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hill of beans
01
something that is completely worthless in terms of importance, value, or use
Dialect
American
American
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "hill of beans" and when to use it?
The idiom "hill of beans" originates from the United States and was popularized in the mid-20th century. It is used to describe something as insignificant, unimportant, or of minimal value, much like a pile of beans would be considered a small and relatively worthless quantity. The expression may have derived from the idea that a hill of beans, in comparison to other commodities, would not amount to much and thus came to represent a lack of significance or worth.
Examples
In the grand scheme of things, his complaints about the weather are just a hill of beans.
Do n't worry about minor details; they're just a hill of beans in this project.
