In All My Born Days
In all my born days means "never in my life." It’s a Southern and Appalachian way of showing surprise or disbelief - polite, dramatic, and full of wonder.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
'In all my born days' is one of those you hear from time to time out in the country. Hillbilly Dude Says...
'In all my born days' is one of those you hear from time to time out in the country. Pronunciation
[in awl mah BORN dayz]
/ɪn ɔl ma bɔːrn deɪz/
/ɪn ɔl ma bɔːrn deɪz/
Meaning & Usage
- Never in My Life (idiomatic expression)
Mamaw:
In all my born days, I never seen a cat that fat.
In all my born days, I never seen a cat that fat.
Papaw:
He eats like he’s got nine stomachs instead of nine lives.
He eats like he’s got nine stomachs instead of nine lives.★ This phrase carries both warmth and emphasis - a good way to say "I can’t believe it" without any cussin’. ★
Origin and Etymology
Dates to the 1800s, common in Scots-Irish and Southern rural speech. "Born days" refers to the span of one’s life - literally the days since birth.
Usage Notes
Still widely used in the South and Appalachia, especially among older speakers. Functions as a mild exclamation of surprise or disbelief, often said with a shake of the head or a laugh.
Kin Topics
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 11). In All My Born Days. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/in-all-my-born-days
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "In All My Born Days." HillbillySlang.com, 11 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/in-all-my-born-days.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "In All My Born Days." HillbillySlang.com. October 11, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/in-all-my-born-days.
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