nothing to see here

English

Etymology

Derived from the police directive "Nothing to see here, move along," historically used to clear bystanders from crime or accident scenes. The phrase gained widespread recognition after its comedic use in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), where Frank Drebin (played by Leslie Nielsen) tries to defuse a chaotic scene by stating, "Move along! Nothing to see here!"

Pronunciation

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Phrase

nothing to see here

  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see nothing,‎ to,‎ see,‎ here.
    This town is very unattractive to tourists, since there's nothing to see here.
  2. (originally law enforcement jargon) The event or situation is unremarkable or unimportant, and people should not pay undue attention to it.
    After the press conference about the financial scandal, the spokesperson reassured the public that there was nothing to see here.
  3. (figuratively, often ironic or sarcastic) A phrase used to dismiss or downplay an event, frequently implying that there is, in fact, something significant being hidden or covered up.
    The politician's vague response to corruption allegations was essentially a nothing-to-see-here moment.
    A factory discharged waste into the river, but officials insisted it posed no danger. There was a sentiment of "nothing to see here".

Usage notes

  • Commonly used in journalistic and political contexts to highlight attempts to minimize or obscure controversial issues.
  • Often associated with sarcasm and irony, particularly in response to governmental or corporate statements.

Synonyms

References

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