zippo

See also: zippò and Zippo

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈzɪpəʊ/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈzɪpoʊ/
• Rhymes: -ɪpəʊ

Etymology 1

From zip +‎ -o.

Adjective

zippo (not comparable)

1. (slang) Zero; none whatsoever.
   • 2007 January 14, G. Pascal Zachary, “Out of Africa: Cotton and Cash”, in New York Times‎:

     “The whole situation is magnificent news, especially when the problem has been zippo investment by large corporations in Africa,” says Robert H. Bates […] .

Translations

none whatsoever

Finnish: nolla- (fi)

Noun

zippo (not comparable)

1. (informal, emphatic) Zero. Typically used for emphasis, as when the listener might expect a positive quantity.

   We got 200 consoles and we sold 200 consoles and 200 minus 200 is ZIPPO, so I can't sell you anything right now.

Etymology 2

Popular slang among American soldiers in the Vietnam War; from the Zippo brand of lighter.

Alternative forms

• Zippo

Verb

zippo (third-person singular simple present zippos, present participle zippoing, simple past and past participle zippoed)

1. (slang) To light on fire.
   • 1987, Reuben Noel, Nancy Noel, Saigon for a song‎:

     I didn't want to burn 'em out, but that's policy. So we zippoed their hooch.

   • 2009, Nigel Cawthorne, Vietnam‎:

     Once the last villagers had left Ben Suc, the buildings were doused with petrol and zippoed.

   • 2012, Tom Knox, The Lost Goddess‎:

     The youth climbed off, Zippoed a wick in a glass bottle and walked towards Jake's flat.

Italian

Verb

zippo

1. first-person singular present indicative of zippare

Anagrams

• Zoppi, zoppi