Rarin'

[Johnny_L.A]

I’m guessing rarin’, as in ‘rarin’ to go’, comes from the verb rearing, as a horse would rear up. I assume it’s an American dialectical thing. (Texas/Oklahoma?)

1. Is ‘rearing to go’ an acceptable alternative?* Or is the phrase only used with rarin’?

2. Is rarin’ used outside of the US?

*Assuming my assumption is correct.

[aldiboronti]

I’d answer no to the first and yes to the second. (it’s certainly used in the UK).

Here’s OED (as you can see, it does come from the verb to rear)

1. a. intr. = REAR v.1 15.
   1833 Sketches & Eccentricities D. Crockett vii. 92 He just rared up upon his hind legs. 1898 H. S. CANFIELD Maid of Frontier 100 Break ‘em with a curb an’ they rare an’ fall back on you. 1938 [see JES, JES’].

   b. colloq. to be raring to (go, etc.), to be extremely eager or fully ready to (do something). Also transf.
   1909 E. BANKS Mystery F. Farrington iv. 13/2 They make me raring, tearing mad to look at ‘em. 1927 F. N. HART Bellamy Trial i. 10 Both sides are rarin’ to go, and they are not liable to touch their peremptory challenges [of jurymen]. 1935 WODEHOUSE Luck of Bodkins xv. 167 Keep it crisp, because I’m raring to go. 1957 A. MACNAB Bulls of Iberia viii. 79 The bull was a toro de bandera, the bravest of the brave,…and was ‘rarin’ to fight’. 1971 J. TYNDALL Death in Lebanon vii. 114 He’s laid it on that the preacher makes some inflammatory remarks…so that the congregation…will be rarin’ to go. 1979 Church Times 9 Feb. 9/1 We were at the starting-gate and raring to go.

   2. trans. = REAR v.1 9.
      1901 M. FRANKLIN My Brilliant Career v. 24 It was my duty to ‘rare the poddies’. 1961 ‘F. O’BRIEN’ Hard Life ix. 67 Well, there’s no doubt about it, we rare up strange characters in this country.

[lobotomyboy63]

The source that I use confirms your guess:

raring | Search Online Etymology Dictionary

[Zsofia]

I believe I have only really heard it in the idiomatic “rarin’ to go”, however. I’ve never heard anybody be, say, rarin’ to board a plane or rarin’ to order from the menu.

[picunurse]

@Zsofia

I believe I have only really heard it in the idiomatic “rarin’ to go”, however. I’ve never heard anybody be, say, rarin’ to board a plane or rarin’ to order from the menu.

Probably because a horse might rear when held back. Most horses know the menu by heart.

[This_ll_Do]

Anybody else ever heard “rare back” in preparation to strike someone? As in: “Jimmy said a cussword yesterday, and Mama just rared back and slapped him.”

Maybe it’s also a derivation of “rear”? I don’t have access to an OED today and the free online source was unhelpful.

This is in rural Deep South, USA. It was more common 30 years ago, though I still hear it now and then.

[Zsofia]

Yeah, I’ve also heard “rare back”, in that precise usage.