English

Adjective

neither here nor there

1. (idiomatic) Not important; having no significance or influence on the question at hand; not related; not relevant; not germane; not pertinent.

   The fact that pledges willingly submit themselves to hazing is neither here nor there and any organization that engages in hazing will lose its charter.

   • 1913, Jack London, John Barleycorn, chapter 28

     I had life troubles and heart troubles which are neither here nor there in this narrative. But, combined with them, were intellectual troubles which are indeed germane.

   • 1967, Sleigh, Barbara, Jessamy, 1993 edition, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, ISBN 0 340 19547 9, page 33:

     ‘ “It would be most irregular Grandpa!” says Miss Cecily frowning and tapping her foot. “Well, we’re a pretty irregular family so that’s neither here nor there,” says the old man, impish like. [...] ’

Synonyms

• irrelevant, unimportant, unrelated, impertinent

Antonyms

• relevant, important, related, pertinent, germane

Translations

See also

• neither fish nor fowl