no-nonsense
Americanadjective
-
not tolerating anything frivolous or trifling; firm and businesslike.
a no-nonsense approach to money matters; a no-nonsense teacher with well-behaved classes.
- Synonyms:
- purposeful, resolute, diligent, earnest
-
economical or utilitarian; practical.
a no-nonsense car that gets excellent gas mileage.
-
plain and simple; not fancy, complicated, or elegant.
no-nonsense recipes for easy preparation.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of no-nonsense
First recorded in 1925–30
Explanation
Someone who's no-nonsense is very efficient and businesslike. If you're extremely practical and don't see the point of wasting time, you're no-nonsense. Some teachers like to joke around with students, while others are much stricter than that — they are stern and no-nonsense. A brand new English teacher might resolve to start using more no-nonsense techniques in the classroom if he realizes his class isn't getting quite enough accomplished. The adjective no-nonsense was first used in 1920s sporting slang, originally in the phrase "to stand to no nonsense."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The no-nonsense builder's return will see him move in with daughter Izzy and grandson Jake, and making it clear he blames Anna Windass' son, Gary Windass, for his family's misfortune.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
Magdalena Andersson, who was Sweden's first woman prime minister in 2021-2022, is a no-nonsense operator looking to return the left to power after her election win on Thursday.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
Created with AI, the videos feature a toddler version of Judge Judy overseeing cases with her signature New York accent and no-nonsense barbs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026
The actor, who died Sunday at 36, was a versatile performer whose no-nonsense attitude and vocal range added depth to roles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
In other words, androids equipped with the new Nexus-6 brain unit had from a sort of rough, pragmatic, no-nonsense standpoint evolved beyond a major—but inferior—segment of mankind.
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
