More’n You Can Shake a Stick At

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "more than you can shake a stick at" means a very large number of things - more than you can easily count or manage. It’s a colorful way of saying "a whole lot."

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Measurements #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I don't hear 'more thank you can shake a stick at' as much as I used to, but it's still around down here.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I don't hear 'more thank you can shake a stick at' as much as I used to, but it's still around down here.

Pronunciation

[mohr thun yuh kin SHAYK uh STIK at]

Meaning & Usage

- A very large number or amount (idiom)

Mae:

How many booths they got?

Earl:

More’n you can shake a stick at.

- Too many to manage easily (figurative)

Mae:

Think you’ll finish today?

Earl:

Not with more work than I can shake a stick at.

variations: more than you can count, a whole mess of, plenty more, lots more, more chores than you can shake a stick at, we had more pies than you can shake a stick at, more troubles than you can shake a stick at

★ This phrase is almost always playful or humorous. It exaggerates the size of something without needing an exact count. ★

Origin and Etymology

First recorded in the early 1800s in America. Farmers sometimes used a stick for counting animals or controlling them. If there were too many, you literally couldn’t shake a stick at them all. The phrase stuck, especially in Southern and Appalachian talk, where colorful exaggerations are common.

Usage Notes

Still widely heard in Southern and Appalachian storytelling and everyday speech. Outside the region, it’s understood but may sound old-fashioned or quaint.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "more than you can shake a stick at." The "you can" often runs together: "ya can."

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does this literally mean shaking a stick?

No - it’s figurative, meaning a whole lot.

Is it only Southern?

Not exclusively, but strongest in Southern and Appalachian speech.

Is it still used today?

Yes - often in rural areas or in playful, exaggerated talk.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 5). More Than You Can Shake a Stick At. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/more-than-you-can-shake-a-stick-at
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "More Than You Can Shake a Stick At." HillbillySlang.com, 5 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/more-than-you-can-shake-a-stick-at.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "More Than You Can Shake a Stick At." HillbillySlang.com. September 5, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/more-than-you-can-shake-a-stick-at.

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