"nothing," 1957; "insignificant person," 1933, from use of Zilch as a generic comical-sounding surname for an insignificant person (especially Joe Zilch). There was a Mr. Zilch (1931), comic character in the magazine "Ballyhoo," and the use perhaps originated c. 1922 in U.S. college or theater slang. Probably a nonsense syllable, suggestive of the end of the alphabet, but Zilch is an actual German surname of Slavic origin.
The [Cadence] agency aims to have each album cover actually promote the record, on the theory that "the day of pretty, boffy, zoomy and zingy covers for the sake of zilch is no more." ["Billboard," Oct. 28, 1957]
双语例句
1. At the moment these shares are worth zilch.
现在这些股票一文不值。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Nothing's happened Connie. Zilch.
什么事都没有发生，康妮。一点事都没有。
来自柯林斯例句
3. I arrived in this country with zilch.
我来到这个国家时身上一无所有。
来自《权威词典》
4. The team's morale fell to zilch owing to the unexpected defeat.
