted by either side. Regardless of the tale, the name became shorthand for someone spectacularly intoxicated. ★ Origin and EtymologyRooted in Southern folklore. The "Cooter Brown" character is always described as perpetually drunk or drinking to avoid trouble. The expression spread throughout the South and Appalachia as a go-to way to describe being extremely drunk. Usage NotesStill common in Southern/Appalachian speech. Outside the region it may puzzle listeners unfamiliar with the "Cooter Brown" legend, but the "drunk as" part makes the meaning obvious. Say It Like a SouthernerSay it natural: "drunk as Cooter Brown" or "Cooter Brown drunk" - both are common variants. | ...
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