diddly squat
"Diddly squat" means absolutely nothing or next to nothing. It’s used to say there’s hardly any of something, or none at all. While now common nationwide, it carries a strong flavor in Southern and rural speech.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If they ain't nuthing left, it's 'diddly squat.' Still commonly heard down here. Pronunciation
[DID-lee skwaht]
Meaning & Usage
- Nothing at all (noun phrase)
Mae:
Anything good in there?
Anything good in there?
Earl:
Nothin’ but diddly squat.
Nothin’ but diddly squat.- Something worthless or unimportant (figurative noun)
Mae:
That old tractor’s no good?
That old tractor’s no good?
Earl:
It ain’t worth diddly squat.
It ain’t worth diddly squat.★ The phrase is usually playful, not harsh. Saying "diddly squat" adds humor where just "nothing" would sound flat. ★
Origin
First recorded in American slang in the mid-1900s, likely as a comic blend of nonsense words. "Squat" has meant "nothing" since the 1800s, and "diddly" adds emphasis. Rural and Southern speakers kept it alive in everyday use.
Notes
Common across the U.S., but especially lively in Southern and Appalachian talk. Still heard today in both casual speech and popular media.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "did-lee squat." Sometimes smoothed to "did-ly squat."