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ado

n. uncountable
C2 Proficiency US //əˈdu// UK //ɐdˈuː// ado

n. unnecessary trouble, excitement, or delay. It is almost always used in the phrase 'without further ado' to mean getting straight to the point.

n. fuss, bustle, or unnecessary activity. Primarily occurs within the fixed idiomatic prepositional phrase 'without further ado'.


SIMPLE

Without further ado, let's begin the show.

CONTEXTUAL

After much ado about the seating arrangements, the wedding ceremony finally started an hour late.

COMPLEX

The committee spent months debating the proposal with much ado, only to reject the final draft during a five-minute meeting on Friday afternoon.

Synonyms
Origin

From Northern Middle English at do (“to do”), infinitive of do, don (“to do”), see do. Influenced by an Old Norse practice of marking the infinitive by using the preposition at, att (compare Danish at gå (“to go”)). More at at, do.

Usage

Almost exclusively used in the fixed idiom 'without further ado'.

Idioms1 entry

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