   Sulled Up Like a PossumIn Southern and Appalachian speech, "Sulled Up Like a ’Possum" is a colorful simile meaning someone is pouting, stubbornly withdrawn, or refusing to engage.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/ Meaning & Usage- Pouting, sulking, or withdrawing stubbornly (simile)
Clara:
He wanted his way and didn’t get it.
Earl:
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 NotesStill 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 SouthernerSay it natural: "sulled up like a ’possum," with "sulled" pronounced like "sull’d" and "’possum" dropping the initial "o." | ...
About Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site 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... |