Neither Here nor There
Many things that steal our attention are neither here nor there. They take our time but matter little or not at all.
Neither here nor there means unimportant.
The information or action:
- Does not relate to the circumstances
- Will not change anything
Therefore, who cares?
Think of daily activities that are neither here nor there.
- Time on social media
- Scrolling through television channels
- Trying to be more important than one another
Frequent decisions are neither here nor there.
Either choice is okay, six of one and half a dozen of another. Examples include:
- Where or what to eat
- Which outfit to wear
- What games to play
According to The Free Dictionary, “this term dates from the sixteenth century.”
Although not the first to use it, Shakespeare included it in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Othello.
When choices do matter, choose wisely.
- Invest in what lasts.
- Show respect for everyone.
- Follow God’s direction.
- Share God’s love.
“As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message.” (Galatians 2:6 NIV).
Thanks to Rita Smalley for the suggestion. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.
Do you have an expression you want explained or thoughts about this one? If so, please comment below.
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14 thoughts on “Neither Here nor There”
Hi Diana!
Happy new year to you and family! Wishing you many blessings in 2026! One thing that is NOT neither here nor there is “Words, Wit, and Wisdom”. 😊
Thank you so much for your wishes and kind words, Chris. Happy New Year to you too! I pray for God’s guidance in all your endeavors.
I love how you fleshed out this idiom that we hear so often, Diana. It’s such a great reminder, too, that so many choices we make aren’t earth-shattering. Blessings!
Thank you, Martha. I appreciate your encouragement. Blessings on you and yours and God’s work through you.
I hear this saying often. It’s amazing how many sayings are repeated through the generations. Have a great week! 🙂
Melissa, when I first started writing these, I thought I would struggle to find new expressions every week. However, I have also been amazed at the number we use and their longevity.
So many of our expressions do come from Shakespeare, but I guess it was inevitable that he would borrow some, too. Great explanation of a common expression.
Tracy, I love to learn the history behind these expressions. Thank you for your kind words. Blessings.
Sometimes I think I worry more about those things that shouldn’t really matter (“neither here nor there”). You’ve shared wisdom, Diana, thank you.
You’re right, Katherine. The little things often trip us up more than the big ones. Blessings.
Great post, Diana! This brought back a sweet memory because my dad would say “that’s neither here nor there” often. Thanks also for pointing out the need for wisdom for those things that ARE important. Blessings!
Thank you, Kim. A sweet memory indeed. I think of the expressions my dad would use so often. Occasionally, he would give them his own unique twist to make everyone laugh.
I’d like to learn what the expression “she’s/he’s feeling her oats today” means. I always enjoy your comments on these phrases we use frequently.
Thank you,
Judy Fagan
jdyfgn74@yahoo.com
Thank you for the great suggestion and kind words, Judy. Prayers for a wonderful day.