Straight as a Row of Corn

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "straight as a row of corn" means perfectly straight, upright, or lined up neatly-just like rows of corn in a well-tended field.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #OldTimers #Southern #FarmTalk

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Straight as a row of corn' is one that has variations depending on the region. And may be a little more old timers.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Straight as a row of corn' is one that has variations depending on the region. And may be a little more old timers.

Pronunciation

[STRAYT as uh ROE uh CORN]
/streɪt əz ə roʊ ə kɔːrn/

Meaning & Usage

- Perfectly upright posture (simile/adjective phrase)

Mae:

He’s got military posture.

Earl:

Yep-straight as a row of corn.

- Neatly aligned objects or people (simile/adjective phrase)

Mae:

The teacher lined ’em up for a picture.

Earl:

They’re straight as rows of corn out there.

variations: lined up like rows of corn, straight as an arrow, straight as a fence post, lined up like soldiers

★ In farm country, straight rows meant skill and pride. This simile draws on that everyday image to describe anything precisely aligned or standing tall. ★

Origin and Etymology

Recorded in Appalachian oral histories, Kentucky/Tennessee farm memoirs, and Southern dialect writing. Reflects the rural culture of row-crop farming where "straight rows" symbolized diligence and order.

Usage Notes

Common in rural Southern/Appalachian speech but understandable anywhere. Outside the region it may sound folksy or poetic, but the imagery is clear.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it natural: "straight" often clips to "strayt"; "of" is usually "uh." "Corn" may sound like "carn."

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does it only describe posture?

No-you can use it for fences, rows of people, or anything neatly aligned.

Is "row of corn" interchangeable with "rows of corn"?

Yes-both forms appear in Southern/Appalachian speech with the same meaning.

Is it still current?

Yes-still heard in rural speech, especially from older generations.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 19). Straight as a Row of Corn. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/straight-as-a-row-of-corn
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Straight as a Row of Corn." HillbillySlang.com, 19 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/straight-as-a-row-of-corn.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Straight as a Row of Corn." HillbillySlang.com. September 19, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/straight-as-a-row-of-corn.