Dictionary

zilch en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• (UK) audio
• /zɪlt͡ʃ/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• zĭlch (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Probably from Joe Zilch, a placeholder name (compare John Doe) used by Nunnally Johnson in his column in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 1923; in turn from Joe Zilch, an unseen character referenced in comedian Frank Tinney's stage routine. Compare the rare German surname Zilch.

Meanings

1. (US, informal, not-comparable) No, zero, non-existent.
   • Zilch, adj. Nothing, zero... 1966, University of South Dakota, Current Slang:
   • ...gorgeous faces but zilch talent... 1977 February 3, The Telegraph, page 14:

zilch en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• (UK) audio
• /zɪlt͡ʃ/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• zĭlch (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Probably from Joe Zilch, a placeholder name (compare John Doe) used by Nunnally Johnson in his column in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 1923; in turn from Joe Zilch, an unseen character referenced in comedian Frank Tinney's stage routine. Compare the rare German surname Zilch.

Meanings

1. (archaic, countable, informal) A nobody: a person who is worthless in importance or character.
   • Dinglegoofer, Mr. Zilch, indefinite nicknames. 1940, Lester V. Berrey et al., The American Thesaurus of Slang, §184:
   • Bernarr MacZilch [for Bernarr Macfadden] and His Dynamic-Hooey System... The WEAKLING Who Became 'The World's Most Perfect Ass!' 1932 February, Ballyhoo, Vol. II, No. 1
   • President Henry P. Zilch. Chairman of the Board Charles D. Zilch. Treasurer Otto Zilch. 1931 July, Ballyhoo, Vol. I, No. 1, p. 1
2. (informal, uncountable) Nothing, zero.
   • "If the homeless wind up with zilch," James retorted, veiling his indignation behind a malevolent smile, "it's because they deserve zilch." 1991, Judith Arnold, One Good Turn, page 104:
   • Her search for decent home-made winter clothes came up with zilch, so she had to get imported stuff.

Forms

Synonyms

nothing · nonentity · rinky-dink · minnow · puny · zilch · peon · pleb · crumb · prole · nobody · picayune · chopped liver · cipher · little guy · quidam · pip-squeak · Joe Nobody · nebbish · nothingburger · shrimp · no one · zero · absolute zero · wankstain · also-ran

Translations (26)

fi ei-kukaan ((informal) nothing) · eo nenio ((informal) nothing) · pt nadica ((informal) nothing) · tr hiç ((informal) nothing) · rsk нїч ((informal) nothing) · ru ни хера́ ((informal) nothing) · sv noll ((informal) nothing) · ru ничего́ ((informal) nothing) · ro ioc ((informal) nothing) · ja 何も ((informal) nothing) · ro nulitate ((informal) nothing) · ru ни хрена́ ((informal) nothing) · ru ни хуя́ ((informal) nothing) · ro canci ((informal) nothing) · de nix ((informal) nothing) · apc بوش ((informal) nothing) · ru ни черта́ ((informal) nothing) · sv nolla ((informal) nothing) · fr que pouic ((informal) nothing) · ru ни фига́ ((informal) nothing) · ru ни шиша́ ((informal) nothing) · ro boacă ((informal) nothing) · fr que dalle ((informal) nothing) · sv ingenting ((informal) nothing) · ro neica nimeni ((informal) nothing) · tr değersiz ((informal) nothing)

zilch en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• (UK) audio
• /zɪlt͡ʃ/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• zĭlch (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Probably from Joe Zilch, a placeholder name (compare John Doe) used by Nunnally Johnson in his column in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 1923; in turn from Joe Zilch, an unseen character referenced in comedian Frank Tinney's stage routine. Compare the rare German surname Zilch.

Meanings

1. (US, informal) To cause to score nothing, to thoroughly defeat.
   • My favorite film of 1989 got zilched... That would be Field of Dreams. 1990 April 2, USA Today, page 20:
   • We zilched them on that rubber. 1969, University of South Dakota, Current Slang:

Forms

Synonyms

shutout