Poor as Job’s Turkey
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "poor as Job’s turkey" means extremely poor. It’s an old-timer’s saying that blends Bible talk with farm humor, poking fun at the idea that even Job’s turkey didn’t have much to its name.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Animals #PeopleandRelationships #Southern #FarmTalk #MoneyWorkandChores #Euphemisms
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Saying 'poor as Job’s turkey' wasn't common where I was growin' up, but I hear it two counties over. So I'm thinking it's regional. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Saying 'poor as Job’s turkey' wasn't common where I was growin' up, but I hear it two counties over. So I'm thinking it's regional. Pronunciation
[POHR az JOBZ TUR-kee]
Meaning & Usage
- Extremely poor (adjective phrase, figurative)
Mae:
How bad off were y’all?
How bad off were y’all?
Earl:
Bad - poor as Job’s turkey.
Bad - poor as Job’s turkey.variations: poor as dirt, poor as a church mouse, flat broke, he’s poor as Job’s turkey, we grew up poor as Job’s turkey, old-timer said we was poor as Job’s turkey
★ This saying shows Southern humor - tying a serious Bible figure to a half-starved turkey. Folks still smile when they hear it, even if they don’t use it anymore. ★
Origin and Etymology
The Bible’s Job was known for his suffering and loss. Adding "turkey" to the phrase gave it a comic twist in Southern and Appalachian speech, making Job’s bird as pitiful as the man himself. It likely emerged in the 1800s and was popular among old-timers.
Usage Notes
Most common among older generations in the South and Appalachia. Rare outside the region, and often unknown to outsiders. Sometimes heard in sermons or stories where country speech is thick.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "poor as Job’s tur-key." "Job" rhymes with "robe."
Kin Topics
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 22). Poor as Job’s Turkey. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/poor-as-jobs-turkey
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Poor as Job’s Turkey." HillbillySlang.com, 22 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/poor-as-jobs-turkey.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Poor as Job’s Turkey." HillbillySlang.com. September 22, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/poor-as-jobs-turkey.
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