mox nix

English

Alternative forms

• mox-nix

Etymology

From German macht nichts. Apparently originated with American soldiers stationed in Germany after World War II.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA: /ˈmɑks ˌnɪks/

Interjection

mox nix

1. (dated, slang) it doesn't matter; no worries
   • 1969, Creighton Abrams, “1969”, in Lewis Sorley editor, Vietnam Chronicles: The Abrams Tapes, 1968–1972^[1], ISBN 0896725332, published 2004, page 330:

     When they want to do something, they do it! Whether we've funded it, whether we'll support it—mox nix. They do it!

   • 1983, Ian Skidmore, Forgive Us Our Press Passes^[2], ISBN 1906609527, page 21:

     'Nice people, are they?'

     'I shouldn't think so.'

     'Aw, well. Mox nix. Want some of this rice?'

   • 2005, James Carroll, Secret Father: A Novel^[3], ISBN 0547526830, page 264:

     No, I get it. Small matter. Mox nix.

   • 2011, Ritch Gaiti, Tweet: One Guy Can't Change the World—Good Thing that Glebe Didn't Know That^[4], ISBN 0615437044, page 73:

     I thought it resembled me more than Hartwick but mox nix—it was ours.

Adjective

mox nix (not comparable)

1. (dated, slang) unimportant, irrelevant
   • 1947, H. W. Kale, “Letter of July 5, 1947”, in Mark William Falzini editor, Letters Home: The Story of an American Military Family in Occupied Germany 1946–1949^[5], ISBN 0595312454, published 2004, page 99:

     If you don't have time to do this don't worry about it because it's mox nix to me (mox nicht—makes no difference).

   • 2004, Kenneth Stiers, The Rapanui Code^[6], ISBN 1418490865, page 49:

     Frankly it's mox-nix to me.

   • 2006, William P. Singley, Bragg^[7], ISBN 1418489409, page 81:

     Mox nix to me if you cover for him.