Understanding the Idiom 'Of No Account': Meaning, Origin, and Examples

The idiom "of no account" means of little or no importance or value. It is often used to describe someone or something that is insignificant or unimportant. For example, "He is just a small businessman, of no account in the industry."

"Of no account" is a phrase that can be used to describe a person, thing, or situation that is not important or valuable. It can convey a sense of insignificance or unimportance, and is often used to downplay or dismiss something or someone. The phrase is commonly used in everyday conversation, as well as in literature, journalism, and other forms of written expression.

It can also be used in the context of financial transactions, where it means worthless or of little value.

It can be used in a negative way or in a neutral way, depending on the context. For example, "He is a young man of no account" would be a negative use, while "This trinket is of no account" would be a neutral use.

In general, the idiom is used to express that something is not worth paying attention to or is insignificant.

Here are sample sentences using this idiomatic expression:

The small mistake was of no account and didn't affect the overall outcome of the project.
He is just a clerk, of no account in the company.
The old vase is of no account, it's just a cheap knock-off.
She dismissed his apology as being of no account.
The lost money was of no account, it was just a small amount.
He is a young man of no account, no one takes him seriously.
The missing document was of no account, it was just a duplicate.
The broken toy was of no account, it was cheap to begin with.
The minor delay was of no account, it didn't affect the schedule.
The small scratch on the car is of no account, it will buff out easily.

The origin of the phrase "of no account" is not entirely clear, but it likely comes from the Middle English phrase "of noght accompt," which means "of no value or importance." The phrase has been in use since at least the 16th century and has been found in literature and other written works from that time period.

The phrase "of no account" is a translation of the Latin phrase "exinanire" which means "to empty out" or "to reduce to nothing." It was used in the context of financial transactions, where it meant worthless or of little value.

The phrase has been used in various forms in different languages, with similar meanings. The French phrase "sans compte" and the German phrase "ohne Bedeutung" for example.

It is interesting to notice that the phrase is still in use today, and its meaning has remained relatively consistent over time.

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