nothing

[ nuhth-ing ]
/ ˈnʌθ ɪŋ /

noun

adverb

in no respect or degree; not at all: It was nothing like that. Nothing dismayed, he repeated his question.

adjective

amounting to nothing, as in offering no prospects for satisfaction, advancement, or the like: She was stuck in a nothing job.

Idioms for nothing

Origin of nothing

before 900; Middle English; Old English nānthing, nathing; see no2, thing1

British Dictionary definitions for nothing but

nothing
/ (ˈnʌθɪŋ) /

pronoun

adverb

in no way; not at all he looked nothing like his brother

noun

informal a person or thing of no importance or significance
sweet nothings words of endearment or affection

Word Origin for nothing

Old English nāthing, nān thing, from nān none 1 + thing 1

usage for nothing

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

Idioms and Phrases with nothing but (1 of 2)

nothing but

Only, as in She thinks of nothing but money. This term was first recorded about 1380.

Idioms and Phrases with nothing but (2 of 2)

nothing