noun

zippo

ZIH-poh

Zippo (noun) means nothing at all; used for emphasis when someone might have expected something. Example: “We searched the whole house and found zippo.”

noun

Nothing at all; used for emphasis when someone might have expected something.

"We searched the whole house and found zippo."

A refillable metal cigarette lighter, from the well-known brand name.

"He flicked open his zippo to light the campfire kindling."

How to use zippo

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither "absolutely nothing" or, informally, any metal flip-top lighter.

When to use it

Very informal; avoid in formal writing.

Word forms

zippoed past tense, Zippos plural, zippos singular

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We searched the whole house and found _____.

Etymology

The "nothing" sense comes from zip plus -o; the lighter sense comes from the Zippo brand name, now often used generically.

Synonyms

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nothing zero zip null nil nada cipher nix aught zilch cypher naught

Related words

something nothing everything energy property code nobody none

Frequently asked questions

What does “zippo” mean?

The word “zippo” means nothing at all; used for emphasis when someone might have expected something. In plain terms, either "absolutely nothing" or, informally, any metal flip-top lighter.

How do you pronounce “zippo”?

“Zippo” is pronounced ZIH-poh (/ˈzɪpoʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “zippo” in a sentence?

Here is “zippo” used in a sentence: “We searched the whole house and found zippo.”

What part of speech is “zippo”?

“Zippo” is a noun.

How many meanings does “zippo” have?

“Zippo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: nothing at all; used for emphasis when someone might have expected something.

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