not to be sneezed at

Idioms  

1. Also, nothing to sneeze at. Not to be ignored or dismissed, as in It's a great honor, not to be sneezed at, or That salary of his is nothing to sneeze at. This expression presumably alludes to turning up one's nose in disdain. [c. 1800]

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Example Sentences

The importance of maintaining a healthy scalp is not to be sneezed at, and lice are no picnic either.

From Literature

It’s hard to overstate the importance of this quirky scientific venture, pitched in ads and newspapers as “a cheap and comfortable holiday” that was “not to be sneezed at.”

From New York Times

Unlike the wretched ragweed, they are not to be sneezed at.

From Washington Post

Even so, a 0.8% increase is not to be sneezed at, and is evidence perhaps that the back-to-basics reforms of chief executive Steve Rowe, which include hundreds of job losses at head office and the closure of most of the international stores, is having some effect.

From BBC

“Never mind, Mrs. Dowdel. As I have said, a red ribbon for second place is not to be sneezed at or scorned. You did right well.”

From Literature