Appalachian saying I gave him what for

“That burned me up! I went right down there and told him what for and I made sure he understood that it better not ever happen again.”

Sentence translation: A man did something unacceptable that upset me. I went to see him and in a aggressive manner I explained to him how upset I was and shared my expectations that the event should never happen again.

Giving someone what for is like giving them a scolding but in a more fierce manner.

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The usage of the phrase what for is more than common in my area of Appalachia. But boy is it hard to explain in writing! Maybe it would help if I shared a few more sentences with it included.

  • I about laughed myself to death. She followed him all the way out to the car giving him what for every step!
  • I better see some changes down there at the school or I’m going to be giving that teacher what for over this homework.
  • You sure give them what for the other night and it’s about time somebody did!

This page says the first recorded instance of the phrase usage was in 1873, and Horace Kephart documented the usage in Swain County NC in the early 1900s.

So where did the saying come from? I haven’t a clue! This page has a lot of theories about the origin but nothing definitive.

Even though no one seems to know where the saying came from, I think it’s pretty cool that its still alive and well in my neck of the woods.

Tipper

 

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35 Comments

    1. The reason behind the war of independence being described as a Presbyterian rebellion is, I believe, related to the granting of civil and religious liberty enshrined in the glorious revolution of 1691 in Ireland by William the third and Queen Mary. Presbyterians were subject to Anglican authority in Ireland up until then, unable to hold public offices, unable to build churches or install ministers unless under the privilege of local bishops. Marriages and baptisms unrecognised unless they did so. The williamite wars changed this in recognition of the Presbyterian fight in Ireland to end absolute monarchy, especially in Derry in 1688 when they shut the gates in the face of James the second. Following Williams death, these liberties were eroded again, which is when we see exoduses of Presbyterians to America to escape unjust laws an practices. That’s why in 1775, remembering the recent past, they took up arms in fear of loosing their new found liberties. The redcoats would have known about Presbyterian fire from being stationed in barracks in Ireland, and their radical ideas.

  1. Well, that just irritates the peewallikin fuzz outa me! You go cut me hickry and I’ll teach you a thing r three about how to talk to someone! I’ll put a knot on your head you’ll have to tiptoe to scratch.

  2. Does anyone know of a children’s book ” give you what for” is used in? I’m sure I remember reading it, but I cannot remember what book it was! Thanks!!

  3. I remember “I’ll give you what for” from my childhood, and it always carried the threat of someone being grabbed by the upper arm and thoroughly smacked on the behind!
    A couple of folks mentioned the riot act…this expression has a sad history in Ireland, where the actual Riot Act – an 18th-century English statute – would be read aloud to people before their rural cottages were destroyed before their eyes by English authorities, and the families thrown off the land. The Riot Act warned against unruly behavior, which might well be expected by desperate people.

  4. I remember our paternal Grandmother saying it about something at least once. Now what it was about or who it was directed at I can’t recall, but I know she didn’t lose her temper easily, so it must’ve been something serious.
    God bless.
    RB
    <><

  5. I don’t get “what for”, I get “blessed out”. It happened to me in an email just a few minutes ago. It’s a good thing people can’t come through these wires and things or I would be in a body bag about now.
    As I get older I become more likely to say what I think and have to suffer the repercussions. Sometimes I get “blessed out”, sometimes it’s “chewed out”, sometimes it’s “chewed up and spit out.” Then there is “cussed up one side and down the other.” I haven’t had “what for” before but I’m sure when they hear about it, I’ll get my share of that too!
    Remember the little poem:
    “Sticks and Stones
    bring moans and groans!
    But words bring comfort
    to the living!”
    Adieu!

  6. Absolutely! All my life I have heard and used that. First you give someone a piece of your mind, and if that doesn’t fix things, you give them what for!

  7. This reminded me of a little thing Mom says. When somebody asks, “Well what did ya do that fer?”, she says, “Cat fur, make kitten britches!”

  8. Tipper,
    Sometimes you have to straighten out folks a bit and I’ve had to do some of that too, although I try to get along with folks. I had the privilege of working with a bunch of folks from Rochester, N.Y. and we had a good relationship for 13 years. They loved to hear me talk. One time I asked the President of the company what does ESCOD Industries name mean. After giving me a list of their 30 sister companies he said “EAST SOUTH CAROLINA OCEANVIEW DRIVE.” This was their headquarters at Myrtle Beach…Ken

  9. People who use uncommon local expressions have a rich heritage. City people tend to “Throw Off” on them. This really galls me. So I’ll give them what for soon’s I get the gumpshun. Them younguns are out there Sparkin again etc. etc.

  10. Tipper,
    Whoops! I was given a bit of a guilty conscious “what for” for the names I used in my snippet comment!NOTICE: I want to post that that the names are not changed but do not totally reflect on my Dad’s deceased family and friends…ha
    Thanks Tipper,
    PS….It is so beautiful here today….Roy brought in a mess of Crappie yesterday evening. I am still foundered on fried crappie, garden slaw, hush puppies and I made Grannies (quick) baked oven tater chips….How great and wonderful that the Lord blesses us with those healthy mid-depth feeding fish. First of the year Spring crappie…I’ll be happy, even if we don’t catch and eat another one until next Spring!

  11. Here’s a take on this from Central Texas – with roots in Kansas, Pennsylvannia Dutch, and old Virginia before it was split up.
    “burns me up” – how the recipient of the “wrong” feels but no indication of their potential response to the situation.
    The rest of the phrases refer to the recipient’s response:
    “the devil to pay” – a threat, but mainly a stern reminder;
    “the riot act” – very intense and “high class” verbage about a situation;
    “opening a can of whoop a##” – heard around but not used by my family – understood to involve the threat of a physical altercation;
    “giving ‘what for’ ” – akin to “the riot act” – but probably using more “common talk” (not foul language) rather than “high faluttin’ words” often used in “the riot act”.

  12. I’m reading Our Southern Highlanders (Horace Kephart) right now. I’ve found myself trying to explain many such sayings to my son & it ain’t always easy!

  13. First you chew him out and give him a hefty dose of what for. If you’re still feeling sassy, then follow Howland’s description in that exact order.

  14. I was raised outside Cleveland, OH and my Mom said more times than I can remember, “If you don’t _______, I’ll give you what for!!!” and she meant it too!
    After reading that ya’ll would be at the TLC! I looked it up. What a wonderful school!!! One of my co-worker’s brother is just graduating college to go into teaching. He has been very discouraged from the teachers he has encountered during his schooling. I shared this school with her so she could show her brother the way learning is supposed to look 🙂 (I too, taught years ago and cannot understand what they are thinking now….)
    Thank you so much for all the wonderful things you bring to us each morning!

  15. Tipper: I heard that expression ‘what far’ all my young life and KNEW EXACTLY what it meant – especially when my Mother used it!
    But now it seems a bit ‘strange’ – if you know what I mean!
    Sometimes I think you must know just about every expression about our way of life!
    It ‘means a lot’ to me!
    Eva Nell

  16. I just said this yesterday. It is also my Mom’s favorite. I don’t think I ever have a phone conversation with her that doesn’t include an incident of her giving someone “what for.”
    Interesting ideas about the origins as well. This is fun stuff. Thanks for a great morning starter.
    PS: I heard the spring cheepers last night.

  17. “I gave him what-for” could be translated to “When I seen what he done, I got up with him and gave him a dose of come-uppance!”. This is not the same as “opening a can of whoop-a$$”, that involves physical contact, where what-for and come-uppance are merely vocal. I ‘spect that if you were talking to a Yankee (If you really *have* to) you could use “I gave him a piece of my mind.”

  18. Tipper,
    Here’s the way I think it happened.
    Old Joe really didn’t like old Cecil all that much anyhow….Joe suspected that old Cecil, that lived a stones spit near his property line was cuttin’ his trees fer farwood. In other words Cecil was taking down one of his own trees, falling it into Old Joe’s trees, then absconding with all the younger trees that was downed under the lay-down crash…
    Old Joe was sitting on the porch rocking later in the evening with a snarky grin on his face…His brother Bill asked about him a’grinnin’ and sittin’ so quite like he was a’pondering something.
    He asked him! “Old Joe, what’s that you’re studying on?” He reckoned he knew his brother quite well…recognizing that grin!
    Old Joe replies, “I went to the property line and found Cecil!”
    “What for” asked brother Bill. “That’s what I done”, said Old Joe. “I asked him “what for” are you a taking’ my trees with yorn!
    So from that day on, when Old Joe left the porch, one of the kin would say there he goes. Another would say “what for!” Bill answered, “Yep”!
    Thanks Tipper,

  19. Tipper–Here’s an alternative offering using other mountain talk.
    “That flat out frosted my grits. I read him the riot act and let him know there would be the devil to pay if it happened again.”
    Jim Casada

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