be not anything to sneeze at

To be worthy of attention and significance; to be important or consequential. She never really had a chance of winning, but the amount of votes she managed to muster isn't anything to sneeze at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to have won, but it is definitely not anything to sneeze at! Scoring an interview at such a prestigious company is nothing to sneeze at, even if you didn't get the job in the end.

be nothing to sneeze at

To be worthy of attention and significance; to be important or consequential. She never really had a chance of winning, but the amount of votes she managed to muster is really nothing to sneeze at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to have won, but it's definitely nothing to sneeze at! Scoring an interview at such a prestigious company is nothing to sneeze at, even if you didn't get the job in the end.

See also: nothing, sneeze, to

if (something) sneezes, (something else) catches a cold

If a person, group, or entity has a problem or experiences a negative situation, a related person, group, or entity will consequently have a worse problem or will experience a more negative situation. If Paris sneezes, Europe catches a cold. Terrorism in France affects security throughout the continent. You need to keep Aunt Mary happy because, if she sneezes, Mom catches a cold, and you know who else will be miserable along with them? Us! If the executive office sneezes, we all catch a cold—in the form of tons more work!

not to be sneezed at

To not be something that should be ignored, passed over, dismissed, or treated with disdain; to not be trivial or inconsequential. We may not have won the game, but we scored enough points and caused enough damage to let everyone know we aren't to be sneezed at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to win in a lottery, but it's still not to be sneezed at!

See also: not, sneeze, to

not to be sniffed at

To not be something that should be ignored, passed over, dismissed, or treated with disdain; to not be trivial or inconsequential. We may not have won the game, but we scored enough points and caused enough damage to let everyone know we aren't to be sniffed at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to win in a lottery, but it's still not to be sniffed at!

nothing to be sneezed at

Not something that should be ignored, dismissed, or treated with disdain; something that is not inconsequential. The amount of votes she managed to muster is nothing to be sneezed at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to have won, but it's definitely nothing to be sneezed at!

See also: nothing, sneeze, to

nothing to sneeze at

Not something that should be ignored, dismissed, or treated with disdain; something that is not inconsequential. She never really had a chance of winning, but the amount of votes she managed to muster is truly nothing to sneeze at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to have won, but it's definitely nothing to sneeze at!

See also: nothing, sneeze, to

sneeze at (someone or something)

To dismiss or belittle someone or something as being not worthwhile, important, or valuable. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to win, but it's definitely nothing to sneeze at! The CEO just sneezed at the deal presented by the rival corporation.

See also: sneeze

sneeze into (something)

To cover one's mouth with something as one sneezes. Please sneeze into your elbow or a handkerchief instead of your hands.

See also: sneeze

sneeze on (someone or something)

To spray someone or something with one's sneeze. As a parent of toddlers, you get used to your kids sneezing on you accidentally. Don't sneeze on your hands like that—you're just going to spread germs everywhere!

when (something) sneezes, (something else) catches a cold

When a person, group, or entity has a problem or experiences a negative situation, a related person, group, or entity will consequently have a worse problem or will experience a more negative situation. When Paris sneezes, Europe catches a cold. Terrorism in France affects security throughout the continent.

nothing to sneeze at

and nothing to be sneezed

See also: nothing, sneeze, to

sneeze at someone

to sneeze in someone's direction. Please don't sneeze at me! Cover your nose and mouth! You should never sneeze at anyone. It is very bad manners.

See also: sneeze

sneeze at something

Fig. to indicate one's disapproval of something; to belittle someone or something. I wouldn't sneeze at that amount of money if I were you. It's better than nothing. I though it was a good offer, but the customer just sneezed at it.

See also: sneeze

sneeze into something

to aim a sneeze into something. You should always sneeze into a handkerchief. Please sneeze into a tissue or something.

See also: sneeze

sneeze on someone or something

to aim a sneeze onto someone or something, probably by accident. Don't sneeze on me! Don't sneeze on anything. Cover your nose and mouth!

not to be sneezed at

Also, nothing to sneeze at. Not to be ignored or dismissed, as in It's a great honor, not to be sneezed at, or That salary of his is nothing to sneeze at. This expression presumably alludes to turning up one's nose in disdain. [c. 1800]

See also: not, sneeze, to

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

when the US/UK/China, etc. sneezes, Japan/Germany, etc. catches cold

when the US/UK/China, etc. sneezes, Japan/Germany, etc. catches a cold

mainly BRITISH

If you say that when a particular country sneezes, another catches cold, or catches a cold, you mean that what happens to the first country has a great effect or influence on the second. And when the American economy sneezes, the City of London catches cold. As they say, when America sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold.

not to be sneezed at

not to be sniffed at

INFORMAL

If something is not to be sneezed at or not to be sniffed at, it is worth having. The money's not to be sneezed at. At least she had somewhere to live and a job — both temporary, but not to be sniffed at.

See also: not, sneeze, to

not to be sneezed at

not to be rejected without careful consideration; worth having or taking into account. informal

See also: not, sneeze, to

not to be ˈsneezed/ˈsniffed at

(informal) important or worth having: If I were you, I’d take the job. A salary like that’s not to be sneezed at.

when A ˈsneezes, B catches a ˈcold

(also if A catches a ˈcold, B gets pneuˈmonia less frequent) if one person, organization, country, etc. has a problem, the effects of this on another person, organization or country are much more serious: When Wall Street sneezes, the world catches a cold.

sneeze at

To treat something as unimportant. Used chiefly in the passive with a negative word: The critical nature of the job at hand is not to be sneezed at.

See also: sneeze

nothing to sneeze at

n. no small amount of money; something not inconsequential. It’s not a lot of money, but it’s nothing to sneeze at.

See also: nothing, sneeze, to

not to be sneezed at

Not to be dismissed. This term, which presumably comes from turning up one’s nose at something to express contempt, was already current in the early nineteenth century. “As I am situated, £300 or £400 a year is not to be sneezed at” (Sir Walter Scott, letter, 1813).

See also: not, sneeze, to

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