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
1
Nothing at all; used for emphasis when someone might have expected something.
"We searched the whole house and found zippo."
2
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 notesIn plain EnglishEither "absolutely nothing" or, informally, any metal flip-top lighter.
When to use it
Very informal; avoid in formal writing.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- zippos
- Past tense
- zippoed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Related words
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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