diddly-squat

/ˈdi-dᵊl-ē-ˌskwät ˈdid-lē-/ (ame, mw)

diddly-squat — 名詞

1. an informal American way of saying that there is absolutely no amount or quantit

1.名詞B2
釋義

啥都沒有

一無所有的口語強調說法

an informal American way of saying that there is absolutely no amount or quantity of something — always used in a negative sense to emphasize that someone knows, has, does, or receives nothing

例句

Mei-Lin has lived here for three years but knows diddly-squat about the local customs.

Mei-Lin 住在這裡三年了，但對當地習俗啥都不知道。

knows + diddly-squat + about [topic]

The new employee earned diddly-squat during his first month at the company.

那位新進員工入職第一個月根本沒賺到什麼錢。

earn + diddly-squat (amount of money)

同義詞
  • nothing

    the standard neutral word; diddly-squat is much more informal and emphatic

  • zilch

    similarly informal American slang; interchangeable in most contexts

  • squat

    the base slang term that diddly-squat elaborates on; slightly less common alone

  • zero

    informal use meaning 'nothing at all' but also has precise numerical uses

反義詞
  • everything

    the opposite meaning; neutral in register

  • a lot

    implies a large quantity rather than absence

文法句型

diddly-squat + [verb phrase in negative context]

know/do/get/have + diddly-squat

用法筆記

Strictly a negative polarity item — the surrounding sentence must express a negative or absent quantity. Not used in affirmative statements to mean 'something.' Avoid in formal or professional writing.

常見錯誤

❌The CEO reported that the company earned diddly-squat this quarter.
✅The CEO reported that the company earned very little this quarter.
💡'diddly-squat' is highly informal slang and sounds inappropriate in formal or professional contexts.
❌I have diddly-squat to offer, but I can try.
✅I do not have much to offer, but I can try.
💡'diddly-squat' must appear in a clearly negative statement; adding 'but I can try' creates a mixed context that feels unnatural.