Cool MateNo thanks vs Nothing at all thank you
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
No thanks
Top 2,000 (common)
Nothing at all thank you
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: No thanksMost common: No thanks
| No thanks | Nothing at all thank you | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nəʊ θæŋks//🇺🇸 //noʊ θæŋks// | 🇬🇧 //ˈnʌθɪŋ æt ɔːl θæŋk jʊ//🇺🇸 //ˈnʌθɪŋ æt ɔl θæŋk ju// |
| Meaning | Used to politely refuse something. | A way to say you don't want anything else. |
| Example | Would you like some dessert? No thanks. | She offered me dessert, but I replied, 'Nothing at all, thank you.' |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| Collocations | no thanks, say no thanks, give a no thanks, offer no thanks, respond with no thanks | nothing at all, thank you for your help, offering assistance, declining politely, greeting an offer |
| Common mistakes | Saying 'no thank you' in very casual contexts, where 'no thanks' is preferred., Using 'no thanks' in very formal situations where a more elaborate response might be needed. | Using it in a formal email., Saying 'Nothing at all, thank you' instead of 'Nothing at all, thanks' in casual speech., Translating it directly into other languages without adjusting for context. |
| Usage notes | Use 'no thanks' when declining offers or suggestions politely. It's appropriate in most informal and some formal situations. | Used casually when declining offers. Suitable among friends but may be too informal in business contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: No thanks vs Nothing at all thank you
What's the difference between No thanks and Nothing at all thank you?
No thanks: Used to politely refuse something. Nothing at all thank you: A way to say you don't want anything else.
Which is more formal: No thanks and Nothing at all thank you?
No thanks is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: No thanks and Nothing at all thank you?
No thanks is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
No thanks: Would you like some dessert? No thanks. Nothing at all thank you: She offered me dessert, but I replied, 'Nothing at all, thank you.'
Can I use No thanks and Nothing at all thank you interchangeably?
Not always. No thanks and Nothing at all thank you are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.