Piddlin’ Amount

A "piddlin’ amount" (sometimes written "piddling 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.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Measurements #Southern

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’.

variations: small potatoes, triflin’ amount, next to nothin’, hardly worth mentionin’, a drop in the bucket, chicken feed, 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. ★

Origin

From "piddlin’," meaning trifling or insignificant. The phrase "piddlin’ amount" became a natural extension in Southern and Appalachian talk to describe meager pay or resources.

Notes

Still 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 Southerner

Said plain: "pid-lin amount." Quick and clipped, often with a shake of the head.

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Common Questions

Does "piddlin’ amount" always mean money?

Not always - it can mean any small quantity, though it’s most often about wages or value.

Is it still used today?

Yes, especially among older speakers in the South and Appalachia.

Is it insulting?

It can be - calling something a "piddlin’ amount" usually dismisses it as not worth consideration.

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