Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small worthless amount: "Doodly-squat" is an informal, often humorous or emphatic term used to indicate a negligible, insignificant, or worthless quantity of something. It is synonymous with "nothing" or "next to nothing."

Usage

• As a direct object: It is commonly used after verbs like "know," "have," "get," or "do" to emphasize the absence or insignificance of something.
• Informal contexts: This word is used in casual speech and writing, not in formal situations.

Examples

• Noun:
  • After all that work, I got doodly-squat for my effort. (This emphasizes that the reward or result was nothing.)
  • He doesn't know doodly-squat about fixing cars. (This stresses that his knowledge is zero or completely worthless.)
  • This contract is worth doodly-squat without the official signature. (This means the contract has no value.)

Advanced Usage

• "not know doodly-squat": To have no knowledge or understanding about a subject.
  • She admitted she didn't know doodly-squat about quantum physics.
• "not amount to doodly-squat": To have no value, importance, or to be a failure.
  • All his big plans never amounted to doodly-squat.

Variants and Related Words

• Diddly-squat (noun): A common variant with identical meaning.
  • I haven't heard diddly-squat from them since they left.
• Jack (noun, slang): Used similarly in phrases like "you don't know jack," meaning "you know nothing."
• Zilch (noun, informal): Means zero or nothing.
• Nada (noun, informal, from Spanish): Means nothing.

Synonyms

• Nothing: The most direct synonym.
• Zero: Emphasizes a complete absence of quantity.
• Nil: Often used in sports scores, meaning nothing.
• Bupkis (slang): Means nothing, of no value.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Not know beans about (something): To know nothing about a particular topic. (While not containing "doodly-squat," it is a related idiom expressing ignorance.)
• For peanuts: For a very small amount of money, implying it's nearly worthless. (This relates to the concept of a small, worthless amount.)

Noun

1. a small worthless amount
   • you don't know jack