Get Lit Up

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "get lit up" means to be on the receiving end of something fierce - a whipping, a scolding, a fight, a sting, or even a night of hard drinking.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #DialectandGrammar #Southern #BodyandHealth

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I had a teacher that decided I should get a paddlin' for leaning back in my chair. Ten licks. I traded her 1000 sentences for seven licks. But I still 'got lit up' with some bruises. And that's what people would still call it nowadays around here.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Pronunciation

[LIT up]

Meaning & Usage

- To be punished or scolded (verb phrase)

Mae:

I got lit up for talkin’ back.

- To be hurt or attacked suddenly (verb phrase)

Earl:

Stepped in a yellow jacket nest and got lit up head to toe.

- To be beaten or argued down (verb phrase)

Mae:

He got lit up in that fight.

- To get drunk or overly excited (verb phrase)

Ruby:

We all got lit up last night on shine.

variations: get chewed out, get stung, get beat up, get drunk, get excited

★ "Get lit up" shows what happens when something (or somebody) comes at you hard. Could be a whipping, a sting, a fight, or a strong drink - context tells the story. ★

Origin and Etymology

From the same fiery image as "light you up." Instead of doing the lighting, this phrase puts you on the receiving end. Popular across the South and Appalachia.

Usage Notes

Heard all over the U.S., but in most places folks use it mainly to mean "drunk." In Appalachia and the South, though, "get lit up" still carries a wider punch - a whipping, a scolding, a fight, a sting, or a strong drink. See also: Light You Up

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "git lit up." Quick and sharp.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does "get lit up" always mean drunk?

No - it can mean punished, stung, fought, or drunk, depending on context.

Is it the same as "light you up"?

Related, but not the same. "Light you up" is active, "get lit up" is what happens to you.

Do people still say it today?

Absolutely - it’s common in country talk and everyday mountain speech.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, August 31). Get Lit Up. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/get-lit-up
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Get Lit Up." HillbillySlang.com, 31 Aug. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/get-lit-up.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Get Lit Up." HillbillySlang.com. August 31, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/get-lit-up.

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