Fanny Adams

Fanny Adams

English

Etymology

From Fanny Adams (1859-1867), a young girl brutally murdered and dismembered. Tins of mutton introduced in the British navy after her death were not liked by the sailors and were humorously said to be her butchered remains. Fanny Adams then came to mean any worthless thing, and thence nothing at all.

Pronunciation

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Noun

Fanny Adams (uncountable)

1. (UK, naval slang, obsolete, derogatory) Tinned meat.

   Synonym: Harriet Lane

Pronoun

Fanny Adams

1. (chiefly Britain) Nothing (sanitized version of fuck all).

Alternative forms

• sweet Fanny Adams, SFA

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:nothing