mash
Press hard on something, like a button, pedal, or remote.
Updated September 24, 2026
mash pronunciation
/MASH/
Meaning
In redneck and rural Southern talk, mash means push down with force. You mash the elevator button, mash the brake, or mash the gas when you need to go. It can also mean crush something flat, like mashing your finger in a door. Northern folks say press. Down here, mash is the everyday word.
How folks use it
- “Just mash that red button and the gate oughta open.”
- “Daddy kept yelling mash the brake before I ever got the hang of driving.”
Origin and etymology
Old English mash roots cover crushing grain into pulp. In the South and South Midland, the verb stretched to mean press or push down on controls. Dialect notes and American Heritage mark that press sense as chiefly Southern. You still hear it for buttons, pedals, and remotes.
Frequently asked questions
Does mash always mean crush something?
Not down South. Mash often just means press, especially on a button or pedal. You can mash taters too, but that is the crush sense.