Language Research

nothing · pronoun

/ˈnʌθ.ɪŋ/Full view

nothing (NOT ANYTHING)

A2 not anything

Dictionary examples:

I've had nothing to eat all day.

There's nothing left.

Nothing I could say would cheer her up.

I have nothing new to tell you.

There's nothing else we can do to help.

There's nothing much to do in our village.

She did nothing but criticize.

Learner example:

This Sunday afternoon I have nothing to do. (Key English Test; A2; Chinese)

nothing (NOT IMPORTANT)

B1 not something important or of value

Dictionary examples:

He's a dangerous person - human life means nothing to him.

She kept crying about nothing.

A thousand dollars is nothing to a woman of her wealth.

Learner example:

Don't [worry], it's nothing serious. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

nothing but

B2 no other thing than

Dictionary example:

She did nothing but criticize.

Learner example:

You can read books in the open air while nothing but sea surrounds you. (First Certificate in English; B2; Czech)

have nothing to do with sb/sth

B2 to have no connection or influence with someone or something

Dictionary example:

He made his own decision - I had nothing to do with it.

Learner example:

Of course, I tried to explain [to] him that I had nothing to do with the vanishing of the cake but he didn't trust me. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

be/have nothing to do with sb

B2 If something is or has nothing to do with you, you have no good reason to know about it or be involved with it.

Dictionary example:

I wish he wouldn't offer advice on my marriage - it's nothing to do with him.

Learner example:

The party was horrible: the guests were all talking about things that had nothing to do with me. (First Certificate in English; B2; Italian)

for nothing

B2 without a successful result

Dictionary example:

I've come all this way for nothing.

Learner example:

Unfortun[a]tely, I waited for nothing. The TV repair man didn't come! (First Certificate in English; B2; French)

be nothing if not sth

C2 used to emphasize a quality

Dictionary example:

The senator was nothing if not honest.

Learner example:

Well, I might be a bit bias[ed] but really, he is nothing if not extr[a]ordinary. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Japanese)

stop at nothing

C1 to be willing to do anything in order to achieve something

Dictionary example:

He will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Learner example:

They stopped at nothing to get the higher scores, to make themselves noticed, even if that meant telling some lies to a teacher about a schoolmate. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

nothing of the sort/kind

C1 used to emphasize that something is not true

Dictionary examples:

He said that he was a legitimate businessman - in fact, he was nothing of the sort.

It was supposed to be a gourmet meal, but it was nothing of the kind.

Learner example:

Let me reassure you, nothing of the sort is happening at the moment. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; French)

to say nothing of sth

C2 used to emphasize other problems you have not talked about

Dictionary example:

Most wild otters have disappeared from populated areas, to say nothing of wilderness areas.

Learner example:

Indeed would not it be an oversimplification to make one's judgement of the country's national character on the grounds of the amount and the quality of food people eat, to say nothing of the fact that this judgement is usually highly subjective? (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Russian)