Dictionary

sweet nothings en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, plural, plural-normally) Insubstantial or romantic words that are only meant to flatter, woo, or seduce.
   • It is difficult to know how accurate this portrait is, and how much of it consists of sweet nothings whispered into the author's ear by loyal retainers. 2004 April 25, Joe Klein, “Does Bush Really Get Us?”, in Time, archived from the original on 03 Nov 2010:
   • Hearing such words as these, in the sweetest, tenderest voice that ever caressed a lover's senses, Basil knew not how to word all that was in his heart. . . . Side by side, forgetful of all but their recovered peace, they talked sweet nothings. 1904, George Gissing, chapter 28, in Veranilda:
   • [T]he facts, to make matters worse, were made public with the usual affectionate letters that passed between them, full of sweet nothings. 1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 16]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC:

Forms

Translations (9)

hu aranyos semmiségek (insubstantial or romantic words that are only meant to flatter, woo or seduce) · de Zärtlichkeiten (insubstantial or romantic words that are only meant to flatter, woo or seduce) · fr mots tendres (insubstantial or romantic words that are only meant to flatter, woo or seduce) · sv små söta ord (insubstantial or romantic words that are only meant to flatter, woo or seduce) · cmn 甜言蜜語 /甜言蜜语 (insubstantial or romantic words that are only meant to flatter, woo or seduce) · eo paroli dolĉe en la orelon (insubstantial or romantic words that are only meant to flatter, woo or seduce) · fi hempeät sanat (insubstantial or romantic words that are only meant to flatter, woo or seduce) · fr mots doux (insubstantial or romantic words that are only meant to flatter, woo or seduce) · cmn 甜蜜情話 /甜蜜情话 (insubstantial or romantic words that are only meant to flatter, woo or seduce)