Meaning of nothingburger | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An unimportant person; a nobody, a nonentity.
   informal
2. Something of less importance than its treatment suggests; also, something which is bland or unremarkable in appearance or impact.
   informal
3. A matter of no concern, especially one that had been of concern; A non-issue.
   informal

Equivalents

Examples

“After all, if it hadn’t been for Sam[uel] Goldwyn Farley [Granger] might very well be a nothingburger. However, I have⟳ a hunch this whole arrangement is on a friendly basis.”

“I've had two fantastic mothers—one a hero who flew planes—and I turned out to be just a big nothingburger with no courage at all.”

“She [Anne Gorsuch Burford] calls NACOA [the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere] a "joke" and a "nothingburger," whatever that is. Nothing I could say⟳ could more graphically demonstrate⟳ the contempt she has shown, and will continue⟳ to show⟳ again, for public service in general and for environmental protection in particular.”

“Except for Easter, isn't March⟳ kind of a nothingburger (unless your birthday is in it!) month? Shall we try⟳ to make⟳ it memorable?”

“Browner admitted that the new policies would have⟳ no impact […] Kaufman […] called Browner's announcement "a nothingburger."”

“That's how ugly she was—ugly by virtue of the fact that she was unmemorable, a slab of alabaster awaiting a sculptor who never arrived, a "nothing burger" if there ever was one.”

“[A]s Lee Gomes of The Wall Street Journal noted in a great column last⟳ week, the announcement was "a model⟳ for how well-known companies can make⟳ a major media event out of a nothingburger."”

“This 2005 Donald Trump tax return⟳ is a total nothingburger [title]”

“The two shake⟳ hands and Jones is asked: "What do you think⟳ is going to happen⟳ this week with the whole Russia thing?" Jones responds: "The Russia thing is just a big nothing burger."”

“If the [Donald] Trump Jr. meeting was a "nothingburger" because President [Donald] Trump didn't know⟳ about it, then a future revelation that Trump did know⟳ about Russia collusion might force⟳ his defenders to admit⟳ he did something wrong. If the Trump Jr. meeting was a "nothingburger" because it didn't lead⟳ anywhere, then a future revelation that the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government in a more substantive, sustained way would be hard to dismiss.”

“The forecasted megastorm turned out to be a huge nothingburger.”

CEFR level