nothing doing

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformal

   Used to say no firmly to a request or suggestion, meaning you will not do it or allow it.

   Grammar: Works as a short reply on its own: Can I borrow your car? Nothing doing!

   Patterns

   • Nothing doing!

   Lend you my new bike? Nothing doing!

   I asked for a discount, but the seller said nothing doing.

   Stay up till midnight on a school night? Nothing doing.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseold-fashioned

   Used to report that nothing is happening or that there is no chance of success in a situation.

   Grammar: Often follows there is or there was: there was nothing doing at the market.

   Patterns

   • There is nothing doing

   We looked for jobs all week, but there was nothing doing.

   I tried to get tickets at the door, but it was nothing doing.

   The town is quiet in winter, with nothing doing after nine.

Common combinations

say nothing doing

He asked to leave early, and the manager said nothing doing.

Nothing doing, I am afraid

Nothing doing, I am afraid; the shop is closed on Sundays.

It is nothing doing

It is nothing doing for now, but check back next month.

flat out nothing doing

My sister was flat out nothing doing when I asked to borrow her coat.

Synonyms and how they differ

no way

No way is the most common modern equivalent and sounds more current than nothing doing.

absolutely not

Absolutely not is more neutral and can be used in polite or formal settings.

not a chance

Not a chance stresses that something is unlikely or impossible, while nothing doing stresses your refusal.

Opposites

Word family

nothing pronoun

not anything

do verb

to perform an action

doing noun

an action or activity

Commonly confused: nothing doing or nothing to do with?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “nothing doing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words