no great shakes

English

Etymology

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Pronunciation

• Audio (AU):

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Noun

no great shakes (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) Something unexceptional, not special or noteworthy.
   • 1898, Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton, The Valiant Runaways, ch. 19:

     You're welcome to stay here, but this hut ain't no great shakes for such as you.

   • 2008 August 24, "Your definitive guide to the iPhone," The Times (South Africa) (retrieved 31 Aug 2008):

     The iPhone’s 2.0 megapixel camera is no great shakes, but it’s good enough as cellphone cameras go.

Synonyms

• nothing to write home about

References

• "no great shakes" at OneLook® Dictionary Search.