nothing to write home about

nothing to write home about

Not especially impressive, remarkable, or noteworthy; rather dull, mediocre, uninteresting, or unimportant. It gets good reviews, but the new sushi restaurant is really nothing to write home about. His performance has been nothing to write home about so far. To be honest, we were expecting much more out of him when we recruited him.
See also: home, nothing, write
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

nothing to write home about

Fig. mediocre; not as good as you expected. I went to that new restaurant last night. It's nothing to write home about. Jill: I went to see a movie last night. Jane: How was it? Jill: Nothing to write home about.
See also: home, nothing, write
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

nothing to write home about

Ordinary or unremarkable, as in The restaurant was all right but nothing to write home about. This idiom originated in the late 1800s, possibly among troops stationed far from home, and became widespread during World War I.
See also: home, nothing, write
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

nothing to write home about

or

not much to write home about

INFORMAL
If something is nothing to write home about or not much to write home about, it is not very interesting, exciting, or special. The house was nothing to write home about — a rather neglected Victorian semi-detached like many they'd seen. The nightlife is not much to write home about. Note: You can also say that a thing is something to write home about if it is interesting, exciting, or special. The beaches really are something to write home about.
See also: home, nothing, write
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

nothing to write home about

of little interest or value. informal
1970 Nina Bawden The Birds on the Trees I daresay what I did was nothing to write home about, but it put food in her belly and shoes on her feet!
See also: home, nothing, write
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

nothing to write home about

n. something small or inconsequential. I got a little bit of a raise this year, but it was nothing to write home about.
See also: home, nothing, write
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

nothing to write home about

Unremarkable and ordinary. This term became common in the late nineteenth century, probably originating among troops stationed overseas. G. D. H. Cole used it in The Man from the River (1928): “He was . . . bleeding a bit, but nothing to write home about.” Another example is, “Ross won, Julie lost, neither of them enough to write home about” (June Drummond, Junta, 1989).
See also: home, nothing, write
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • not much to boast about
  • nothing to boast about
  • not anything to boast about
  • be nothing (much) to write home about
  • be nothing to shout about
  • be nothing, not much, etc. to write home about
  • nothing to shout about
  • not something to write home about
  • not worth writing home about
  • not anything to write home about
References in periodicals archive
McLeish has got away with it, but the talk about 'making history' is nothing to write home about.
Cascarino on Sunday: HARRY'S HOME..AND AWAY
And though the Stalybridge triumph was nothing to write home about about in terms of entertainment or skill it was another win to strengthen the team's lofty place in Nationwide North.
NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL:Hawks up in lights; GAME ON
Eighty-five per cent of holidaymakers who did try out local dishes while abroad claimed the food was nothing to write home about.
Food bug warning on foreign holidays
This is the first time since that event that backers will have had the chance to support Zhao and considering King's early-season results have been nothing to write home about, the chance to punt the outsider can be taken.
Zhaog reatv aluet o sting King; SNOOKER
The grey filly's juvenile form is nothing to write home about as on two occasions she appeared to have her limitations exposed at Group level, but she looked a different animal on her reappearance.
Oxx filly can outpace Guineas heroines; Saraband
The first half was nothing to write home about but, once they got their noses in front, United went straight for the jugular.
Owen stars thanks to the wide boys
Nothing to write home about. Tastes like a very diluted stock cube with a splash of salt.
FOOD: TRIED & TESTED: GRAVY GRANULES
There are reports of a few small codling from Middleton Pier in Hartlepool, but as yet nothing to write home about.
Sea angling
THE summer of 2002 was nothing to write home about in the Coventry area - it was one of the gloomiest on record in the past 15 years.
Season of fun ... without the sun
Dixon countered: "I've seen Murphy's two pro fights and he's not bad but nothing to write home about.
FRIENDLY WARNING
MY WEEK Punting high Nothing to write home about with Amadeus Wolfe Tone the one high spot.
MY WEEK
The graphics are nothing to write home about and are barely acceptable at this level, especially the PS3 exclusivity of the game.
TWISTED METAL HEADING FOR THE SCRAP HEAP
Their replacements, to me, have been nothing to write home about. After all, who wants to know what colour knickers they are wearing or if they are camp or about their time in the Middle East, so I have been switching over to another channel from 10am to 4pm.
Letter: VOICE OF THE NORTH - Radio favourites sadly missed
But while the weather is nothing to write home about, there is nothing wrong with the 20,000-capacity stadium and the playing surface seems to be OK.
Bernard wary of his countrymen
"My record is nothing to write home about, two wins and four losses on clay this year," he added.
TENNIS: Beaten Greg tries to stay positive