30 Words for Small Amounts

Words that refer to small amounts or objects are frequently associated with specific idioms or
a certain connotation. Here are many of those words included in sample phrasings that
suggest the sense in which they are often used.
1. Bit: a bit of a problem
2. Crumb: a crumb of self-respect
3. Dab: a dab of whipped cream
4. Dash: a dash of pepper
5. Fleck: a fleck of dirt
6. Glimmer: a glimmer of hope
7. Hint: a hint of cinnamon
8. Iota: an iota of sense
9. Jot: a jot of truth
10. Lick: a lick of sense
11. Modicum: a modicum of talent
12. Morsel: a morsel of cheese
13. Nugget: a nugget of wisdom
14. Pinch: a pinch of salt
15. Scrap: a scrap of food
16. Scruple: a scruple of suspicion
17. Shadow: a shadow of a doubt
18. Shred: a shred of evidence
19. Sliver: a sliver of sunlight
20. Smatter(ing): a smattering of laughter
21. Smidgen (or smidge): a smidgen of salt
22. Snippet: a snippet of the conversation
23. Spot: a spot of rain
24. Sprinkling: a sprinkling of action
25. Strain: a strain of weakness
26. Streak: a streak of cruelty
27. Tidbit: a tidbit of information
28. Touch: a touch of humor
29. Trace: a trace of incense
30. Whisper: a whisper of autumn
Some synonyms are seen only in negative connotations, such as not worth a continental
(referring to the nearly worthless currency of the fledgling US government during the
Revolutionary War) or not worth peanuts.
Similar expressions include I dont care a whit or I dont give a rap (or fig or hoot or
any of several other words) or diddly-squat or I dont know bupkes. (Each of the latter
two usages has several variant spellings.)