hit down
Sit down or settle, depending on what you're talking about.
Also called sit down, set down, settle down.
Updated September 24, 2026
hit down pronunciation
/HIT down/
Meaning
In rural Southern talk, hit down can mean plant yourself in a chair or on a porch step. It can also mean things calm or settle after a stir. Context tells you which. If somebody says hit down here, they want you seated. If the wind finally hit down, it quit blowing so hard.
How folks use it
- “Hit down here and drink some tea before you head back to the field.”
- “Wait till the dust hits down before you open that shed door.”
Origin and etymology
Likely built from hit used for arriving or landing hard on a spot (hit the dirt, hit the road), plus down. Exact path is murky. Do not confuse every "hit" you hear in the mountains with this phrase. Appalachian English also keeps hit as an old form of it ("Hit's cold out"), which is a different word that just sounds the same.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as Appalachian hit meaning it?
No. That hit is a pronoun ("Hit rained all night"). Hit down here is a verb phrase about sitting or settling.