Full as a Tick

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "full as a tick" means completely stuffed with food. The image comes from a tick swollen after feeding, making it a colorful way to say you’ve eaten too much.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #FoodandDrink #Southern #Euphemisms

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I never heard 'full as a tick' growin' up. But a couple counties over, you hear it everwhere. So it must be regional.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I never heard 'full as a tick' growin' up. But a couple counties over, you hear it everwhere. So it must be regional.

Pronunciation

[ful az uh TIK]

Meaning & Usage

- To be completely full from eating (simile)

Mae:

Want another biscuit?

Earl:

Naw, I’m full as a tick already.

- Figurative use for being overfilled or overloaded

Earl:

That bed’s full as a tick with hay bales.

variations: full's a tick

★ "Full as a tick" is vivid and a little funny, but not considered rude. It’s a common way to joke about eating too much at family meals or holiday spreads. ★

Origin and Etymology

Ticks swell up when they feed, sometimes to several times their normal size. Country folks used the sight as a natural comparison for being stuffed with food. The saying has long roots in rural Southern and Appalachian talk.

Usage Notes

Still heard across the South and Appalachia, especially among older generations and in family settings. Younger speakers may use it less often but still recognize it.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "full as a tick." Smooth and quick, no pauses.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does "full as a tick" always refer to food?

Mostly yes, but it can also mean any kind of overfilled state.

Is it used outside the South?

It’s understood elsewhere, but strongest in Southern and Appalachian English.

Is it old-fashioned?

Somewhat - it’s more traditional, but still alive in rural and family talk.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 4). Full as a Tick. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/full-as-a-tick
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Full as a Tick." HillbillySlang.com, 4 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/full-as-a-tick.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Full as a Tick." HillbillySlang.com. September 4, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/full-as-a-tick.

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