lend nothing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lend nothing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is stating that they are not willing to lend anything, whether it be money, items, or resources. Example: "When it comes to lending money to friends, I have a strict policy: I lend nothing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Don't lend nothing.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

This change lends nothing to the film, a torpid version of a classic that is ultimately and unjustly devoid of passion.

The New Yorker

This change lends nothing to the film, a torpid version of a classic which is ultimately and unjustly devoid of passion.

The New Yorker

Mr. Dunne, who wrote a 1993 roman à clef about the Moxley case ("A Season in Purgatory"), seems to have lent nothing more than his name to the enterprise.

The New York Times

It has no agents to pay for, it does not spend on advertising and rents cheap premises – in its own words "our income covers our costs of lending – nothing more".

The Guardian

The result is imitation innovation, which functions as flattery, but lends nothing to the bottom line.

Huffington Post

Portokalopita is a sponge cake filo with orange syrup and caramelized hazelnuts, though a dark chocolate sorbet lent nothing to the dish.

Huffington Post

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.

Huffington Post

If debt is abolished, he says, the cosmos will be undone, since "Between the elements there will be no mutual sharing of qualities, no alternation, no transmutation... one will not think itself obliged to the other: it has lent it nothing".

The Guardian - Books

In the early middle ages, the Gospel verse instructing us "to lend freely, asking nothing in return" was taken literally as forbidding all interest on loans.

Huffington Post

Consider usury: There was a time, especially in the first millenium, when the Gospel precept, "Lend freely, taking nothing in return," was understood literally as a strict prohibition on the taking of interest.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lend nothing" when you want to express a firm decision not to provide anything, whether it's material possessions, money, or support. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is not being lent.

Common error

Avoid using "lend nothing" when you actually mean to convey a lack of understanding or contribution. "Lend" implies a temporary transfer of something valuable, so make sure it aligns with your intended meaning. For instance, instead of saying 'His explanation lent nothing to my understanding', consider 'His explanation added nothing to my understanding'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lend nothing" functions as a verb phrase indicating a complete absence of lending. It's used to express a firm refusal or unwillingness to provide something, whether it be a physical object, money, or abstract support. The correctness of the phrase is confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lend nothing" is a grammatically sound and rarely used verb phrase that signifies a complete unwillingness to provide anything. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions to assert a firm policy of non-provision. The phrase primarily appears in news and media contexts, maintaining a neutral register. While semantically clear, consider alternative phrases like "refuse to lend anything" for increased clarity or formality depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refuse to lend anything

Replaces "lend nothing" with a more explicit refusal, emphasizing the unwillingness to provide anything.

not offer any loans

Focuses specifically on monetary loans, suggesting a policy against providing financial assistance.

decline to provide any assistance

Broadens the scope beyond lending to include any form of help or support.

withhold all lending

Emphasizes the act of actively preventing any lending from occurring.

give no credit

Specifically refers to not extending credit, often in a business or financial context.

not extend any favors

Shifts the context to favors, implying a refusal to offer preferential treatment.

keep everything for oneself

Focuses on the selfish aspect of not lending, highlighting the desire to retain possessions.

hoard all resources

Emphasizes the accumulation and refusal to share resources, often in a critical tone.

remain completely unsupportive

Shifts to a lack of emotional or moral support, rather than tangible lending.

stonewall all requests

Highlights the act of blocking or rejecting all requests for assistance or lending.

FAQs

How can I use "lend nothing" in a sentence?

You can use "lend nothing" to indicate a refusal to provide something. For example, "After being repeatedly taken advantage of, she decided to "lend nothing" to her unreliable friends."

What's a more formal way to say "lend nothing"?

A more formal alternative to "lend nothing" would be "refuse to lend anything". This phrasing is suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is it grammatically correct to say "lend nothing"?

Yes, "lend nothing" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard structure of a verb followed by its object. However, it's essential to ensure the context makes the meaning clear.

What can I say instead of "lend nothing" if I want to emphasize a lack of financial support?

If you want to specifically emphasize the absence of financial support, you can use phrases like "offer no loans" or "provide no credit".