make nothing of
Appearance
English
[edit]Verb
[edit]make nothing of (third-person singular simple present makes nothing of, present participle making nothing of, simple past and past participle made nothing of)
- To do (something) with ease
- 1907, Edgar Jepson, The Four Philanthropists:
- His patent leather boots were tight and ill-suited to the rough going, nor were his black trousers in keeping with his amusement. He looked, indeed, a curious hybrid, a sportsman from his crown to the bottom of his jacket, and a man of the world about the legs. Moreover, his wind was not good, and we were without compassion; we drove him along, and brought him home foot-sore and weary. Angel, on the other hand, enjoyed herself exceedingly; she made nothing of the rough going, and came back as fresh, or rather fresher, than she started.
- To consider as trifling or unimportant.
- 1691, John Ray, Wisdom of God manifested in the Works of His Creation:
- We are industrious to preserve our bodies from slavery, but we make nothing of suffering our souls to be slaves to our lusts.
- 1898, William Morris, The Sundering Flood:
- Osberne laughed and said: Here he stands beside me; come and take him! And the foe were some three score, all a-horseback. So they fell on without more words; but they made nothing of it, and the Wethermellers kept them aloof with spear and bill. Albeit Osberne did not draw his sword, nor did the Lord of Longshaw.
- To fail to understand.
- I made nothing of what he said.
References
[edit]- “nothing”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.