none

*none the worse for wear

Fig. no worse because of use or effort. (See also the worse for wear. *Typically: be ~; become ~; look ~.) I lent my car to John. When I got it back, it was none the worse for wear. I had a hard day today, but I'm none the worse for wear.

See also: wear, worse

(It's) none of your business!

It is nothing that you need to know. It is none of your concern. (Not very polite.) Alice: How much does a little diamond like that cost? Mary: None of your business! John: Do you want to go out with me Friday night? Mary: Sorry, I don't think so. John: Well, what are you doing then? Mary: None of your business!

(It) don't bother me none.

Inf. It does not affect me one way or the other.; It doesn't bother me any. (Familiar and ungrammatical. Sometimes used for effect.) John: Mind if I sit here? Bob: It don't bother me none. Mary: Can I smoke? Bill: Don't bother me none.

See also: bother

bad excuse is better than none

Prov. If you offer some explanation for an unwanted action, there is a slight chance that it will be accepted and you will therefore not be in trouble, but if you have no explanation at all, you do not even have that slight chance. Fred: I can't believe we played cards till midnight! What will I tell my wife when she asks why I'm so late getting home? Bill: Tell her something came up at the office. Fred: But that's a lousy excuse. She'll never believe it. Bill: A bad excuse is better than none.

See also: bad, better, excuse

bar none

with no exceptions. (Follows an assertion.) This is the best of all, bar none.

See also: bar

Half a loaf is better than none.

Prov. Getting only part of what you want is better than not getting anything. Fred: How did your court case go? Alan: Not good. I asked for $500, and the judge only awarded me $200. Fred: Half a loaf is better than none.

See also: better, half, loaf

have none of something

to tolerate or endure no amount of something. I'll have none of your talk about quitting school. We'll have none of your gossip. I wish to have none of the sweet potatoes, please.

See also: have

jack of all trades is a master of none

Prov. If you are able to do a lot of things fairly well, you will not have time to learn to do one thing extremely well. Jill: I envy Bob; he can do so many things. He writes novels, paints pictures, makes sculptures, and even plays the dulcimer. Jane: It's true he does a lot of things, but he probably doesn't do them all terribly well. A jack of all trades is a master of none, you know.

See also: jack, master, trade

None but the brave deserve the fair.

Prov. Only a courageous and gallant man deserves a beautiful woman.; Only the best deserves the best. Stop making excuses and just call Gina. None but the brave deserve the fair.

See also: brave, but, deserve, fair

none of someone's beeswax

Inf. none of someone's business. (Jocular.) It's none of your beeswax. I'm not telling. You'll never know. The answer is none of your beeswax.

See also: beeswax

none of someone's business

not of someone's concern. (A gentle rebuke.) Q: When are you going to leave for home? A: None of your business. How I managed to afford all this is none of your business.

See also: business

None of your lip!

Fig. Shut up!; I don't want to hear anything from you about anything! A: You are being a real nuisance about the broken window. B: None of your lip! Just help me clean it up.

none other than

Cliché the very [person]. (Expresses surprise.) The new building was opened by none other than the president. Bob's wife turned out to be none other than my cousin.

See also: other

none the wiser

not knowing any more in spite of events or exposure to facts. I was none the wiser about black holes after the lecture. It was a complete waste of time. Anne tried to explain the situation tactfully to Bob, but in the end, he was none the wiser.

none too something

not very something; not at all something. The towels in the bathroom were none too clean. It was none too warm in their house.

One of these days is none of these days.

Prov. If you say you will do something "one of these days," you probably do not seriously intend to do it, and therefore it will not get done. Alan: When are you going to fix the garage door? Jane: One of these days. Alan: One of these days is none of these days. Jill: One of these days, I'll pay you the money I owe you. Jane: One of these days is none of these days.

See also: days, one, these

second to none

better than everything else. This is an excellent car—second to none. Her suggestion was second to none, and the manager accepted it eagerly.

See also: second

There's none so blind as those who will not see.

Prov. You cannot make someone pay attention to something that he or she does not want to notice. (Used often to upbraid someone for being unwilling to notice what you are trying call attention to.) Mother: This is the fifth time our daughter has been arrested for shoplifting. Don't you think we ought to seek some kind of help for her? Father: Our girl would never shoplift. I'm sure all those arrests were just some kind of mistake. Mother: There's none so blind as those who will not see. By October, it was obvious to everyone that Richard was coming in drunk every morning. Obvious, that is, except to his devoted secretary; there's none so blind as those who will not see.

See also: blind, see, those, who

There's none so deaf as those who will not hear.

Prov. If you tell someone something that he or she does not want to know, he or she will not pay attention to you. I tried repeatedly to tell my supervisor about the low morale in our department, but there's none so deaf as those who will not hear.

See also: deaf, hear, those, who

---

be none the wiser

to still be confused about something, even after it has been explained to you Isobel must have explained the theory three times to me but I'm afraid I'm still none the wiser.

be second to none

to be better than anything or anyone else The hotel's restaurant facilities are second to none.

See also: second

Half a loaf is better than none.

something that you say which means it is better to take what you are offered, even if it is less than you wanted, because it is better than nothing I only got half the salary rise I asked for, but I took it anyway on the grounds that half a loaf is better than none.

See also: better, half, loaf

none of your beeswax  (American & Australian informal)

an impolite way of saying that you do not want someone to know about your private life 'So where the heck have you been?' 'None of your beeswax!'

See also: beeswax

---

bar none

without omitting anyone or anything Terrell is the best player in the division, bar none.

Usage notes: used when comparing someone or something to all others of the same type

See also: bar

be none the wiser also not be (any) the wiser

1. to fail to understand something Isabel must have explained her idea three times to me, but I'm afraid I'm none the wiser. If you take the label off the jar and say you made it yourself, your guests won't be any the wiser.

2. to not be aware of something The health department gave the restaurant a health warning, but customers were none the wiser.

Usage notes: often said about efforts to be sure that no one is aware: I figured I could just get rid of the stuff, and you'd be none the wiser.

none of your business also nobody's business

do not interest yourself in matters that do not involve you “Those children should never be left alone.” “Don't tell me what to do - it's none of your business.”

See also: business

none of the above

not one of the possibilities mentioned Given the choices in the election, I've been thinking about voting for none of the above.

Usage notes: often used in tests in which different possible answers are given, one of which is none of the above (not one of the answers provided is correct): Are you part of Generation X, Generation Y, Generation 1.5, or none of the above?

See also: above

none other than somebody/something

the very famous or important person or thing The speech was given by none other than the vice president. The biggest surprise was that the false report was written by none other than the company's own legal department.

Related vocabulary: the one and only

See also: other

none the worse (for something)

not damaged or hurt despite something It was cold and windy during the parade but we were none the worse for the weather.

Usage notes: often used in the form none the worse for wear ( in good condition despite hard use or a difficult experience): He seems to be none the worse for wear after his car wreck.

See also: worse

none too

not very I gripped the back of his neck and, none too gently, gave his head a firm shake.

second to none

better than anything or anyone else The hotel's restaurant is second to none.

See also: second