No love lost

Meaning

The idiom "no love lost" means that there is no need to worry about any negative consequences of an action or decision, as the outcome will not be dire. It suggests that things will work out in the end and that there is no harm done.

Usage

• After quitting her job, Sarah had no love lost, as she landed a better opportunity within a week.
• When he proposed to his girlfriend, he knew there would be no love lost if she said no, as they had been dating for only six months.
• Despite breaking up with his fiancee, John knew there was no love lost, as they had grown apart long before the wedding.
• When her car broke down, Sarah remained calm and composed, knowing that there was no love lost, as she could call her friend for a ride.
• The company's decision to close its branch in the city did not result in any love lost for the remaining employees, as they had already been offered new jobs elsewhere.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "no love lost" is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in medieval times when knights would challenge each other to a duel to settle disputes. The winning knight would gain the lady's hand, and the losing knight would lose nothing more than his honor. If both knights were defeated in battle, there was no love lost, as they had both failed to win the lady's heart. Over time, the idiom has evolved to mean that any negative consequences of an action or decision will not be severe enough to cause harm or loss. It has become a common expression used in various contexts, from business to personal relationships.

Synonyms in English

• No worries.
• No big deal.
• No sweat off my back.
• No problem.
• No harm done.

Synonyms in other languages

• French: Pas de souci (No worries).
• Spanish: Nada que preocuparme mucho (Nothing to worry about).
• German: Keinerlei Bekümmernis los (No harm done).
• Italian: Non abiamo nulla da preoccuparnos (Nothing to worry about).
• Dutch: Geen waarde verloren (No value lost).

Similar Idioms

• not all it’s cracked up to be

• love nest

• those three little words