noun

diddly

DIH-duh-lee

Diddly (noun) means informal word for nothing at all, or an amount of no real value. Example: “He knows diddly about fixing cars.”

noun

Informal word for nothing at all, or an amount of no real value.

"He knows diddly about fixing cars."

"We got paid diddly for all that overtime."

How to use diddly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsed to mean "absolutely nothing," usually in a complaining or dismissive tone.

When to use it

Informal, American English.

Common pairings

know diddly about diddly-squat

Word forms

diddlies plural, diddlies plural

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He knows _____ about fixing cars.

Etymology

A shortened form of "diddly-squat."

Synonyms

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jack squat diddley diddlysquat doodly-squat diddly-squat

Related words

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Frequently asked questions

What does “diddly” mean?

The word “diddly” means informal word for nothing at all, or an amount of no real value. In plain terms, used to mean "absolutely nothing," usually in a complaining or dismissive tone.

How do you pronounce “diddly”?

“Diddly” is pronounced DIH-duh-lee (/ˈdɪdəli/ in IPA).

How do you use “diddly” in a sentence?

Here is “diddly” used in a sentence: “He knows diddly about fixing cars.”

What part of speech is “diddly”?

“Diddly” is a noun.

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