Skip to main content
Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.

good-for-nothing 

Someone who is useless. As in, REALLY useless and can't do anything right.
Sarah: John, why is the trash still here and why is the lawn not mowed yet?
John: I tried once and I didn't know how to do it.
Sarah: Good-for-nothing loser
good-for-nothing by Rockcold February 1, 2016

Money For Nothing 

Song by the British rock band Dire Straits. Famous for it's groundbreaking (at the time) music video, which used 3D animation - the first ever in any music video.

The song is about the music industry, and specifically about MTV being an easy way for people to make money. It's been sugested that Mark Knopfler (lead singer of Dire Straits) was unhappy that people could become famous and rich just by having a music video on MTV. A number of words in the lyrics used have been inferred as being directed at artists of the time.

As for the references to 'having to shift these microwave ovens', this was to do with the fact that Knopfler got the inspiration for the lyrics while in an appliance store. The TVs in the store were showing MTV. The shop assistant was quoted as saying that 'that ain't working', which is later used in the song.

The song features one of the best guitar riffs of all time, and is easily one of the best songs of the 80's (it was released in 1985). The song also features a cameo from lead singer of The Police, Sting. Sting sang the words 'I want my MTV' to the melody of 'Don't stand so close to me' (by The Police), and it can be heard at the start and end of the song.

Rolling Stone magazine state it as being the 94th greatest rock song of all time, along with a number of other songs by Dire Straits. Dire Straits are recognized as one of the best rock bands of all time, notable for songs such as 'Sultans of Swing' and 'Brothers in Arms'.
You play the guitar on the MTV
That aint workin', that's the way you do it
Money for nothing and chicks for free

Thanks for nothing 

A sarcastic expression of frustration or displeasure at someone/thing.

More literal definition: I have no thanks for you because you aren't doing what I want or did something I didn't want.
Example 1:
*toothless, the dragon, flies wildly, terrifying the girl Hiccup's with*
"Thanks for nothing you useless reptile" (How to Train Your Dragon)

Example 2:
"You were supposed to bring hotdog buns! Thanks for nothing."
Thanks for nothing by drag0 July 19, 2012

good for nothing 

A phrase that can describe two entirely-opposite ends of the meaning-spectrum, depending on how the words are punctuated.
A "good-for-nothing" is, of course, someone who lacks the knowledge and/or motivation to make himself useful in any way. But on the other hand, someone who zealously toils and struggles his a** off trying to totally "be a saint 24/7" but receives no better treatment as a result of it --- in other words, his fellow humans mistreat him with just as much chilliness and lack of charity as if he were just a "good-for-nothing" --- will feel as if he's been "good for nothing"... he's totally worn himself out trying to be "Honest Abe" and "Sir Galahad", yet nobody acknowledges or appreciates his efforts, and so he's behaved himself exceptionally but received zero reward or praise for his efforts.
good for nothing by QuacksO January 6, 2019

not for nothing 

As a native New Yorker, it pains me to see that none of the other definitions seems to actually grasp what not for nothing means.

"Not for nothing" is used to soften the blow of something that would normally be offensive or come on too strong.

For example, if your friend showed up wearing purple and yellow striped pants to a party and asked you how he looked, you could respond, "well, not for nothing, Jimmy, but you look like a gay, retarded zebra." Or if you want to try out for a musical but you can't sing to save your life, your friend might tell you, "hey, not for nothing, but you suck at singing and you're not gonna get that part." Things of that nature.
Not for nothing, but the other guys who defined "not for nothing" are a bunch of schmucks.
not for nothing by HowYouDoinnn December 10, 2009

money for nothing and your chicks for free 

A line from the song Money for Nothing by Dire Straits. Used by Cole Hutto
More from Urban Dictionary
The phenomenon where adults salivate at children's toys
Every time I walk into the toy aisle, I catch myself kidulting over the latest action figures and LEGO sets!
kidulting by Emotional Cruiser October 12, 2025
Word of the Day on October 4, 2026
British slang for a scientist or technical expert, esp . when the speaker is not certain of the expert’s specific field of study. Not necessarily derogatory, but typically used by persons without a technical background. In the US, the equivalent would be “egghead”, “squint”, or “geek.”

Origin of the word is unknown. Started sometime in World War 2. Given the typical evolution of British slang, could easily have started because what these experts did was confusing or “baffling” to the common person.
According to the boffins downstairs, the murderer used a serrated blade.
Boffin by Agnon February 11, 2023
Word of the Day on October 3, 2026

Pee Calculus

When you have to pee in a movie but don’t want to miss anything, and must do the following mental equation: will the amount I have to pee cause enough discomfort to diminish my attention capacity for the remainder of the movie to an extent which is greater than the amount of the movie I would miss by making a mad dash to the restroom.
I saw Satantango last night, wonderful film but by the 5th hour I had to start doing pee calculus.
Pee Calculus by anorlondo October 1, 2026
Word of the Day on October 2, 2026
Literally "dirty" pronounced with a West Indian accent. Can also have a positive connotation, for example Sean Paul's album title "Dutty Rock".
"The girl is pretty but she corrupt and dutty!"

or, in a positive usage:

"Booya! That freestyle was dutty!"
Dutty by J Hall April 3, 2003
Word of the Day on October 1, 2026
korean word for madam, older woman
Ajumma wait a moment
Ajumma by aintnotinbutnice July 5, 2009
Word of the Day on September 30, 2026

Slop Grenade

When someone uses AI to generate a large document, slide deck, or piece of code/software and tosses it over the fence for you to deal with.
Chad: Hey Brent I sent you the new backend API change to review, it’s only 100 files changed.

Brent: he just tossed me a slop grenade
Slop Grenade by Joe Squid September 28, 2026
Word of the Day on September 29, 2026
Load more