ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bring to nought

idiom
Meaning

To mar; to thwart.


Examples
SIMPLE

The rain brought our picnic plans to nought.

CONTEXTUAL

A sudden change in the law brought all our hard work to nought, forcing us to start over.

COMPLEX

Despite his years of careful planning and investment, a single market crash brought his entire business empire to nought.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bring a knife to a gunfight

    To enter into a confrontation or other challenging situation without being adequately equipped or prepared.

  2. 02

    bring a lump to someone's throat

    To engender a strong emotional reaction.

  3. 03

    bring back to life

    To return someone to a state of consciousness or living after a state of unconsciousness, death or near-death.

  4. 04

    bring down the curtain

    To bring something to an end.

  5. 05

    bring down the hammer

    To treat very harshly.

  6. 06

    bring down the house

    To garner enthusiastic or wild applause or laughter.

  7. 07

    bring forward

    To call up for consideration.

  8. 08

    bring home

    To earn (money).

Last updated April 17, 2026