Sorry Excuse
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "sorry excuse" is a common saying used to call something worthless, pitiful, or no good. Usually said as "a sorry excuse for"" to drive home disappointment.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #DialectandGrammar #Southern #ScoldingandTeasing #Euphemisms
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If your expectations weren't met, you might say 'that's a sorry excuse for...' whatever that thing was. But not to the person that brought it, that'd be rude. Later. To somebody else. Hillbilly Dude Says...
If your expectations weren't met, you might say 'that's a sorry excuse for...' whatever that thing was. But not to the person that brought it, that'd be rude. Later. To somebody else. Pronunciation
[SAHR-ee ik-SKEWS]
Meaning & Usage
- Pitiful, worthless example (saying)
Mae:
This is a sorry excuse for supper.
This is a sorry excuse for supper.
Earl:
Ain’t my fault the beans burned.
Ain’t my fault the beans burned.- Failure of character (saying)
Mae:
He’s a sorry excuse for a man.
He’s a sorry excuse for a man.
Earl:
Lazy as the day is long.
Lazy as the day is long.variations: sorry excuse for
★ "Sorry excuse" isn’t polite - it’s a cutting phrase folks use when they’re sorely let down by something or someone. ★
Origin and Etymology
Rooted in the Southern/Appalachian use of "sorry" to mean pitiful or worthless. Adding "excuse" sharpened it into a phrase, especially common in the 19th and 20th centuries to describe bad food, tools, or people.
Usage Notes
Still widely used in Appalachia and across the South. Often heard with "for a"" tagged on the end, making it a flexible insult or complaint.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it sharp: "sarry ’scuse." The "for" is often dropped or softened: "sorry excuse of a"" → "sarry ’scuse of a""
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 10). Sorry Excuse. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/sorry-excuse
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Sorry Excuse." HillbillySlang.com, 10 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/sorry-excuse.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Sorry Excuse." HillbillySlang.com. September 10, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/sorry-excuse.
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