Meaning
The phrase “nothing more than” is used to emphasize that something is only what is mentioned and not greater, better, or more important than that. It often carries a minimizing or dismissive tone.
Grammar and Usage
- Structure: nothing more than + noun / noun phrase
- Used to limit or downgrade the importance of something.
- Common in both spoken and written English.
- Neutral or negative nuance depending on context.
Examples of patterns:
- X is nothing more than Y.
- That’s nothing more than an excuse.
Common Phrases
- nothing more than a rumor
- nothing more than an excuse
- nothing more than a coincidence
- nothing more than a child
Collocations
- be nothing more than
- consider nothing more than
- dismiss as nothing more than
- prove to be nothing more than
Examples
- His story turned out to be nothing more than a lie.
- The noise was nothing more than the wind outside.
- Many thought the idea was nothing more than a dream.
- It was nothing more than a misunderstanding.
- The so-called evidence was nothing more than speculation.
- She treated him as nothing more than a friend.
- The rumor is nothing more than gossip.
- The cut is nothing more than a scratch, nothing serious.
Synonyms or Related
- merely
- only
- just
- simply
Antonym
- more than
- much more than
- greater than