What does piffle mean?
A piffle is an extremely small or trifling amount of something. The expression is chiefly British and has an old-fashioned, mildly humorous tone: saying that someone showed “not a piffle” of interest is an emphatic way of saying that they showed no interest at all. In older usage, “piffle” can also be a verb meaning to waste time or idle, often in the phrase “piffle away the hours.” The word is more evocative than straightforward words such as “trifle” or “bit,” giving sentences a dry, understated comic effect. It can be especially effective when describing an absent amount of enthusiasm, patience, money, or similar qualities, though its dated register means that it may sound deliberate rather than neutral in contemporary English.
A very small or insignificant amount.
"He paid not a piffle for the repairs."
Chiefly British and now somewhat old-fashioned or humorous. It is especially common in the expression “not a piffle.”
To waste time or behave idly.
"They piffled away the afternoon until the weather improved."
Chiefly British and old-fashioned. It commonly appears with “away” and carries a dismissive or comic suggestion of laziness.
The plural is grammatical but rare in modern usage because the noun is usually used in the fixed expression “not a piffle.”
"The claims amounted to little more than piffles."
A piffle is such a tiny amount that saying there is “not a piffle” of something makes emphatic denial sound playfully extravagant.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does piffle come from?
The origin of “piffle” is uncertain. The word is recorded in the 19th century, initially in senses connected with a small amount and with trifling or idle behavior, but its earlier history cannot be traced with confidence.
Related word forms
How piffle is actually used
The noun and verb are chiefly British and now sound old-fashioned or deliberately comic. The noun often appears in emphatic constructions such as “not a piffle,” while the verb commonly takes “away” and implies lazy or aimless inactivity.