Of no consequence
Meaning
Something that is of no consequence is unimportant and will not have any significant impact or effect.
Origin
The word "consequence" first entered the English language from Latin, via Old French, initially describing the logical outcome or result of an action. However, by the late 16th century, its meaning evolved to encompass a deeper sense of importance or significance. Imagine a situation where an outcome is so negligible it barely registers; it has no consequence. This linguistic shift allowed the phrase "of no consequence" to emerge as a concise and potent way to dismiss matters as trivial, irrelevant, or utterly unimportant. It became the perfect verbal shrug, signaling that something was too insignificant to warrant attention or affect any meaningful change.
Examples
- The minor delay in the flight proved to be of no consequence, as we still arrived well before the meeting.
- Her objections, though vocal, were ultimately of no consequence to the final decision made by the committee.