He Thinks the Sun Comes Up Just to Hear Him Crow

In Southern and Appalachian speech, thinks the sun comes up just to hear him crow means someone is vain, arrogant, or full of self-importance. It paints a colorful picture of a rooster who believes daylight exists just for his own show.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern

synonyms: vain, conceited, self-important, proud, full of themselves, vanity

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I didn't hear somebody 'thinks the sun comes up just to hear them crow' growin' up - so it may be more regional. But we also didn't talk much about other people.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I didn't hear somebody 'thinks the sun comes up just to hear them crow' growin' up - so it may be more regional. But we also didn't talk much about other people.

Pronunciation

[thinks thuh sun comes up just tuh heer ’im kro]
/θɪŋks ðə sʌn kʌmz ʌp dʒʌst tə hɪr ɪm kroʊ/

Meaning & Usage

- To think too highly of oneself (idiom)

Mae:

He walks ‘round like the sun comes up just to hear him crow.

Clyde:

Yeah, he’d brag about breathin’ if somebody’d listen.

★ When a Southerner says this, they’re callin’ somebody proud without ever usin’ the word "proud." It’s gentle ribbin’ - funny, but it lands. ★

Origin and Etymology

This saying grew from rural farm life, where roosters crow at daybreak as if announcing the dawn. In Southern humor, the rooster’s vanity became a metaphor for boastful people. Recorded in Southern and Appalachian oral tradition since the early 20th century, the phrase endures as a colorful way to describe pride and self-importance.

Usage Notes

Still heard across the South, especially among older speakers, this phrase blends rural imagery with sharp wit. It can be playful or cutting, depending on tone. Variants replace "him" with "her" or "them," keeping the meaning intact:

You think the sun came up just to hear you crow.
She thinks the sun came up just to hear her crow.
They think the sun came up just to hear them crow.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

What does "thinks the sun comes up just to hear him crow" mean?

It means someone believes the world revolves around them - they’re vain or overly proud.

Where did the saying come from?

It came from rural farm talk, comparing proud people to a rooster that crows like dawn exists for his sake.

Is it still used today?

Yes, mostly in rural or Southern conversation, often said with humor rather than real insult.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 23). He Thinks the Sun Comes Up Just to Hear Him Crow. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/he-thinks-the-sun-comes-up-just-to-hear-him-crow
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "He Thinks the Sun Comes Up Just to Hear Him Crow." HillbillySlang.com, 23 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/he-thinks-the-sun-comes-up-just-to-hear-him-crow.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "He Thinks the Sun Comes Up Just to Hear Him Crow." HillbillySlang.com. October 23, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/he-thinks-the-sun-comes-up-just-to-hear-him-crow.

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