# nothing burger

idiom · CEFR C1 · Informal

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/nothing-burger
Updated: 2026-09-28

## Meaning

Something that is presented as being important or significant but turns out to be disappointing or have no real substance. It refers to a situation or event that fails to meet expectations.

## Examples

- The big surprise my brother promised turned out to be a total nothing burger.
- Despite weeks of media hype regarding the new product launch, the actual announcement was a complete nothing burger that failed to impress investors.
- Legal analysts suggested that the leaked documents, while initially appearing scandalous, would ultimately prove to be a nothing burger once the full context was revealed to the public.

## Origin

The term is widely attributed to Hollywood gossip columnist Louella Parsons, who used it in the 1950s to describe people or events that lacked substance. It gained significant political prominence in the United States during the 1980s when Anne Gorsuch Burford, a Reagan administration official, used it to dismiss a controversy. The metaphor relies on the imagery of a hamburger bun that contains no meat, symbolizing a hollow promise or an empty scandal.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.