Give Me Down the Road

In Southern and Appalachian speech, give me down the road means to scold or sharply reprimand someone, often with a long or forceful talking-to.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern #ScoldingandTeasing

synonyms: chew out, scold, fuss at, dress down

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Give me down the road' is one of those really common ones out in the country - I've heard this one all my life.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Give me down the road' is one of those really common ones out in the country - I've heard this one all my life.

Pronunciation

[GIV me down thuh ROHD]
/ɡɪv mi daʊn ðə ɹoʊd/

Meaning & Usage

- To scold or reprimand someone sharply

Bobby:

I come in past midnight.

Ada Ruth:

Bet your daddy give you down the road for that.

variations: give somebody down the road, gave me down the road, gave him down the road, gave her down the road

★ The phrase often implies a long, detailed scolding - not just a quick fuss. If you "got down the road," you really caught it. ★

Origin and Etymology

The expression appears in 19th- and early 20th-century Southern and Appalachian English. While its exact etymology is unclear, many scholars note that "down the road" historically evoked a metaphorical path of trouble or consequence. To "give someone down the road" meant to send them verbally along that path - a strong reprimand. It is solidly documented in Southern Midland and Appalachian dialect surveys.

Usage Notes

The phrase is still heard in rural and small-town parts of the South and Appalachia. It’s rarely used outside the region and may sound unfamiliar to non-Southern listeners. Past tense is usually "give me down the road."

Usually refers to a stern, thorough scolding.
Common in family settings: parents, grandparents, or elders.
Appears in oral histories, church anecdotes, and rural storytelling.
Sometimes used humorously to describe mild fussing - as in 'when i went in there that broody chicken give me down the road!'

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does "give me down the road" literally involve a road?

No. It is metaphorical - a traditional Southern idiom for giving someone a strong talking-to.

Is this phrase still used?

Yes, though more commonly among older speakers or in rural communities.

Can it describe gentle criticism?

It usually implies something stronger than gentle - more like being firmly set straight.

Is it unique to Appalachia?

It appears across the South but is especially associated with the Appalachian and Southern Midland regions.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 4). Give Me Down the Road. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/give-me-down-the-road
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Give Me Down the Road." HillbillySlang.com, 4 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/give-me-down-the-road.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Give Me Down the Road." HillbillySlang.com. December 4, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/give-me-down-the-road.