Nothing To Write Home About

Meaning of Idiom ‘Nothing to Write Home About’

When something is nothing to write home about it is unremarkable, ordinary, and not very exciting.

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Examples of Use

“I heard you got a promotion,” said Jamie. “It’s more of a lateral move,” said Thomas. “Nothing to write home about.”

“We tried that new restaurant everybody is buzzing about. I don’t get why everyone is so excited. It was nothing to write home about.”

Origin

Used since the late 1800’s but becoming popular during World War I, the idiom possibly originated with troops who were stationed overseas and referred to unremarkable incidents that were not worth writing a letter home about.

From “A “Temporary Gentleman” in France: Home Letters from an Officer in the New Army:”

“It was a strange night, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it, though there’s really nothing to tell; “Nothing to write home about,” as the men say.”

The men are presumably fellow soldiers and this example seems to indicate that the expression was common among soldiers stationed abroad.

Note on image: The artwork used in the image above is a charcoal drawing by Theodore Wladyslaw, depicting an American soldier in uniform, holding a rifle, and writing a letter. He is writing a love letter, not a letter home to his parents.

More Idioms Starting with N

• Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat
• No Siree
• No Pain, No Gain
• No Hard Feelings
• Nine to Five (9 to 5)

More About Idioms

• Run Around
• Up and About
• Talk About
• That’s About the Size Of It
• Much Ado About Nothing

More Home Idioms

• Home is Where the Heart Is
• Home Free
• Bring Home (to someone)
• Bring Home the Bacon
• The Lights Are On But Nobody’s Home

More Nothing Idioms

• Nothing If Not
• Skin and Bones (nothing but)
• Much Ado About Nothing

More Write Idioms

• Are You Writing a Book?
• Writer’s Block
• Writing On the Wall