Can you quantify a 'smidge'?

A smidge is less than a pinch and more than a tad. If I had to quantify it, I’d say it weighs about 1.25 mg.

Say what you like about my notion. I don’t give one iota if you disagree.

About 0.3272 grams.

⅓2 of a teaspoon

Reminds me of chefs when they say “just a tablespoon of olive oil”, and then they pour in half the bottle.

According to my Grams, it’s very roughly 1/8 tsp when cooking. In your example, I’d say it’s the equivalent of I’ll be back in a second (some seconds are longer than others).

More than a “pip” and less than a “skosh.”

I always felt it was more than a jot but less than a mite.

About the same as a human hair and a coat of paint.

1/700 of a buttload.

A bit more than a hair, less than a pinch.

Someone should rank all of these in order from smallest to largest amount.

Requires context.

I recognize “smidgen” but not “smidge.” I guess it’s a unit that doesn’t have much meaning for me. But it’s definitely the smallest of those on your list; I’d rate it as close to a trace amount.

Two fifths of five ninths of almost nothing at all.

A very small amount. In cooking I would think of it as a little less than a pinch, but the official definition might be different. I would use smidge or smidgen (both sound right to me) for other things too. Like if I was making light pink I might say just add a tiny bit or a smidge of red to the white. When hanging a painting we could say “just a smidge higher” before putting the nail in the wall. I don’t hear smidge or smidgen used much anymore. I like the word, I think I will start using it more often again.

I would have said and spelt it as smidgeon.

@flutherother That’s how I’ve seen it spelled too.

According to several dictionaries, “smidgeon” is an accepted variant of “smidgen.” So are “smidge” and “smidgin.”

So, there could be a smidgeon of pigeons.