grinning like a possum eating a sweet tater
Smiling real wide, like you just won the raffle or got away with something.
Also called grinning like a possum eating a sweet potato, grinnin' like a possum.
Updated September 24, 2026
grinning like a possum eating a sweet tater pronunciation
/GRIN-in like uh POSS-um EET-in uh sweet TAY-ter/
Meaning
A big, toothy grin that takes over your whole face. Folks use it when somebody looks tickled, proud, or a little sly. The joke is the possum's mouthful of teeth, plus the idea that a sweet potato is high living for a critter that usually eats whatever it finds.
How folks use it
- “He walked out of the feed store grinning like a possum eating a sweet tater.”
- “Look at her grinning like a possum eating a sweet tater after she beat everybody at cards.”
Origin and etymology
Old Southern and Appalachian talk. Possums bare a lot of teeth, so people have said "grinning like a possum" for a long time. Adding "eating a sweet tater" piles on the humor, since a sweet potato beats bugs and roadkill. Variants swap in "sweet potato" for "sweet tater." Exact first use is hard to pin down.
Frequently asked questions
Is it always a happy grin?
Often yes, but it can also mean a sly or proud look. Tone and the smile tell you which one.