Etymology Journal · H
Here goes nothing
Meaning
- This is said right before attempting something risky or difficult where you are fairly certain you might fail. It is a way to lower expectations before taking a leap of faith.
Nervous, resigned
Used in a sentence
- I have never fixed a sink before, but here goes nothing.
- I am about to ask for a raise, so here goes nothing.
- Here goes nothing, I am going to try to jump this bike ramp.
The backstory
This phrase has been around since the late 1800s. It represents a stoic, albeit slightly self-deprecating, attitude toward uncertainty.
Heard in
Nationwide
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