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Glite Dictionary
not an ounce of

not an ounce of

3 4.9
There is not even a tiny bit of something
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : ni una pizca de
  • There's literally not an ounce of personality or life in them at all.
  • not an ounce of fat

So, so, and we should stop repeating it because it's not an ounce of truth to it.

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Examples

  • Not an ounce of gratitude!

    Fiction book (2001)

  • There isn't an ounce of sincerity in one of them, especially Rhee!

    Blog text (26)

  • There were things said, names called, and not an ounce of respect to be found.

    Blog text (29)

  • So, so, and we should stop repeating it because it's not an ounce of truth to it.

    ReasonTV

  • She carried not an ounce of excess fat.

  • Well, there's not an ounce of generosity in it.

    The Beguiled (1971)

  • There's not an ounce of hate in my blood whatsoever.

    Blog text (18)

  • And she's such a good-hearted thing; there isn't an ounce of harm or malice in her.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • There's not an ounce of truth in all of these accusations.

  • There isn't an ounce of selfishness in any one of them.

Synonyms

zilch
vsnot an ounce of
  • Informal
7 8.5

Nothing at all

is the idiomatic phrase that stresses lack of even a tiny amount
not a farthing
vsnot an ounce of
  • Archaic
9.9

No money at all

has identical meaning but differs only in wording
zero
vsnot an ounce of
1.0

Having no amount or value

is an emphatic phrase used to deny even the smallest amount
not a bit of it
vsnot an ounce of
  • Informal
8.1

Not true at all

focuses on lack of any amount rather than truth or occurrence

Antonyms

some
∞ 1.0

A not exact amount or number that is more than a little

much
1.0

A large amount of something you cannot count

How Much

a lot
∞ 1.0
some
∞ 1.0
a little
∞ 1.0
not an ounce of
  • Informal
3 4.9

Surface Forms

not an ounce of main

Morphology

not + an + ounce + of

The meaning 'not even a very small amount' is directly derivable from negation ('not') combined with a small measure ('ounce') in the quantifier pattern 'not a/ an X of', so a learner who knows the constituent words can infer absence. This use of a small unit to indicate 'none' is a common compositional pattern cross-linguistically rather than an idiosyncratic idiom, so it is transparent to B1 learners familiar with the words.

Etymology

Not an ounce of uses ounce, a very small unit of weight, to give a clear image: not even the tiniest bit is present. That's why it means 'absolutely none'.