Sop It Up
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "sop it up" is a familiar command or suggestion meaning "soak up the liquid" - especially gravy, pot likker, or syrup - with bread, biscuits, or cornbread.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #FoodandDrink #DialectandGrammar #Southern
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you're eatin' supper in the south, somebody's bound to recommend, 'sop it up' if you have any liquid and bread. Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you're eatin' supper in the south, somebody's bound to recommend, 'sop it up' if you have any liquid and bread. Pronunciation
[SAHP it UP]
/sɒp ɪt ʌp/
/sɒp ɪt ʌp/
Meaning & Usage
- Imperative to soak up liquid with bread or food (command phrase)
Mae:
Don’t waste that pot likker.
Don’t waste that pot likker.
Earl:
Go on and sop it up.
Go on and sop it up.variations: mop it up, dab it up, get every drop, bread dunk
★ "Sop it up" is more than just eating - it’s a Southern ritual of savoring every drop of gravy or pot likker with a biscuit or cornbread. The phrase also works figuratively ("sop up the applause"). ★
Origin and Etymology
From Old English "sopp" meaning bread soaked in liquid. "Sop it up" emerged naturally in Southern/Appalachian kitchens as the go-to command to soak up gravy or pot likker with bread.
Usage Notes
Still a beloved part of Southern talk around the dinner table. Outside the region, people may say "mop it up" but "sop it up" signals authentic Southern foodways.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "soppit up" or "sop ’er up" in quick Southern speech. Cross-link to Sop for the verb itself.
Kin Topics
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 21). Sop It Up. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/sop-it-up
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Sop It Up." HillbillySlang.com, 21 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/sop-it-up.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Sop It Up." HillbillySlang.com. September 21, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/sop-it-up.
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