Appalachia Through My Eyes - He Beats Us Up

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 5am 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.

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Comments

[Janet Smart]

Since my husband has been retired, he still can't get used to sleeping in. He beats everyone in getting up in the morning.

[RB]

Sad world we've come to when it's too risky a phrase to use anymore.

Don't you think?

God bless.

RB
<><

[Wayne Newton]

Coco 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]

I beat my alarm clock up almost every morning.
And on the mornings that I don't, I would like to. LOL

[Suzi Phillips]

Until 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]

I usually beat everyone else up,,,except the dog. lol!

[Vicki Lane]

That's something I'd say...

[Jenny]

I'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]

I 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]

Yes, 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]

I 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]

Tipper,
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]

LOL! I like to beat my husband up in the mornings, to get breakfast ready while I'm alone in the kitchen.

[EBet]

At 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]

I 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]

I've heard and have said this all my life. I usually beat every one around here up.

[Shirla]

Everyone 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]

of 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]

I'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]

Oh 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]

I 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]

I 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]

yep, use it a lot!! everyone beats me up though :(

[Ethel]

I beat everyone up at my house! And I've always heard it put that way, never realized it wasn't common usage!

[Miss Cindy]

I 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]

Yes 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]

The 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]

I 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]

Yes, 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]

I not only beat everybody else up, but I also beat the sun up.

[PeggyP]

Most 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]

Not only do I usually beat everyone up..I usually feel beat up in the morning! LOL

[Carol Isler]

I 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]

yep my dog beats us up every morning : )

[Karen Larsen]

I 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!