amount to nothing
To result in no tangible or appreciable difference. Well, all of our efforts amounted to nothing in the end, really: the bank decided to foreclose on us regardless of the money we raised.
amount to
1. To become (successful). Almost always used in the phrases "amount to anything" or "amount to something," which both mean the same thing. He got arrested so much as a teenager that I never thought he would amount to anything, but look at him now—he's an accomplished musician! When will this play amount to something? It has yet to get one positive review!
2. To be equated with or judged the same as something else. Copying another person's words like this amounts to plagiarism, Susie, and I have to report it to the dean.
3. To be a certain total. My tips this week only amount to $40.
amount to a hill of beans
To be insignificant; to result in nothing. The boss is just mad right now—I think all of his new rules will amount to a hill of beans.
amount to much
To be successful or significant. Usually used in the negative. He got arrested so much as a teenager that I never thought he would amount to much, but look at him now—he's an accomplished musician! The boss is just mad right now—I doubt his new rules will amount to much.
amount to the same thing
To be essentially the same. The phrase usually implies that the difference between two things has no significant consequence. I don't care who started the fight, it all amounts to the same thing: you getting suspended from school. These different expenses all amount to the same thing: money coming out of my bank account.
amount to much
to be as good as something; to be any good. His fine plans don't amount to much, since he won't work for them. (Usually negative.) She's a nice girl, but she'll never amount to much.
amount to something
1. Lit. [for someone or something] to become worthwhile or successful. I hope Charles amounts to something some day. I doubt that this business will ever amount to anything really profitable.
2. Fig. [for something] to be the equivalent of something. Why, doing this amounts to cheating! Your comments amount to treason.
3. and amount (up) to something [for a sum of money] to increase [to a large amount]. Is that everything you want to buy? That amounts to twenty dollars. These charges amount up to a lot.
amount to the same thing
and come to the same thing; add up to the same thingFig. to be the same [as something]. Borrowing can be the same as stealing. If the owner does not know what you have borrowed, it amounts to the same thing. With cars—whether they're red or blue—it comes to the same thing.
bring an amount of money in
to earn an amount of money; to draw or attract an amount of money. My part-time job brings fifty dollars in every week. She brings in a lot of money from her executive's salary.
come out at an amount
and come out to an amountto result in a certain amount, as the result of mathematical computation. The total charges came out at far more than we expected.
don't amount to a bucket of spit
Rur. is not worth anything. foe's a shiftless cuss. He don't amount to a bucket of spit. All your pretty promises don't amount to a bucket of spit.
draw against an amount of money
to withdraw money from something in advance. I can draw against my allowance—at least a small amount. You cannot draw against your salary.
front someone some amount of money
to provide an advance payment of some amount to someone. The buyer fronted me half the purchase price as a favor.
get an amount of money for something
to receive an amount of money in exchange for something; to sell something for a specific price. (See also get something for an amount of money.) I got nearly two thousand dollars for my car. How much did they get for their house?
live on an amount of money
to live on a specific amount of money; to manage to live on a specific amount of money. Can you live on only that much money? I can live on a very small amount of money.
live on an amount of money
to live on a specific amount of money; to manage to live on a specific amount of money. Can you live on only that much money? I can live on a very small amount of money.
lose some amount of time
[for some amount of time] to be wasted. We lost a lot of time waiting for Hermione. He lost no time in getting out of there.
not worth a hill of beans and not amount to a hill of beans; not worth a plugged nickel; not worth beans
Fig. worthless. Your advice isn't worth a hill of beans. This old cow isn't worth a plugged nickel.
oceans of someone or something
and an ocean of someone or somethinga very large amount of something. The naughty student was in oceans of trouble. After a week of vacation, there was an ocean of work to do.
out an amount of money
lacking something; having lost or wasted something. I'm out ten bucks because of your miscalculation. I'm out the price of a meal.
put an amount of time in on something
to spend an amount of time (doing something). You put how much time in? I put in four months on that project.
put something at an amount
to price something at a certain amount of money; to estimate something at a certain figure. I would put the charges at about two hundred dollars. She put the damages at nearly two hundred thousand dollars.
start someone out at an amount of money
to start someone working at a particular salary. We will start you out at $30,000. I wanted to be started out at $35,000.
take an amount of money for something
to charge a certain amount for something. I'll take four thousand for that car there. How much will you take for a big bag of flour?
throw an amount of light on someone or something
to present some revealing information about someone or something. What you have just told me throws a lot of light on George and his motivation. Will you please throw some light on the problem?
amount to
1. Add up, develop into, as in Even though she's careful with her money, her savings don't amount to much, or All parents hope that their children will amount to something. [Mid-1500s]
2. Be equivalent to, as in
Twenty persons won't amount to a good turnout. [Late 1300s] Also see
amount to the same thing.
amount to the same thing
Also, come to the same thing. Make no difference, be the same, as in Since it's supposed to rain all day, whether I go outdoors now or later will amount to the same thing , or Paying in cash or with a credit card, it comes to the same thing.