Showin’ Your Tail

In Appalachian & Southern speech, "showing your tail" means behaving badly, acting out, or causing a scene in public. It’s a long-standing regional rebuke used for children and adults alike.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern #ScoldingandTeasing

synonyms: act up, act out, cause a scene, pitch a fit, show off (negatively), make a spectacle

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If you hear that somebody is 'showin’ their tail,' then the person that said it likely thinks the tail-shower is gonna end up embarrassed.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If you hear that somebody is 'showin’ their tail,' then the person that said it likely thinks the tail-shower is gonna end up embarrassed.

Pronunciation

[SHOW-in yer tayl]
/ˈʃoʊ.ɪn jɚ teɪl/

Meaning & Usage

- To behave badly or make a scene in public (verb phrase)

Mama:

We’re goin’ in this store. Don’t you go showin’ your tail.

Child:

I won’t" probably.

- To act disrespectfully, boastfully, or foolishly

Mae:

He got a little whiskey in him and started showin’ his tail at the wedding.

Earl:

Embarrassed everybody there.

variations: show your tail, showin’ your tail, show your behind, show your butt, showin’ out, actin’ ugly, cuttin’ up

★ This phrase is almost always used by someone trying to stop trouble before it starts - parents, grandparents, church ladies, and anybody tryin’ to preserve a little dignity in public. ★

Origin and Etymology

Documented throughout the American South since the late 19th century. It parallels older English expressions using "tail" metaphorically for shameful, rude, or foolish behavior. Southern speakers expanded it into a common discipline phrase, especially in parenting and churchgoing contexts. Variants ("show your behind," "show your butt") share the same structure and meaning.

Usage Notes

Common across the South and Appalachia and recognized instantly as a regional reprimand. It applies equally to children or adults and appears in several variants: "showing his tail," "showing her tail," "showin’ they tail," and "showin’ your behind." Usage usually signals that someone is drawing negative attention to themselves, acting wild, or embarrassing others.

Used for loud, disrespectful, or attention-seeking behavior.
Often appears in parental or teacher speech as a warning.
Variants include "show your butt," "show your behind," and "showin’ out."
Still extremely common in modern Southern everyday speech.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does it always mean someone’s angry?

Not always - it can mean acting wild, foolish, or attention-seeking, not just furious.

Is it only for kids?

No. Adults "show their tail" plenty, especially when drinkin’, braggin’, or causing a scene.

Is it considered rude?

Mildly - it’s a scolding term, but widely understood and not vulgar.

Is it used outside the South?

Rarely. Non-Southerners may recognize it, but it’s strongly rooted in Southern and Appalachian speech.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 27). Showing Your Tail. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/showing-your-tail
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Showing Your Tail." HillbillySlang.com, 27 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/showing-your-tail.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Showing Your Tail." HillbillySlang.com. November 27, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/showing-your-tail.