tickled
Pleased, delighted, or cracked up laughing.
Also called tickled to death, tickled pink.
Updated September 24, 2026
tickled pronunciation
/TIK-uld/
Meaning
In rural Southern and Appalachian talk, tickled covers two good moods. "I'm tickled" or "tickled to death" means you're genuinely pleased. "Got tickled" means you busted out laughing, often when you weren't supposed to, like in church or at a funeral. Either way, it's warm and a little crooked with humor.
How folks use it
- “I'm tickled you could make it to the reunion.”
- “We got tickled during the preacher's prayer and nearly got the look from Mama.”
Origin and etymology
From older English tickle meaning to please or gratify, not just poke ribs. "Tickled to death" shows up in American speech by the 1800s as an intensifier. Southern and Appalachian English kept both the pleased sense and the "got tickled" laughing sense alive in everyday talk.
Frequently asked questions
Does tickled always mean laughing?
No. "I'm tickled" often means pleased. "Got tickled" is the laughing one.