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Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard and used 'touch' all my life. Very common around here. 
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard and used 'touch' all my life. Very common around here. 

Pronunciation

[TUHCH]

Meaning & Usage

- A small amount (cooking) (noun)

Mae:
Beans taste flat.
Earl:
Add a touch of vinegar.

- A slight case of illness or condition (noun)

Mae:
You feelin’ alright?
Earl:
Just a touch of the flu.

- A little bit; slight degree (noun)

Mae:
Feels cold out here.
Earl:
Yep, got a touch of frost in the air.
variations: smidge, mite, tad, pinch, add a touch of pepper, he’s got a touch of fever, air’s got a touch of chill in it
★ "Touch" as a measure is about feel, not precision. It’s kin to words like "smidge" or "mite" - perfect for recipes, health talk, and describing the weather. ★

Origin and Etymology

From Old French *touchier* ("to strike lightly, to feel"). In English it developed the sense of "a small amount," which stuck especially in Southern and Appalachian speech as a folksy measurement word.

Usage Notes

Still widely used in the South and Appalachia. Outside the region, people understand it, but it doesn’t carry the same everyday, homey weight. Related to other country measurements like mite, tad, and smidge.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "tutch."

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Does "a touch" mean the same as "a little"?
Yes - it’s just a folksy way of saying a small amount.
Is it exact?
No - it’s an informal, "by feel" kind of measure.
Do people still use it today?
Yes - especially in Southern cooking and storytelling.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 6). Touch. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/touch
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "Touch." HillbillySlang.com, 6 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/touch.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "Touch." HillbillySlang.com. September 6, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/touch.
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