Phrase guide

not for nothing

phrase · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

phrase

Meaning 1

Not for no reason; not without reason; (often) for a good reason.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Not for nothing did he wait until a moment when Mommy wasn't home to ask for Daddy's permission to watch an R-rated movie.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: with good reason

Antonyms: for nothing, for no good reason

2

phrase

Meaning 2

Used to soften the impact of what is said next, implying that it is worthwhile or important.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • A: It's ridiculous how much they charge for insurance premiums around here. B: Not for nothing, when one out of four homeowners in an area has filed a claim within the past five years, premiums aren't gonna be cheap.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

phrase

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see not, for, nothing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ei turhaan — for an extremely good reason
  • German: nicht umsonst — for an extremely good reason
  • Hungarian: nem véletlenül — for an extremely good reason
  • Polish: nie bez powodu — for an extremely good reason
  • Finnish: ei millään pahalla — used to soften the impact of what is said next
  • Hungarian: nem azért mondom — used to soften the impact of what is said next
  • Finnish: ei turhaan — literally: not for nothing