fanny adams
LowInformal, Humorous, Euphemistic
Definition
Meaning
A euphemistic term meaning 'nothing at all' or 'something worthless', often used in the phrase 'sweet Fanny Adams'.
In British naval slang, it historically referred to tinned meat (as a grim joke). In modern British English, it is a polite, humorous, or ironic way to say 'nothing' or 'very little'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrase is a euphemism, often used to avoid stronger language. Its meaning is entirely idiomatic and not compositional from the individual words.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The phrase is almost exclusively British. In American English, the word 'fanny' has a different anatomical meaning, making the phrase confusing and rarely used.
Connotations
In the UK: humorous, slightly old-fashioned, euphemistic. In the US: potentially vulgar or nonsensical due to the different meaning of 'fanny'.
Frequency
Common in UK informal speech, especially among older generations. Extremely rare in US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
know + FAbe worth + FAdo + FAget + FAVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sweet Fanny Adams”
- “know sweet Fanny Adams about something”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might be used humorously in informal reports: 'After six months of talks, we've achieved sweet Fanny Adams.'
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used in casual conversation to express a lack of result or knowledge: 'What did you learn from that manual?' 'Sweet Fanny Adams.'
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He's been fannying about with that engine all day and fixed sweet Fanny Adams.
American English
- Not used.
adverb
British English
- Not used.
American English
- Not used.
adjective
British English
- It was a Fanny Adams chance of succeeding from the start.
American English
- Not used.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I asked for help, but I got Fanny Adams.
- After reviewing the evidence, I realised I knew sweet Fanny Adams about the case.
- The committee's new proposal is worth sweet Fanny Adams; it's just a rehash of old ideas.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Fanny Adams' as a person who left nothing behind but her name, which came to mean 'nothing'.
Conceptual Metaphor
ABSENCE / WORTHLESSNESS IS A PERSON (Fanny Adams)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate the name 'Fanny' as it has no meaning here. The phrase is a fixed idiom meaning 'ничего' or 'ни черта' (euphemistic).
- The phrase 'sweet FA' is a common abbreviation with the same meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using it in American English without realising it may cause confusion/offense.
- Incorrectly capitalising as 'Fanny Adams' in the middle of a sentence when not starting the phrase.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the phrase 'sweet Fanny Adams' primarily used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It originates from the name of a young murder victim, Fanny Adams (1859-1867). In late 19th-century British naval slang, it became a grim joke for poor-quality tinned meat, later evolving to mean 'nothing' or 'worthless'.
In British English, it is a mild, humorous euphemism. However, in American English, the word 'fanny' is a slang term for buttocks, so the phrase might be considered odd or slightly vulgar.
'Sweet FA' is a common abbreviation of 'sweet Fanny Adams' and means exactly the same thing: nothing at all. The 'FA' can also be interpreted as a euphemism for a stronger expletive.
No, it is strictly informal and euphemistic. It is unsuitable for academic, business, or other formal contexts.