nothing

[nuhth-ing] /ˈnʌθ ɪŋ/
noun
1.
no thing; not anything; naught:
to say nothing.
2.
no part, share, or trace (usually followed by of):
The house showed nothing of its former magnificence.
3.
something that is nonexistent.
4.
nonexistence; nothingness:
The sound faded to nothing.
5.
something or someone of no importance or significance:
Money is nothing when you're without health.
6.
a trivial action, matter, circumstance, thing, or remark:
to exchange a few nothings when being introduced.
7.
a person of little or no importance; a nobody.
8.
something that is without quantity or magnitude.
9.
a cipher or naught:
Nothing from nine leaves nine.
10.
(used in conventional responses to expressions of thanks):
Think nothing of it. It's nothing. Nothing to it.
adverb
11.
in no respect or degree; not at all:
It was nothing like that. Nothing dismayed, he repeated his question.
adjective
12.
amounting to nothing, as in offering no prospects for satisfaction, advancement, or the like:
She was stuck in a nothing job.
Idioms
13.
for nothing,
  1. free of charge.
  2. for no apparent reason or motive.
  3. futilely; to no avail:
    They had gone to a great deal of expense for nothing.
14.
in nothing flat, in very little time:
Dinner was finished in nothing flat.
15.
make nothing of,
  1. to treat lightly; regard as easy.
  2. to be unsuccessful in comprehending:
    He could make nothing of the complicated directions.
16.
nothing but, nothing other than; only:
We could see nothing but fog.
17.
nothing doing,
  1. Informal. emphatically no; certainly not.
  2. no activity, inducement, advantage, etc., present to the eye:
    We drove through the town but there seemed to be nothing doing.
18.
nothing less than / short of, absolutely; completely:
She was used to nothing less than the best.
19.
think nothing of,
  1. to treat casually.
  2. to regard as insignificant:
    He thinks nothing of lying to conceal his incompetence.
Origin
before 900; Middle English; Old English nānthing, nathing; see no2, thing1
British Dictionary definitions for nothing doing

nothing

/ˈnʌθɪŋ/
pronoun
1.
(indefinite) no thing; not anything, as of an implied or specified class of things: I can give you nothing
2.
no part or share: to have nothing to do with this crime
3.
a matter of no importance or significance: it doesn't matter, it's nothing
4.
indicating the absence of anything perceptible; nothingness
5.
indicating the absence of meaning, value, worth, etc: to amount to nothing
6.
zero quantity; nought
7.
be nothing to
  1. not to concern or be significant to (someone)
  2. to be not nearly as good as
8.
have nothing to do with, be nothing to do with, to have no connection with
9.
have nothing on, have got nothing on
  1. to have no engagements to keep
  2. to be undressed or naked
  3. (informal) to compare unfavourably with
10.
(informal) in nothing flat, in almost no time; very quickly or soon
11.
nothing but, not something other than; only
12.
(informal) nothing doing, an expression of dismissal, disapproval, lack of compliance with a request, etc
13.
nothing if not, at the very least; certainly
14.
nothing less than, nothing short of, downright; truly
15.
there's nothing for it, there's no choice; there's no other course
16.
there's nothing like, a general expression of praise: there's nothing like a good cup of tea
17.
there's nothing to it, it is very simple, easy, etc
18.
think nothing of
  1. to regard as routine, easy, or natural
  2. to have no compunction or hesitation about
  3. to have a very low opinion of
19.
to say nothing of, as well as; even disregarding: he was warmly dressed in a shirt and heavy jumper, to say nothing of his thick overcoat
20.
stop at nothing, to be prepared to do anything; be unscrupulous or ruthless
adverb
21.
in no way; not at all: he looked nothing like his brother
noun
22.
(informal) a person or thing of no importance or significance
23.
sweet nothings, words of endearment or affection
Usage note
Nothing normally takes a singular verb, but when nothing but is followed by a plural form of a noun, a plural verb is usually used: it was a large room where nothing but souvenirs were sold
Word Origin
Old English nāthing, nān thing, from nānnone1 + thing1
Word Origin and History for nothing doing

nothing

n.

Old English naþing, naðinc, from nan "not one" (see none) + þing "thing" (see thing). Meaning "insignificant thing" is from c.1600. As an adverb from c.1200. As an adjective from 1961.

Slang definitions & phrases for nothing doing

nothing doing

noun phrase

A lack of activity; stasis: Nothing doing on the job front (1827+)

negation

No; absolutely not; nix, no way: Buy that piece of crap? Nothing doing (1910+)


nothing

adjective

Inane; lacking charm, talent, interest, etc; worthless: That was a real nothing experience (1950s+)

Related Terms

dance on air, do someone nothing, know from nothing


Idioms and Phrases with nothing doing

nothing doing

Certainly not, as in Can I borrow your down coat?—Nothing doing . This colloquial interjection was first recorded in 1910. Also see, no dice

nothing

also see: