bupkis

American  

[buhp-kuhs, buhp-kis] / ˈbʌp kəs, ˈbʌpˌkɪs /

Also bupkes, or bubkes

noun

1. nothing.

   They've told us bupkis—we're going to have to find out what's going on for ourselves.

2. very little; the smallest amount.

   It was a revolutionary piece of technology, and yet the inventor sold it for bupkis.

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Etymology

Origin of bupkis

First recorded in 1935–40; from Yiddish bobkes, plural of bobke “piece of goat excrement, worthless thing,” literally “little bean,” from Slavic, equivalent to Polish bób “broad bean” + -ke, diminutive suffix; see also bean ( def. )

Example Sentences

So charging $1 on a $98 barrel is bupkis to oil producers and consumers, while it adds up to real money over time for the Iranians.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

The group had reportedly reached out to 30 prospective candidates, and came up with bupkis.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2024

On the other hand, they all knew that on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 and did bupkis, which is Yiddish for ‘nothing,’ about it for months.

From Washington Post • Feb. 26, 2022

As Harris says in the film, "Movies are bupkis."

From Salon • Jul. 21, 2020

Arbitration often provides bupkis, which is probably why businesses are so enamored of it.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2017