for nothing — without payment; free of charge
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: without payment; free of charge
Pronunciation (IPA): /fɔːr ˈnʌθɪŋ/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother knitted me this sweater for nothing, but it's worth more than any expensive designer clothes.
- I spent three hours trying to fix my computer for nothing - it turns out the power cord wasn't plugged in.
- The company expects us to work overtime for nothing while they make millions in profit.
for nothing
ADVERB[/fɔːr ˈnʌθɪŋ/]
without payment; free of charge
He fixed his neighbor's bike for nothing, just to help out.
He gives something for nothing, but gains everything!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase combines two Old English elements: 'for' (meaning 'for' or 'in order to') and 'nothing' (from Old English 'nan thing', meaning 'not a thing'). The compound developed from the literal sense of 'for the sake of nothing' to denote an action performed without compensation or purpose.
Breakdown
for (preposition: in order to, for the purpose of) + nothing (noun: no thing, from Old English nan + thing). The phrase literally means 'for no thing' or 'for no purpose', evolving to express gratuitous action.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother knitted me this sweater for nothing, but it's worth more than any expensive designer clothes.”
“I spent three hours trying to fix my computer for nothing - it turns out the power cord wasn't plugged in.”
“The company expects us to work overtime for nothing while they make millions in profit.”
“She practiced her speech for hours for nothing because the presentation was canceled at the last minute.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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