When You Waller With Pigs, Expect to Get Dirty

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "When you waller with pigs, expect to get dirty" is a folksy proverb meaning "if you associate with troublemakers or get into messy fights, you’ll come out dirty yourself." It’s a colorful warning rooted in farm life.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

You can hear versions of ‘when you waller with pigs, expect to get dirty' out in the country.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

You can hear versions of ‘when you waller with pigs, expect to get dirty' out in the country.

Pronunciation

[WALL-er with PIGS eks-PECT tuh get DIR-tee]

Meaning & Usage

- If you mix with trouble or bad company, you’ll share the consequences (proverb / figurative)

Mae:

Should I argue with him online?

Earl:

Honey, when you waller with pigs, expect to get dirty.

variations: When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty

★ This saying draws directly on hog-pen reality: hogs "waller" (wallow) in mud, so anyone who climbs in with them will get muddy too. The metaphor is universal but the phrasing "waller" is distinctly Southern/Appalachian. ★

Origin and Etymology

Derived from older English "wallow" (to roll about), pronounced "waller" in Southern/Appalachian dialect. Farmers and preachers alike used this imagery to warn about bad company or needless fights.

Usage Notes

Still widely recognized in rural Southern/Appalachian communities. Outside the region you’ll hear "wallow" in formal writing but rarely "waller" in speech. Both versions carry the same meaning.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "when you WALL-er with pigs, expect to get dirty." "Waller" is the local pronunciation of "wallow."

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does it always refer to actual pigs?

No - it’s figurative for "if you mix with trouble, you’ll share the mess."

Is "waller" just a misspelling?

No - it’s the authentic regional pronunciation of "wallow."

Do people still use this saying?

Yes - it’s a staple of rural wisdom and often appears in sermons and social media as "Southern wisdom."

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 14). When You Waller With Pigs, Expect to Get Dirty. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/when-you-waller-with-pigs-expect-to-get-dirty
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "When You Waller With Pigs, Expect to Get Dirty." HillbillySlang.com, 14 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/when-you-waller-with-pigs-expect-to-get-dirty.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "When You Waller With Pigs, Expect to Get Dirty." HillbillySlang.com. September 14, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/when-you-waller-with-pigs-expect-to-get-dirty.

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