have nothing on someone or something

have nothing on (someone or something)

1. To have no discernible advantage over someone or something else; to not be any better than someone or something. Yeah, you're pretty good at basketball, but you have nothing on my older brother Steve. Video game systems have gotten pretty impressive, but in my opinion they have nothing on the classic systems from the '90s.2. To have no decisive incriminating evidence against someone; to have no proof of wrongdoing or criminality about someone. The police can insinuate all they want, but they know they have nothing on me.3. To have no information available about someone or something. I got this history book for my report, but it has nothing on the topic I want to write about! The encyclopedia entry is horribly outdated—it has nothing on the current president!See also: have, nothing, on

have (got) nothing on someone or something

be not nearly as good as someone or something, especially in a particular respect. 1998 Barbara Kingsolver The Poisonwood Bible Those glassy museum stares have got nothing on you, my uncaptured favorite child, wild as the day is long. See also: have, nothing, on, someone, something

have nothing on someone or something

1 have much less of a particular quality or ability than someone or something; be inferior to someone or something in a particular respect. 2 (especially of the police) have no incriminating information about someone. informalSee also: have, nothing, on, someone, something