Not Too Awful Much
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "not too awful much" means not very much, using "awful" as an old-style intensifier to soften or downplay the amount.
synonyms: not much, hardly any, not very often
Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Not too awful much' is a good response if somebody asks, 'you been busy?' It's a common one around here. Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Not too awful much' is a good response if somebody asks, 'you been busy?' It's a common one around here. Pronunciation
[not too AW-ful much]
/nɑt tu ˈɔː.fəl mʌtʃ/
/nɑt tu ˈɔː.fəl mʌtʃ/
Meaning & Usage
- Not very much; scarcely at all (adverbial phrase)
Harlan:
You hear folks use ‘scrooch’ much?
You hear folks use ‘scrooch’ much?
Mae:
Nah, not too awful much. Mostly from my great-grandma.
Nah, not too awful much. Mostly from my great-grandma.variations: too awful much, too awful many
★ Southern speakers lean on "awful" and "awfully" as intensifiers both ways - positive and negative. The trick is the negation; "not too awful much" always means the amount is small. ★
Origin and Etymology
This phrase reflects older British and Scots-Irish usage in which "awful" meant "very" or "to a high degree." In Southern and Appalachian English, "awful" remained productive as both an intensifier and a softener. When paired with "too" and placed in a negative context, it developed the regional meaning "not very much," especially in rural areas throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Usage Notes
"Not too awful much" is generally used to gently downplay frequency or quantity. It often carries a mild, conversational tone and appears in older or more rural Southern/Appalachian speech. The positive form ("too awful much") can also be heard, but without negation it typically means "a whole lot" - though it is less common in modern use.
- Not too awful much → "not very much; hardly any"
- Used for frequency, quantity, or intensity
- More common among older generations and rural speakers
- Softens statements to keep them polite or understated
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 14). Not Too Awful Much. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/not-too-awful-much
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Not Too Awful Much." HillbillySlang.com, 14 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/not-too-awful-much.
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Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...