nothingburger

American  

[nuhth-ing-bur-ger] / ˈnʌθ ɪŋˌbɜr gər /

Or nothing burger

noun

Slang

1. an often highly publicized event or situation that is said to have less impact or significance than expected.

   The meeting of world leaders turned out to be a big nothingburger.

2. a person of little or no importance; a nothing; a nobody.

   She's a minor celebrity—a nothingburger.

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Etymology

Origin of nothingburger

First recorded in 1950–55; nothing ( def. ) + burger ( def. )

Example Sentences

Still, it might be tempting to dismiss the whole thing as a goofy internet nothingburger.

From Slate • Aug. 31, 2025

Regrettably, Jun-ho’s investigation is a nothingburger — at least this season.

From Salon • Dec. 27, 2024

“This was a nothingburger you will forget,” he said of that debate.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 29, 2023

“I anticipate this will be a nothingburger with a side of nothing,” he said.

From Washington Times • May 19, 2022

If there’s scant participation, it would make it easier “for the government to effectively say, ‘This is a nothingburger.’

From Washington Post • Nov. 14, 2021