VocabuoDictionaryGet the app
otherother

trois fois rien

next to nothing

Definition & meaning

The expression "trois fois rien" is a French idiomatic phrase used to describe something that is very small, insignificant, or of little value. It is commonly used in two main contexts:

  1. Quantity or Importance: It refers to an amount that is negligible or something that is worth very little. For example, if someone buys an item for a very low price, they might say they paid "trois fois rien."
  2. Effort or Causality: It refers to something that requires very little effort to happen or an event that is triggered by a tiny, trivial cause.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Grammar: It functions as an adverbial phrase or a noun phrase. It is invariable in its form.
  • Word Origin: The phrase literally translates to "three times nothing." It is a hyperbolic construction. By multiplying "nothing" by three, the speaker emphasizes the extreme lack of substance, value, or importance of the subject being discussed. It highlights the concept of "next to nothing."

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • Une bricole[?](vocabuo://word/une bricole)
  • Peau de chagrin[?](vocabuo://word/peau de chagrin)
  • Une bagatelle[?](vocabuo://word/une bagatelle)
  • Des clopinettes[?](vocabuo://word/des clopinettes)
  • Une paille[?](vocabuo://word/une paille)

Antonyms:

  • Une fortune[?](vocabuo://word/une fortune)
  • Un paquet[?](vocabuo://word/un paquet)
  • Une montagne[?](vocabuo://word/une montagne)

Make “trois fois rien” part of your vocabulary.

Build your French vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.

Get Vocabuo on the App StoreGet Vocabuo for Android

Examples

Ce petit cadeau ne coûte que trois fois rien.other

This small gift costs next to nothing.

Elle s'inquiète souvent pour trois fois rien.other

She often worries about next to nothing.

As-tu vraiment pleuré pour trois fois rien ?other

Did you really cry over next to nothing?

Le réparateur a arrangé ça pour trois fois rien.other

The repairman fixed that for next to nothing.

Keep exploring French

Learn words from the content you love.

Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).

Download on theApp StoreGET IT ONGoogle Play