busy as a stump-tail cow in fly time

busy as a stump-tail cow in fly time pronunciation

/BIZ-ee az uh STUMP-tayl kow in FLY tym/

Meaning

Compares you to a cow with a short tail during fly season: twitching, stomping, and moving all day because she cannot swat the bugs. In porch talk it means you are slammed, and often that the day is all reaction and not much finished work.

How folks use it

• “I've been busy as a stump-tail cow in fly time and still ain't got the truck washed.”
• “Ask Mama for help later. She's busy as a stump-tail cow in fly time with church supper.”

Origin and etymology

Farm-yard Southern and South Midland simile. DARE records this and close variants (bull, mule, fly season). The picture is literal: no full tail means constant fidgeting when flies are bad. Exact first print date is unclear, but the image is old rural stock.

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