Is there someone around you who is making a fuss over something trivial? Perhaps you ran into a problem that has since been resolved, but your companion simply doesn’t want to let it go. If so, the phrase “much ado about nothing” can aptly describe your plight. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The phrase much ado about nothing means that someone is making a big deal over something very little. In most cases, it is used to describe a situation or even in which someone has raised a fuss over details that have little to no importance. In many cases, it refers to a perceived slight, but it can also refer to physical items, or even places and events. The main point is that the attention being given is not on par with the object of said attention.
When a situation has been blown out of proportion either intentionally or through misunderstandings, it can be said that there is much ado about nothing.
Example Usage
“The story about her relationship is really much ado about nothing, it's typical for girls her age”.
“Too much attention is being given to people on social media, most uploads are much ado about nothing and not even that entertaining”.
“While you were busy at work, your mom was following me around complaining when in actuality, there was much ado about nothing to be found”.
“There are some good lessons to be learned from the lecture, though, I don’t get the hype, there was much ado about nothing”.
Origin
The phrase much ado about nothing came from the play of the same name. It was written by famed English playwright William Shakespeare in 1598 but was not published until 1623. The play was a comedy in which there were two sets of romantic pairs that were created once a group of soldiers arrived in the town of Messina. The play was part of the First Folio and is used as a comedic way to explain relationships, gender roles, and other societal pressures.
The play details various ways people are opposed to relationships and affection, how we go about deceiving ourselves and others, and other love themes. It also showed the need for women to marry at the time and many of those ideas remain pervasive even in modern times. The play is a classic and is still taught in most educational programs. The phrase, much ado about nothing became a common saying a few years after the play was released. It has been passed down through the years in both upper society and common society to the point where most people are unaware of its true origins.
Phrases Similar to Much Ado About Nothing
- Making a fuss
- Overcomplicating
- Causing a scene
- Oversensitive
Phrases Opposite to Much Ado About Nothing
- Understated
- Keeping things simple
- Quiet
- Under wraps
- Blasé
What is the Correct Saying?
- The proper way to say the phrase is - much ado about nothing.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say Much Ado About Nothing
Some ways that Much Ado About Nothing is used incorrectly are:
- She just crashed her car into the side of the store, all in all, much ado about nothing.
- I think you are making much ado about nothing, after all, I only spent a few thousand dollars.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Much Ado About Nothing
Some ways that Much Ado About Nothing is used correctly are:
- Instead of always making much ado about nothing, try to spend more time looking for the source of the conflict.
- In my opinion, people who make much ado about nothing often have very little in the way of real work to do.
- They hardly touched you, I think you are making much ado about nothing and should just let the matter drop.
- The matter is much ado about nothing, there is really no reason to get the administration involved.