Steal Some Sugar
In Southern and Appalachian families, "steal some sugar" is a playful, affectionate phrase meaning to show or share a little love - usually through tickling, hugging, or kissing. It began as a family game between adults and children, later - more rarely - extending to mean a lighthearted kiss between sweethearts.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #OldTimers #Southern
synonyms: give me some sugar, steal a kiss, get some loving, share some sweetness
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I remember grown ups in my family growin' up sayin', 'you been stealin’ sugar?' They'd tickle you, and if you laughed, that was proof you had - next thing you knew, you were covered in sugars (kisses). Hillbilly Dude Says...
I remember grown ups in my family growin' up sayin', 'you been stealin’ sugar?' They'd tickle you, and if you laughed, that was proof you had - next thing you knew, you were covered in sugars (kisses). Pronunciation
[STEAL some SHOOG-er]
/stiːl səm ˈʃʊɡər/
/stiːl səm ˈʃʊɡər/
Meaning & Usage
- To tickle, hug, or kiss a child playfully (phrase)
Granny:
You been stealin’ sugar?
You been stealin’ sugar?
Boy:
No ma’am!
No ma’am!
Granny:
Bet you have. If you laugh, that means you did!
Bet you have. If you laugh, that means you did!
Boy:
(laughs and gets tickled and kissed)
- To take a quick kiss or affectionate touch (phrase)
Estel:
Well we better be headed to the house.
Well we better be headed to the house.
Granny:
'Fore you go I'm gonna steal me some sugar.
'Fore you go I'm gonna steal me some sugar.variations: steal me some sugar, stole some sugar, give me some sugar
★ If you hear about somebody stealin' sugar, think twice before you call the law. ★
Origin and Etymology
The phrase developed from the literal act of "stealing sugar," a sweet treat, and turned metaphorical for taking a bit of affection. It’s documented in Southern and Appalachian oral tradition as a family game: adults teasing children about "stealing sugar" and proving it with laughter and kisses. Written references are rare, but the tradition survives in stories and recollections across the mountain South. By the mid-20th century, the same phrase had broadened to mean a quick kiss or playful show of affection among adults.
Usage Notes
"Steal some sugar" belongs to an older tradition of using sugar to mean affection.
- Used affectionately toward children - tickles, hugs, cheek kisses.
- Also used playfully between partners - "steal me a little sugar."
- The fuller form "steal me some sugar" is a common Appalachian variant, following the Southern "me" pattern ("fetch me," "bring me") - both mean the same thing.
- Never harsh or suggestive; always lighthearted and warm.
- Closely related to "give me some sugar," still heard widely across the South.
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 8). Steal Some Sugar. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/steal-some-sugar
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Steal Some Sugar." HillbillySlang.com, 8 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/steal-some-sugar.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Steal Some Sugar." HillbillySlang.com. November 8, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/steal-some-sugar.
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