Sulled Up Like a Possum
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Sulled Up Like a ’Possum" is a colorful simile meaning someone is pouting, stubbornly withdrawn, or refusing to engage.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Animals #PeopleandRelationships #Nature #Southern
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I'd say 'sulled up like a possum' is more regional and old timers, because I can't pinpoint hearin' it. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I'd say 'sulled up like a possum' is more regional and old timers, because I can't pinpoint hearin' it. Pronunciation
[SULLD up like a POSS-um]
/sʌld ʌp laɪk ə ˈpɒsəm/
/sʌld ʌp laɪk ə ˈpɒsəm/
Meaning & Usage
- Pouting, sulking, or withdrawing stubbornly (simile)
Clara:
He wanted his way and didn’t get it.
He wanted his way and didn’t get it.
Earl:
Now he’s sulled up like a ’possum.
Now he’s sulled up like a ’possum.variations: Sull Up Like a ’Possum, Sulky as a ’Possum, Sullin’ Up, Poutin’ Like a Child
★ "Sull" or "sull up" is a distinct Southern/Appalachian verb meaning to pout or sulk. Pairing it with a possum - an animal known for curling up or "playing dead" - creates a vivid picture of stubborn withdrawal. ★
Origin and Etymology
"Sull" comes from older Scots-Irish and regional English roots meaning to sulk or become stubborn. Rural Southerners extended it with "like a ’possum" because opossums are familiar for their curling/playing-dead behavior.
Usage Notes
Still strongly associated with rural Southern/Appalachian speech. Outside the region "sulled up" is rarely understood, which makes the whole saying sound especially local or old-timey.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "sulled up like a ’possum," with "sulled" pronounced like "sull’d" and "’possum" dropping the initial "o."
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 21). Sulled Up Like a Possum. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/sulled-up-like-a-possum
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Sulled Up Like a Possum." HillbillySlang.com, 21 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/sulled-up-like-a-possum.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Sulled Up Like a Possum." HillbillySlang.com. September 21, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/sulled-up-like-a-possum.
Most Popular
Latest Accents
Latest Sayings
Latest Slang
Latest Southernish
About
Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...