hill of beans: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, idiomatic
Quick answer
What does “hill of beans” mean?
Something of very little or no value or importance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Something of very little or no value or importance.
A metaphor for a trivial matter, often used to dismiss concerns or outcomes as insignificant in comparison to greater issues or feelings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in American English due to its likely agricultural origins. British English has similar idioms like 'not worth a row of beans' or 'not worth a tinker's cuss', but 'hill of beans' is understood.
Connotations
Folksy, rustic, sometimes humorous. In American English, it can carry a classic, almost nostalgic connotation from mid-20th century popular culture.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, but significantly higher in American English. It is a recognized idiom but not part of daily conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “hill of beans” in a Sentence
[Subject] + [negative verb] + amount to/be worth + a hill of beans.All + [noun phrase] + doesn't amount to a hill of beans.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; used dismissively: 'His market analysis isn't worth a hill of beans without the latest data.'
Academic
Very rare; considered too informal for most academic writing.
Everyday
Used to express personal dismissal: 'All their gossip doesn't amount to a hill of beans to me.'
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hill of beans”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hill of beans”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hill of beans”
- Using it in a positive sense (*'That's a great hill of beans!').
- Omitting the negative (*'His opinion is a hill of beans.').
- Confusing it with 'spill the beans' (to reveal a secret).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never. It is a fixed idiom almost exclusively used in negative constructions to denote worthlessness.
It is of American origin, likely from agricultural settings where a hill (a small mound for planting) of beans was a trivial quantity of a common, inexpensive crop.
It is not common in daily speech but is still widely recognized, partly due to its famous use in the film 'Casablanca' ('It doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.').
They are completely different idioms. 'Hill of beans' concerns value/importance. 'Spill the beans' means to reveal a secret, often unintentionally.
Something of very little or no value or importance.
Hill of beans is usually informal, idiomatic in register.
Hill of beans: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɪl əv ˈbiːnz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɪl əv ˈbiːnz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not worth a hill of beans”
- “doesn't amount to a hill of beans”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a small mound (hill) of cheap, common beans. If something is worth only that, it's practically worthless.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORTH/LACK OF WORTH IS PHYSICAL QUANTITY (a small, cheap quantity). IMPORTANCE IS SIZE/SCALE (a small hill).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'hill of beans' used CORRECTLY?