PhrasesHub

Sweet Fanny Adams

    Definitions

      • nothing or very little
        To express that there is no value or worth in something, or that it is insignificant or non-existent

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

    Examples of Sweet Fanny Adams

    • The teacher told her students that studying for exams was not Sweet Fanny Adams if they wanted to pass with flying colors.

      The phrase "Sweet Fanny Adams" is used in this example as an idiom meaning "of no importance" or "not important". The teacher is using it to emphasize the crucial importance of studying for exams. In essence, she is saying that not studying for exams is the same as not caring about the exam results or about passing the exams at all. By comparing it to "Sweet Fanny Adams", the teacher is making it clear that the students should take their studies seriously if they want to pass the exams successfully.

    • The salesperson assured the customer that the product was not Sweet Fanny Adams and would provide her with the desired results.

      In this context, the phrase "Sweet Fanny Adams" means "of little value" or "not effective". The salesperson is using it to emphasize the product's effectiveness and reassure the customer that the product will provide her with the desired results. By comparing it to "Sweet Fanny Adams", she is saying that the product is not worthless or ineffective and that the customer can trust in its ability to deliver results.

    • The class the student was attending was not Sweet Fanny Adams, but she was beginning to regret signing up for it.

      Here, "Sweet Fanny Adams" means "of no value" or "pointless". The student is using the idiom to express her disappointment with the class, implying that it is not providing her with any meaningful value or learning. By comparing it to "Sweet Fanny Adams", the student is making it clear that she regrets signing up for the class, implying that it is not worth her time or effort.

    • The politician's promises were as sweet as Sweet Fanny Adams, and everyone knew it.

      In this context, "Sweet Fanny Adams" means "of no substance" or "insincere". The politician is using it to emphasize the insincerity or lack of substance in his promises. By comparing it to "Sweet Fanny Adams", the politician is implying that his promises are worthless and that no one should take them seriously. The expression "as sweet as Sweet Fanny Adams" is used here as a metaphor to suggest that the promises are as valueless as the idiom itself.

    • Alice didn't care about the small details of the project. She thought that Sweet Fanny Adams would still make it a success.

      The idiom "Sweet Fanny Adams" is used to indicate that something is of no importance or value. In this example, Alice doesn't believe that neglecting the minor aspects of the project would have any significant impact on its outcome, just as Sweet Fanny Adams wouldn't deter people from enjoying their meals.

    • The teacher was convinced that her students wouldn't learn anything from that boring lecture. She figured that Sweet Fanny Adams would still give them some knowledge.

      The teacher thinks that the lecture might be dull, but she assumes that her students won't miss out on any vital information as Sweet Fanny Adams wouldn't prevent them from acquiring some knowledge.

    • Mary wasn't bothered about losing the raffle ticket as she knew that Sweet Fanny Adams would still give her a chance to win.

      The idiom "Sweet Fanny Adams" suggests that there's still a possibility or chance of something happening, even if there's no apparent worth or value. In Mary's case, she doesn't see her lost raffle ticket as a significant setback as there's still a slight chance she might win.

    • Jane's aunt was convinced that her niece wouldn't learn anything valuable from an online course as she thought Sweet Fanny Adams would still provide her with enough knowledge.

      The aunt assumes that her niece may not get an exceptional learning experience from the digital class, but she believes that some rudimentary information will still be delivered, akin to Sweet Fanny Adams' limited value.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "Sweet Fanny Adams" is used to convey the idea of nothing or very little value, often to discourage someone from pursuing a particular activity or to express the insignificance of something.

    Origin of "Sweet Fanny Adams"

    The origin of the idiom "Sweet Fanny Adams" dates back to the 19th century in the UK. Fanny Adams was a young girl who was brutally murdered in 1867. The phrase "Sweet Fanny Adams" was originally used by sailors in the Royal Navy to refer to the tinned mutton they were served, which they likened to the remains of Fanny Adams after her murder. Over time, the phrase evolved to mean "nothing" or "worthless."

    The idiom gained popularity and is still used today to convey the idea of nothing or very little value. It is often used in informal or humorous contexts to emphasize the insignificance of something. For example, "I spent the whole day cleaning, but I feel like I accomplished sweet Fanny Adams."