If You Lay Down With Dogs, You’ll Get Up With Fleas

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "If you lay down with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas" means associating with bad people brings trouble. It’s a vivid country proverb rooted in everyday rural life.

#SouthernSayings #Animals #Southern #FarmTalk #Proverbs

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I didn't hear 'if you lay down with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas' all that much growin' up, but I do still here it now and again.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I didn't hear 'if you lay down with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas' all that much growin' up, but I do still here it now and again.

Pronunciation

[if yew LAY down with DAWGS yewl get up with FLEEZ]

Meaning & Usage

- Associating with bad people brings harm (proverb)

Mae:

He’s been runnin’ with that crowd.

Earl:

Well, if you lay down with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas.

- Even contact with trouble can rub off (figurative)

Mae:

I told him that job was shady.

Earl:

Yep. If you lay down with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas.

variations: If you lie down with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas

★ This proverb draws on the real experience of farm dogs carrying fleas - if you sleep near them, you’ll carry their pests. It’s a folksy way to teach kids about the company they keep. ★

Origin and Etymology

Goes back to at least the 18th century in English writings but became entrenched in Southern/Appalachian speech thanks to the vivid, everyday image of farm dogs and fleas. The "lay" form reflects authentic rural grammar.

Usage Notes

Still widely used in Southern/Appalachian storytelling and church sermons. Less common outside the region, though its meaning is instantly clear. The "lie" version appears in print; the "lay" version lives in speech.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "If you lay down with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas." In standard English it’s "lie down," but Southern/Appalachian speech naturally uses "lay."

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Which is correct - lay or lie?

In standard grammar it’s "lie," but Southern/Appalachian speech almost always says "lay."

Does it only apply to dogs?

No - it’s figurative, warning about bad associations in general.

Do people still use it today?

Yes - especially older speakers and anyone leaning into country talk.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 10). If You Lay Down With Dogs, You’ll Get Up With Fleas. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/if-you-lay-down-with-dogs-youll-get-up-with-fleas
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "If You Lay Down With Dogs, You’ll Get Up With Fleas." HillbillySlang.com, 10 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/if-you-lay-down-with-dogs-youll-get-up-with-fleas.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "If You Lay Down With Dogs, You’ll Get Up With Fleas." HillbillySlang.com. September 10, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/if-you-lay-down-with-dogs-youll-get-up-with-fleas.

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