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Nothingburger
01
something that is insignificant, unimportant, or less consequential than expected
Slang
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Abstract
Composition
Compound
Countable
Plural form
nothingburgers
What does "nothingburger" mean in slang?
The term "nothingburger" describes something that is presented as important, controversial, or significant but turns out to be insignificant, overhyped, or lacking real substance. The structure is a compound metaphor where "burger" implies something substantial, and "nothing" negates it, emphasizing emptiness. It is informal slang commonly used in media, politics, and online discourse to dismiss claims, scandals, or events as lacking meaningful content or consequence.
Examples
The scandal turned out to be a nothingburger.
