   Ain’t Got Diddly SquatIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "ain’t got diddly squat" means having absolutely nothing. It’s a colorful, folksy way to say you don’t have a thing - whether it’s money, results, or luck. Hillbilly Dude Says...  My pockets empty? I'm likely to say, 'ain’t got diddly squat' - and you'll hear that all over down here. Pronunciation[AYNT got DID-lee skwaht] Meaning & Usage- To have nothing at all (verb phrase)
Earl:
How much you got left?
Mae:
I ain’t got diddly squat.- To lack value or results (figurative)
Earl:
Catch anything?
Mae:
Nope, ain’t got diddly squat.other spellings: ain’t got nothing, ain’t got a thing, don’t have squat, don’t have diddly, ain’t got diddly squat to my name, we ain’t got diddly squat left, and ain’t got diddly squat but trouble ★ Adding "ain’t got" makes "diddly squat" even more down-home. It’s funnier, more emphatic, and pure Southern/Appalachian flavor. ★ OriginBuilt from the slang "diddly squat" (meaning nothing) and the Southern construction "ain’t got." Together, they form a folksy phrase that emphasizes lack or emptiness. NotesStill widely heard in the South and Appalachia, especially in family talk, old stories, and country humor. Recognized across the U.S., but strongest in rural speech. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "ain’t got did-lee squat." Sometimes run together quick, "ain’t-got-didly-squat." | About We are a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia, but wide as the world. Read more... |
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