English Explanatory Dictionary

bupkis

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Absolutely nothing; nothing of value, significance, or substance.

Pronunciation

/ˈbʌp.kɪs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-bupkiss.wav /ˈbɔp.kɪs/

Word forms

bupkis bobkes bobkis bopkes bopkus bubkes bubkess bubkis bubkiss bumpkiss bupkas bupkass bupkes bupkiss bupkus

Etymology

Borrowed prior to 1931 from Yiddish באָבקעס (bobkes), plural of באָבקע (bobke, “goat or sheep dropping”), from באָב (bob, “bean”) + ־קע (-ke) calquing Polish bobek (“oval-shaped turd”), ultimately from Proto-Slavic *bobъ (“bean, fava bean”). Popularized by American Jewish writer Sam Denoff in mid-1960s The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Synonyms

zilch
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