   Katie Bar the DoorIn Southern and Appalachian speech, "Katie Bar the Door" is a warning that something bad or dramatic is about to happen - the verbal equivalent of "brace yourself." #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern synonyms: watch out, look out, brace yourself, trouble coming Hillbilly Dude Says...  'Katie bar the door' is another one of those I've only read, so I'm assuming it's more regional (and old timers). Hillbilly Dude Says... 'Katie bar the door' is another one of those I've only read, so I'm assuming it's more regional (and old timers). Pronunciation[KAY-tee bar thuh DOOR] /ˈkeɪ.ti bɑːr ðə dɔːr/ Meaning & Usage- A warning of impending trouble (idiom)
Ruby:
If Uncle Earl shows up at the reunion again"
J.D.:
"Katie bar the door!variations: Katy Bar the Door, Katie-Bar the Door ★ Think of "Katie Bar the Door" as a dramatic Southern way to say "Here we go!" or "Get ready - all heck’s about to break loose." ★ Origin and EtymologyDerived from the old Scottish ballad "Get Up and Bar the Door" (Child Ballad #275) brought to the American South by Scots-Irish immigrants. The "Katie" form appears in Southern newspapers and oral tradition by the late 19th century and remains a colorful Appalachian warning phrase. Usage Notes
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