Meanings
alternative nil points
- humorousuncountableNo points (as a score); zero, nothing.
A small blonde girl appeared, wrapped in a terrible pale pink padded jacket. "Nul points for the clothes," said Jess. "She looks like a prawn."
2010, Sue Limb, Flirting for England, page 561 more example
Danish jury representative: Germany, six points. Toto Cutugno: Germany, six points! Terry Wogan: That's the first six points for Germany! Now only Austria is left with the dreaded nul points.
1991, Eurovision Song Contest, BBC commentary by Terry Wogan
Origin
French, literally "nil points" in the style of score announcements at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
nul points. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nul%20points
“nul points.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nul%20points. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nul points,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nul%20points.
Source: nul points on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.