Every morning The Deer Hunter beats us up. He has to be at work early-but even on the days he doesn’t work he still beats us up. He’s an early riser-the clock is set for 5:oo a.m. but he’s always up before it goes off.
Using the phrase ‘beat up’ to indicate the first person awake is what I’ve said all my life-you know like on Christmas morning when me and Paul always beat Granny and Pap up?
Earlier this week I discovered everyone doesn’t say the phrase-or even recognize what I mean when I say it-do you?
Tipper
Appalachia Through My Eyes – A series of photographs from my life in Southern Appalachia.
40 Comments
Janet Smart
February 10, 2012 at 8:57 amSince my husband has been retired, he still can’t get used to sleeping in. He beats everyone in getting up in the morning.
RB
February 9, 2012 at 11:34 pmSad world we’ve come to when it’s too risky a phrase to use anymore.
Don’t you think?
God bless.
RB
<><
Wayne Newton
February 9, 2012 at 9:08 amCoco and Quizzy beat me up every morning. Both are BIG cats which are also siblings.
Somehow, especially Coco (she weighs 24 pounds), sees the first rays of sunrise, and plants herself beside my right shoulder.
I feel that, so I sorta bury my face in the pillow. Woe is me if I even crack an eyelid! For when she spies even a glimmer of my eye, that is her signal to awaken me.
Her method is to wash my face with her sand-paper tongue, starting at my fast receding hairline, working her way down to my nose, both eyelids; she continues the scrubbing until I roll onto my back, at which time she plants herself on the middle of my chest, and keeps on washing until I push the covers aside, simultaneously scratching behind her ears.
Not much chance of me ever beating Coco up, ever!!
Becky
February 9, 2012 at 7:00 amI beat my alarm clock up almost every morning.
And on the mornings that I don’t, I would like to. LOL
Suzi Phillips
February 8, 2012 at 10:07 pmUntil a few years ago I had always worked nights, so, no, I have never beat anyone up. Haven’t got used to working mornings yet-I guess my internal clock still believes night is for working, mornings for sleeping!
Kim Campbell
February 8, 2012 at 9:20 pmI usually beat everyone else up,,,except the dog. lol!
Vicki Lane
February 8, 2012 at 6:04 pmThat’s something I’d say…
Jenny
February 8, 2012 at 4:28 pmI’ve used the phrase all my life and now that I’m in New England, people here seem to understand it fine, though I’m not sure I’ve heard them use it themselves.
The main one they don’t get up here is “put it up”. Like, when you’re done with the cereal, put it up (i.e. away). When I used to ask my now-husband “would you put up the folding chairs?” (or whatever), he’d actually look up to the corners of the room, saying, “up where?”!!
I wonder where this is regional to, since I shared my growing up years between East Tennessee and Louisiana. I think “Come see” is from Louisiana (means something like come here) – these Yankees say, “come see what?”
Bradley
February 8, 2012 at 4:28 pmI beat everybody up every day around here! Usually 3:00 o’clock or when I’m really feeling lazy – 4:00 o’clock. I think I got that from my Daddy. However, seems like it’s hard to sleep.
Luann
February 8, 2012 at 3:57 pmYes, I’ve used that one all my life, too. Figure most folks today wouldn’t know what we mean tho.
I got a chuckle from Sandra’s comment! Does anyone else use the phrase, “don’t make me come up there!?”
Tim Mc
February 8, 2012 at 1:04 pmI generally always beat everyone up, around here. You get use to speaking a certain way and don’t realize what it sounds like. Our daughter gets tickled at my wife and I when we say things like I’m gonna pinch your head off, or you little stinker,, things like that..
Ken
February 8, 2012 at 12:28 pmTipper,
Unless its to go deer hunting or
fishing I ain’t gettin’ up early.
Already done that, for years. Now-
a-days I don’t even make a complex
sentence before 8 am…Ken
Charlotte
February 8, 2012 at 10:43 amLOL! I like to beat my husband up in the mornings, to get breakfast ready while I’m alone in the kitchen.
EBet
February 8, 2012 at 10:09 amAt first I thought you were saying that The Deer Hunter beats you! But then I got what you were saying. When I was little I woke up early just because I liked to, now I have to make myself get up.
Pat in east TN
February 8, 2012 at 9:37 amI still beat everyone up. It started when my boys were in school, a long, long time ago, and because we lived so remote, they were the first ones to be picked up by the bus, so my eyes still fly open at 5 a.m., but I like it that way. Kind of my “me time” with a large cup of coffee and a good book until my husband wakes around 7.
Patty Hall
February 8, 2012 at 9:37 amI’ve heard and have said this all my life. I usually beat every one around here up.
Shirla
February 8, 2012 at 9:02 amEveryone has always beat me up. First it was Mom and then my husband that didn’t understand how someone could sleep until daylight. I don’t do mornings!
sandra
February 8, 2012 at 8:54 amof course i do, except when i saw he beats you up, my first thought was don’t make me come up there. ha ha.
Cee
February 8, 2012 at 8:44 amI’m an early riser…up between 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. usually. Most days my husband beats me up though! As a teenager if I stayed in bed too long my Dad would tell me I was burning daylight or wasting the day away.
Uncle Al
February 8, 2012 at 8:39 amOh yes, have used that all my life as well. It also has other meanings….such as one boy “beat up” another at recess.. 🙂
dolores barton
February 8, 2012 at 8:38 amI got the meaning from reading how it was used in the first sentence. I remember using that phrase many years ago, but when you think of it, it sounds like someone needs some help. It is rather humorous when you think about it.
Jen
February 8, 2012 at 8:29 amI beat everyone up around here…always. I must say when I first read the post title, I had to re-read it…wasn;t the first thought that came to my mind.
amy jo phillips
February 8, 2012 at 8:27 amyep, use it a lot!! everyone beats me up though 🙁
Ethel
February 8, 2012 at 8:22 amI beat everyone up at my house! And I’ve always heard it put that way, never realized it wasn’t common usage!
Miss Cindy
February 8, 2012 at 8:12 amI used to beat everybody up but I’m retired now and I can’t even beat the cats up.lol
Heard it and used it all my life.
Is this another one of those Appalachian things?
LINDA L. KERLIN
February 8, 2012 at 8:09 amYes I am the Beat up one in this cabin–usually between 4am-5:30 am and I get much acomplished before the phone rings or someone drops on by—it is a nice quiet time .
teresa atkinson
February 8, 2012 at 8:05 amThe deer hunter and the crusty old guy both beat me up every morning. Crusty Old Guy is at the A$$Crack Breakfast Club meeting at 5AM every day. Local biscuit place they are first there every day. Not me — tiptoe and bring me a biscuit is my motto.
Love.
Kimberly
February 8, 2012 at 7:51 amI have heard that my whole life. In my house, I beat everyone up . . . well, actually, one of my cats beats all of the humans up!
Mike McLain
February 8, 2012 at 7:45 amYes, I know the term, although rarely does anyone beat me up. I was running a little late this morning, so I only got to the office at 5:30 AM after a 20-minute drive.
Crockett
February 8, 2012 at 7:43 amI not only beat everybody else up, but I also beat the sun up.
PeggyP
February 8, 2012 at 7:43 amMost mornings I beat my husband up but some mornings he beats me up. (now don’t call Social Services on us) Even though we’re retired, our internal clocks still go off before 5a .. and I am at my best early in the morning. By 3 or 4 in the evening, I’m worthless. We don’t need an alarm clock in this house, it’s built in.
barb Johnson
February 8, 2012 at 7:31 amNot only do I usually beat everyone up..I usually feel beat up in the morning! LOL
Carol Isler
February 8, 2012 at 7:29 amI used to beat everybody up, but since I retired back in August, they all been beating me up. Yeah, we know what you mean.
Canned Quilter
February 8, 2012 at 7:25 amyep my dog beats us up every morning : )
Karen Larsen
February 8, 2012 at 7:24 amI beat everyone up in the morning. It’s the best part of the day! Don’t you get lots done before others awaken? Today I got up at 3:30 and did laundry and dishes and fed the chickens before hubby opened his eyes!
kat
February 8, 2012 at 7:15 amHave always said that. I’ve been retired for a few years now with no need for an alarm clock but have a problem waking up around 3:00. Guess I’m beating myself up!
Sheryl Paul
February 8, 2012 at 7:12 amI do, but I’ve gotten a few strange looks when I use the phrase.
Rick Kratzke
February 8, 2012 at 6:44 amLately most mornings I beat everyone up so I can relate and do know what you mean.
Donna W
February 8, 2012 at 6:10 amI’ve been using the phrase in that manner all my life.
Ed Ammons
February 8, 2012 at 5:40 amMost mornings I beat everybody in the house up. Some mornings I get up feeling beat up.
I guess you can tell I’m an early riser by the times on my comments. My clock is set to go off at 4:20. I rarely have to turn it off and when I do it’s because I missed it when I got up.
You know the old saying “Early to bed and early to rise makes a old man need a nap in the afternoon.”
Are all the sayings of old people, Old Sayings?