keep it between the ditches

Questions

What does keep it between the ditches mean?

To stay out of trouble or follow a righteous (God-fearing) path.

Where does keep it between the ditches come from?

Originally an Irish saying referring to keeping your horse (and buggy) on the road when either the terrain or your spirit or speed was challenging, it was brought to America by immigrant settlers and made popular in the Southern states. It was also popularised by the fictional "Duke Brothers " in the TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard" based in rural Georgia. In recent years the phase has morphed into the meaning of "Clean Living", The rock band Drive By Truckers used the phrase in their song "The Righteous Path." Some members of the band are from the northern part of Alabama.

How to pronounce keep it between the ditches

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “keep it between the ditches”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “keep it between the ditches”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “keep it between the ditches” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.