In Appalachian and Southern English, mash (or mashin’) means "to press" or "to push." Folks say "mash the button" instead of "press the button" or "mash the gas" instead of "step on the accelerator." This usage comes from older Scots-Irish speech patterns and is still common across much of the South today.
Using 'mashin’ a doorbell' instead of pushin' is hit-and-miss. I'm pretty sure it's more regional.
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)
At the car
Mae:
What’s he doin’?
Earl:
Just mashin’ the brakes too hard.
- To squash or flatten (verb, figurative)
At home
Mae:
Careful with them biscuits.
Earl:
Quit mashin’ ’em down.
variations: mashing, mashing the button, 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 and Etymology
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.
Usage 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’."
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.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 23). Mash. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/mash-meaning-press
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Mash." HillbillySlang.com, 23 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/mash-meaning-press.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Mash." HillbillySlang.com. September 23, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/mash-meaning-press.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang 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...
Using 'mashin’ a doorbell' instead of pushin' is hit-and-miss. I'm pretty sure it's more regional.