Nothing to shout about

Feifei Hello, this is The English We Speak and I’m Feifei. And joining me is Neil.

Neil Hello.

Feifei Hey Neil, how was your night out at that new restaurant last night?

Neil
Oh, it was … OK.

Feifei Just ‘OK’?

Neil The food was average. The service was standard.

Feifei
Neil, there is no pleasing you!

Neil
Keep your voice down Feifei. It was nothing to shout about.

Feifei
It was nothing to shout about? Would you normally shout about a good restaurant?

Neil Of course not. But when something is ‘nothing to shout about’, it means it’s nothing special. It’s average or unremarkable. So you wouldn’t make an effort to tell anyone about it.

Feifei
So basically Neil, you mean your experience was disappointing?

Neil
Not exactly. I mean it was neither good or bad - just average. These examples might make the phrase easier to understand…

Examples This year’s bonus is nothing to shout about but I guess it’s better than last year.

My job is nothing to shout about but at least it pays the bills.

Her clothes are nothing to shout about - brown, cotton, cheap-looking, not very fashionable!

Feifei This is The English We Speak from the BBC and we’re discussing the phrase ‘nothing to shout about’. It’s used to describe something or someone that isn’t special, unremarkable or just ordinary. So Neil, the restaurant was nothing special but was there anything you could shout about?

Neil
Oh yes. The prices! It was so cheap - that’s probably why the food wasn’t great. And on Monday’s they do a special ‘two for the price of one’ meal. That’s something to shout about.

Feifei You’re easy to please!

Neil
Actually Feifei, I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me next Monday?

Feifei
At the restaurant that’s nothing to shout about?

Neil
Yes.

Feifei OK then and if the food isn’t good, I’ll have someone to shout at.

Neil
Who’s that?

Feifei
You!

Both
Bye.