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What does the phrase mean in "He annoys me to no end"?

Literally, does it mean that he annoys me forever? Or does it mean that he annoys me to no result?

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Usually just 'no end'. – Barrie England May 31 '12 at 10:56
@RegDwightΒВBẞ8, I understand how and when the phrase is used. But, I am wondering why it is used. – dheerosaur May 31 '12 at 11:20

3 Answers

up vote 5 down vote

The OED discusses no end in the context of end, which is noted as of Old English/Saxon origins to mean 1a. "the extremity or outermost part (in any direction) of a portion of space, or of anything extended in space; utmost limit," and 1b. "a limit of magnitude or multitude." No end is defined as a colloquialism that means "a vast quantity or number (of)," and in modern slang as "‘immensely’, ‘to any extent’; and (with of) qualifying a predicate." The provided example quotes are below.

  • 1623 J. Bingham tr. Xenophon Hist. 143 You‥made no end of promises.
  • 1856 C. Reade Never too Late x, Box at the opera costs no end.
  • 1859 F. W. Farrar Eric 55 You are no end cleverer and stronger.
  • 1866 Trollope Belton Estate III. v. 121 What comfort have I in a big house, and no end of gardens?
  • 1871 F. C. Burnand More Happy Thoughts (ed. 2) xix. 143 He ‘makes no end of stuff’, or ‘loses no end of stuff’‥on the Derby.
  • 1872 E. Peacock Mabel Heron I. i. 9 You will have no end of trouble.
  • 1883 W. Besant All in Garden Fair viii, Keats was no end of a fellow.
  • 1909 R. E. Knowles Attic Guest 54 You'll have no end of fun with him.
  • 1912 Chambers's Jrnl. Dec. 769/1 ‘I really must show this to Champneys,’ thought Michael; ‘it will please him no end.’
  • 1955 Ess. & Stud. 8 5 A few clean strokes of Occam's razor would have helped Mr. Jackson no end.
  • 1958 H. Babcock I don't want to shoot Elephant 8, I often walk fifteen miles a day while hunting.‥ This puzzles my wife no end.
  • 1970 New Yorker 3 Oct. 90/2 Thomas had been impressed no end by the sight of Klüver‥fixing an art-and-technology malfunction with a pair of pliers.
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up vote 4 down vote

It means that he annoys you a lot. To no end usually means 'a great deal', or 'with no end in sight'. In this case, the first meaning will apply.

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-1 I believe we need to research the origin of the term to authoritatively comment on its literal meaning. I don't think your answer addresses the "literal" aspect of the term that the question is asking about. – zooone9243 May 31 '12 at 11:06
up vote 3 down vote

As I learned the phrase, it's simply he annoys me no end, meaning (literally) without limit and (actually) a great deal. He annoys me to no end would mean 'without any purpose', but since most people aren't annoying deliberately, I can't see how the phrase would be useful.

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"I can't see how the phrase would be useful" - As a native speaker of English: the fact of the matter is that the phrase is used. "Since most people aren't annoying deliberately" - I guess you haven't met my siblings and coworkers :) – dj18 May 31 '12 at 13:44
@dj18: there are hundreds of millions of native speakers of English, so undoubtedly some of them use it. But I still think it not useful comnpared with annoy me no end. – TimLymington May 31 '12 at 13:55
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To what end? – Wayfaring Stranger May 31 '12 at 14:55
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I often hear "annoys me to no end". I can't say which is more common. – Jay May 31 '12 at 21:46
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@dj18 There are people who are PAID to be deliberately annoying. In America we call them "telemarketers". – Jay May 31 '12 at 21:48
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