not too awful much

not too awful much pronunciation

/not too AW-ful much/

Meaning

Not too awful much downplays how often or how big something is. Awful here means very, the old Southern intensifier you hear in awful hot or awful good. Wrap not too around it and the whole pile shrinks. Somebody asks if you still use an old word, and you answer not too awful much.

How folks use it

• “Do y'all still go fishing much? Not too awful much since the boat quit.”
• “Mama don't fuss at him not too awful much anymore.”

Origin and etymology

Built on awful as "very," a sense kept alive in Southern and Appalachian English from older British and Scots-Irish intensifier use. Phrases like not too awful bad and not too awful much soften the claim. Reddit threads from Appalachia and the broader South still report hearing it from parents and grandparents.

Frequently asked questions