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.

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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/

Meaning & Usage

- Not very much; scarcely at all (adverbial phrase)

Harlan:

You hear folks use ‘scrooch’ much?

Mae:

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

Common Questions

Is "not too awful much" still used today?

Yes, though it’s more common among older or rural Southern/Appalachian speakers.

Does it always mean "not very much"?

In the negative form, yes. The phrase downplays quantity or frequency.

Is it considered slang?

It’s more of a regional speech pattern than slang, rooted in older uses of "awful" as an intensifier.

Can it be used with count nouns?

Yes - some speakers say "not too awful many," especially in Appalachia.

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.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Not Too Awful Much." HillbillySlang.com. November 14, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/not-too-awful-much.