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Much ado about nothing
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Much ado about nothing

Meaning

A great deal of fuss over nothing of importance.

Origin

This phrase is sometimes shortened just to 'much ado'. It is of course from Shakespeare's play - Much Ado About Nothing, 1599. He had used the word ado, which means business or activity, in an earlier play - Romeo and Juliet, 1592:

"Weele keepe no great adoe, a Friend or two."

See other phrases and sayings from Shakespeare.