diddly-squat
Meaning: Nothing at all.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “After all that work, we got diddly-squat.”
Category: The Absurd
Origin: American slang from the mid-20th century. "Doodly-squat" is recorded earlier, in the 1930s; the origin of both is uncertain.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Que dalle — literally: Only slab
More idioms — The Absurd
- a fat lot of good that does me — That is of no use to me at all.
- what have you been smoking? — Said to someone whose idea sounds crazy.
- yada yada yada — And so on; skipping boring details.
- walk a tightrope — To be in a situation where one small mistake would be disastrous.
- lose one's marbles — To go crazy.
- think outside the box — To find an unconventional solution.
More English idioms
- take a hike — Go away; get lost.
- have a nerve — To be rude or bold in a way that shocks others.
- nobody's fool — A sensible person who is not easily tricked.
- you could have knocked me down with a feather — I was extremely surprised.
- swing the lead — To avoid work, especially by pretending to be ill.
- get on someone's nerves — To annoy someone.
From our compliments & insults
- Griesgram — A perpetual grump who radiates dissatisfaction and sucks the joy out of every room.
- Pantoffelheld — A man who is only bold and brave at home — a henpecked pushover who bluster turns into a…
- Schlauberger — A know-it-all smartass who never misses a chance to show off their cleverness.