Why do we say "Much Ado About Nothing"?

Well-Known Expressions

Much Ado About Nothing

Meaning:

To make a fuss over nothing

Background:

The earliest recorded reference of this expression's use is in 1529 when Richard Hyrde translated a work on the instruction of Christian women (presumably from Latin to English) and wrote 'they make great ado about many small matters'. In 1598 Shakespeare wrote Much Ado About Nothing and imprinted the phrase firmly in the English language.

More expressions and their source

Challenge yourself with BookBrowse Wordplays

BookBrowse Book Club

Book Jacket
The Hunter's Daughter
by Nicola Solvinic

Members Recommend

Who Said...

Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.

Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!

Book
Trivia

  • Book Trivia

    Can you name the title?

    Test your book knowledge with our daily trivia challenge!

Wordplay

Solve this clue:

W the C A the M W P

and be entered to win..

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.