  Piddlin’ AmountA "piddlin’ amount" means a tiny or trifling sum - so small it hardly counts. Common in Appalachian and Southern speech, it carries a dismissive tone, suggesting something isn’t worth the bother. Hillbilly Dude Says...  If somebody gives you a quarter of a cookie, that's a 'piddlin’ amount.' You'll still eat it, of course. Pronunciation[PID-lin uh-MOUNT] Meaning & Usage- A very small or insignificant amount (phrase)
Mae:
They only give him twenty dollars?
Earl:
Yep - just a piddlin’ amount.- Something hardly worth effort (phrase)
Mae:
Why don’t you go after that scrap metal?
Earl:
Not for that piddlin’ amount they’re payin’.other spellings: small potatoes, triflin’ amount, next to nothin’, hardly worth mentionin’, a drop in the bucket, chicken feed, and measly amount ★ A "piddlin’ amount" isn’t just small - it’s small *and not worth it.* The phrase carries a sense of scorn or dismissal. ★ OriginFrom "piddlin’," meaning trifling or insignificant. The phrase "piddlin’ amount" became a natural extension in Southern and Appalachian talk to describe meager pay or resources. NotesStill common in Appalachian and Southern speech. Outsiders may understand it in context, but the phrase has the strongest roots in rural dialect. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "pid-lin amount." Quick and clipped, often with a shake of the head. | 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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