Much Ado About Nothing

noun

1. a comedy (1598?) by Shakespeare.

Idioms and Phrases

A big fuss over a trifle, as in Jerry had everyone running around looking for his gloves—much ado about nothing . Although this expression is best remembered as the title of Shakespeare's comedy, the phrase much ado was already being used for a big commotion or trouble in the early 1500s.

Example Sentences

“We suspect this is much ado about nothing,” he wrote in a note to clients.

From Los Angeles Times

The star couple’s onstage chemistry was palpable in “Hay Fever” and “Much Ado About Nothing,” which were big sellers at the box office.

From Los Angeles Times

Inside the park, however, as the March on the DNC rally was underway, it began to feel like it was all much ado about nothing.

From Slate

Shakes has also recently begun expanding into new works, first with Keiko Green’s “The Bed Trick,” inspired by Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure,” and now with a just-announced new musical from Justin Huertas called “The Bad Parts,” inspired by “Much Ado About Nothing.”

From Seattle Times

In a letter to members of Congress, distributed by the Supreme Court and reported on by CNN, Alito argued that the controversy was much ado about nothing.

From Salon