Much Ado About Nothing

Meaning of Idiom ‘Much Ado About Nothing’

Much ado about nothing refers to excessive excitement or fuss about something that is of little importance. ¹,²

Examples Of Use

“News of the president’s injury sent the nation into a frenzy. It turned out to be much ado about nothing.”

“The company assured its customers the recall of its products was much ado about nothing.”

Origin

Much ado has been used to refer to a large commotion or excitement since the early part of the 1500’s. However, Shakespeare popularized the current idiom by using it as the title of a comedy first performed in 1612. ³

For more, see the only other surviving idiom which uses the word ado, without further ado.

More Idioms Starting with M

• Music to My Ears
• Monkey Around
• Make Nice
• Million Times, a
• Make Eyes at Someone Meaning

More About Idioms

• Run Around
• Up and About
• Talk About
• That’s About the Size Of It
• Nothing To Write Home About

More Much Idioms

• Too Much On One’s Plate
• Not Much to Look At
• A Bit Much

More Nothing Idioms

• Nothing If Not
• Skin and Bones (nothing but)
• Nothing To Write Home About

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References

1. Bengelsdorf, Peter. Idioms in the News – 1,000 Phrases, Real Examples. N.p.: Amz Digital Services, 2012.
2. Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
3. Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.