Whup the Tar Out of
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Whup the Tar Out of" means to beat or punish someone severely - a colorful regional variant of "whip the tar out of" or "whoop the tar out of."
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you heard 'I'll whup the tar out of you' growin' up, you best stop what you're doin. It's more of a silly threat to say these days. Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you heard 'I'll whup the tar out of you' growin' up, you best stop what you're doin. It's more of a silly threat to say these days. Pronunciation
[WHUP thuh TAR out-uh]
/wʌp ðə tɑr ˈaʊtə/
/wʌp ðə tɑr ˈaʊtə/
Meaning & Usage
- To beat or punish severely (expression)
Pearl:
He took my seat again.
He took my seat again.
Jeb:
Do it one more time and I’ll whup the tar out of you.
Do it one more time and I’ll whup the tar out of you.variations: Whoop the Tar Out of, Whip the Tar Out of, Whup the Snot Out of, Beat the Tar Out of
★ In Southern/Appalachian English "whup" is the authentic pronunciation of "whip" or "whoop" when it means to beat someone. "Tar" is a traditional stand-in for "stuffing," "heck," or "sense" - making this a vivid way of saying "punish hard." ★
Origin and Etymology
From "whip" meaning to strike or beat. "Whup" is the Southern pronunciation, documented since the 19th century. "Tar" as a figurative stand-in dates back to at least the mid-1800s in rural speech. Together they form one of the South’s most iconic colorful threats.
Usage Notes
Still widely heard in Southern/Appalachian speech, often said jokingly as a parental or playful threat. Outside the region people may know "beat the tar out of," but "whup the tar out of" sounds distinctly Southern.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "whup the tar outta" - pronounced with "whup" (not "whoop") and "outta" (not "out of"). Sometimes also said "whup the snot out of."
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 23). Whup the Tar Out of. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/whup-the-tar-out-of
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Whup the Tar Out of." HillbillySlang.com, 23 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/whup-the-tar-out-of.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Whup the Tar Out of." HillbillySlang.com. September 23, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/whup-the-tar-out-of.
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