nothing doing / negative report
die Fehlanzeige, die Fehlanzeigen
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nothing doing
Used colloquially to express that something expected or desired is not present or has not happened.
Ich hatte auf Sonnenschein gehofft, aber am Wochenende war leider Fehlanzeige.
I had hoped for sunshine, but on the weekend it was unfortunately nothing doing.
negative report
A formal notification or report confirming that something being searched for was not found or that an expected event did not take place.
Nachdem der Verdächtige nicht angetroffen wurde, erstattete der Beamte eine Fehlanzeige.
After the suspect could not be found, the officer filed a negative report.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Fehlanzeigen |
| genitive | der Fehlanzeige |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Fehlanzeige | die Fehlanzeigen |
| accusative | die Fehlanzeige | die Fehlanzeigen |
| dative | der Fehlanzeige | den Fehlanzeigen |
| genitive | der Fehlanzeige | der Fehlanzeigen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
The word consists of 'fehl' (which indicates absence or failure) and 'Anzeige' (report/notification). A 'Fehlanzeige' is therefore a report that something is missing or has not occurred.
Die Suche nach dem vermissten Schlüssel war bisher eine Fehlanzeige.
The search for the missing key has so far turned up nothing.
You can recognize the colloquial meaning by the fact that the word is often used without an article and with the verb 'sein' (to be). The formal, official meaning, on the other hand, usually appears with an article and verbs such as 'erstatten' (to file) or 'melden' (to report).
Gute Laune? Heute leider Fehlanzeige.
Good mood? Unfortunately, nothing doing today.
In the colloquial meaning, 'Fehlanzeige' (nothing doing) is almost always used as a predicative noun in the fixed structure '[Something] ist/war Fehlanzeige' ([Something] is/was nothing doing). The subject is the thing that is missing.
Wir haben auf eine Lösung gehofft, aber bisher: Fehlanzeige.
We had hoped for a solution, but so far: nothing doing.
In formal and official language, the expressions 'eine Fehlanzeige erstatten' (to file a negative report) or 'eine Fehlanzeige melden' (to report a negative result) are often used. This means officially documenting that something was not found.
Nach der erfolglosen Durchsuchung erstattete die Polizei eine Fehlanzeige.
After the unsuccessful search, the police filed a negative report.
