Madder’n a Wet Hen

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "madder than a wet hen" means extremely angry or upset. The phrase comes from farm life, where hens get furious if splashed with water.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Animals #Southern #FarmTalk #ScoldingandTeasing

synonyms: angry, furious, hopping mad, riled up

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Madder'n a old wet hen is sumpin' you'll definitely still hear. Although... we have hens, and they're way madder when they're broody!

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Madder'n a old wet hen is sumpin' you'll definitely still hear. Although... we have hens, and they're way madder when they're broody!

Pronunciation

[MAD-er thun uh WET hen]
/ˈmæd.ər ðən ə wɛt hɛn/

Meaning & Usage

- Extremely angry or agitated (idiom)

Hazel:

She got madder than a wet hen when she found out we were late.

Earl:

Best leave her be till she cools down.

variations: mad as a wet hen, madder’n a wet hen

★ The saying comes from the old practice of sprinkling or dunking a broody hen with water to break her from sitting on eggs - and hens don’t take kindly to it. ★

Origin and Etymology

Documented in American farm life by the 19th century, especially in the South. Farmers noted how hens would fly into a fury if doused with water, and the image became a colorful comparison for human temper.

Usage Notes

Distinctly Southern/Appalachian in flavor, though now widely recognized in American English.
Sometimes shortened to "mad as a wet hen."
Still common in rural areas, often used humorously.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

What does "madder than a wet hen" mean?

It means extremely angry or upset.

Where does the saying come from?

From farm life - hens get furious if doused with water, especially broody hens being discouraged from sitting on eggs.

Is this a Southern expression?

Yes. It’s strongly tied to Southern and Appalachian farm speech, though it has spread more broadly in American English.

Do people still use it today?

Yes, especially in rural and Southern areas, often as a humorous way of describing anger.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 29). Madder Than a Wet Hen. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/madder-than-a-wet-hen
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Madder Than a Wet Hen." HillbillySlang.com, 29 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/madder-than-a-wet-hen.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Madder Than a Wet Hen." HillbillySlang.com. October 29, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/madder-than-a-wet-hen.

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