Raisin’ Cain

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "raising Cain" means making trouble, causing a ruckus, or behaving rowdily. You'll often hear people say something close akin to 'he's out there raisin' all kinda Cain!' It comes from the biblical story of Cain, who killed his brother Abel, and has been used in American slang for over 150 years.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Coon's will be 'raisin’ Cain' on the porch if somebody leaves a sammich out there. And that's a way we'd describe it.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Coon's will be 'raisin’ Cain' on the porch if somebody leaves a sammich out there. And that's a way we'd describe it.

Pronunciation

[RAY-zin CAYN]

Meaning & Usage

- To cause trouble or make a disturbance (verb phrase)

Mae:

What’s all that noise?

Earl:

Just the young’uns raisin’ Cain near the rides.

- To act up or behave wildly (verb phrase)

Mae:

Them boys been raisin’ Cain all afternoon.

variations: raising cain, raisin all kinda cain, raining all kinds of cain

★ "Raisin’ Cain" is a catch-all phrase - it can mean anything from harmless mischief to real rowdiness, depending on the tone and setting. ★

Origin and Etymology

From the biblical Cain, who committed the first murder. By the mid-1800s, Americans were using "raise Cain" as slang for raising you-know-what or causing trouble. It stuck especially strong in Southern and Appalachian speech.

Usage Notes

Still common in Appalachia and the South. Recognized everywhere in the U.S., but outside the region it sounds old-fashioned or colorful rather than everyday.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "ray-zin’ cayn." The "g" in "raising" is usually dropped.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does "raising Cain" mean the same as "making trouble" or "getting rowdy?"

Yes - though "raising Cain" is a bit harsher.

Is it still used today?

Yes - especially among older generations, but younger folks still use it too.

Is it only Southern?

No, it’s understood nationally, but it’s much more common in Southern and Appalachian speech.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 5). Raising Cain. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/raising-cain
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Raising Cain." HillbillySlang.com, 5 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/raising-cain.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Raising Cain." HillbillySlang.com. October 5, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/raising-cain.

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