swole up
Got swollen — ankle, eye, jaw, or a jug in the sun.
Also called swole, swollen.
Updated September 24, 2026
swole up pronunciation
/SWOHL up/
Meaning
Rural Southern past talk for swell. A bee sting, a twisted ankle, a busted lip, or a dog's face after yellow jackets can all swole up. Same phrase works for a can or jug that puffs from heat. This is the hurt-and-puffy sense, not the gym slang for getting muscular.
How folks use it
- “His ankle swole up after he stepped in that groundhog hole.”
- “Leave that gas can in the shade or it'll swole up in this heat.”
Origin and etymology
Older past form of swell that stuck in dialect after swelled and swollen took over in school English. American and British dialect writing used swole into the 1800s and after. Southern and Appalachian speech kept "swole up" for bodies and for things that puff from pressure or heat.
Frequently asked questions
Is swole up the same as gym "swole"?
No. Around here it means swollen from injury, sting, or heat. The muscle meaning is later slang from elsewhere.