mashin’

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "mashin’" means pressing or pushing, often used for buttons, pedals, or switches. It’s a regional twist where other people would say "pushin’" or "pressin’."

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

Using 'mashin’ a doorbell' instead of pushin' is hit-and-miss. I'm pretty sure it's more regional.

Pronunciation

[MASH-in]

Meaning & Usage

- To press or push something (verb, regional)

Mae:

What’s he doin’?

Earl:

Just mashin’ the brakes too hard.

- To squash or flatten (verb, figurative)

Mae:

Careful with them biscuits.

Earl:

Quit mashin’ ’em down.

other spellings: mashing, mashing the button, and mashin the brakes

★ Southerners and Appalachians don’t "press" a button - they "mash" it. The dropped "g" makes "mashin’" sound even more country, showing up in everyday talk from kitchens to cars. ★

Origin

From Old English *mæscan* ("to crush, bruise"). While "mash" became tied to moonshine grain mash in the mountains, it also developed as a dialect verb meaning "to press." In Southern/Appalachian speech, that usage stuck and spread.

Notes

Still very common in Southern/Appalachian households: "mashin’ buttons," "mashin’ the brakes," "mashin’ the remote." Outsiders often notice it as a regional marker. See also: mash (moonshine), mash your mouth.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "mash-in." The "g" is dropped: "mashin’."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Why do Southerners say "mash" instead of "press"?

It’s just a regional dialect shift - "mash" feels natural in place of "press."

Does "mashin’" mean the same as "squashing"?

Sometimes - though more often it means simply pressing a button or pedal.

Do people outside the South say it?

Rarely. It’s strongly marked as Southern/Appalachian speech.