No dice

Meaning

The idiom "no dice" is used to indicate that something is not going to happen or that an idea is not feasible. It can also be used to express disappointment or frustration when plans do not work out as expected.

Usage

• I really wanted to go on a road trip with my friends, but they all had other plans. When I suggested it, they just said "no dice."
• My boss told me that we couldn't start the new project until we got more funding. When I asked him how much we needed, he said "no dice, we can't afford it right now."
• We had planned to go on a picnic in the park, but the weather turned out to be too hot and humid. My friend suggested we stay home and play board games instead, and I said "no dice, I need some fresh air."
• The restaurant was fully booked for the weekend, but my colleague really wanted to go there for her birthday dinner. When we called to make a reservation, they said "no dice, we're fully booked until next week."
• My cousin and I had planned to take a flight to visit our grandparents in Europe, but the airline cancelled our booking due to technical issues. When we tried to reschedule, they said "no dice, all flights are sold out for the next few days."

Roots and History

The exact origin of the idiom is unclear, but it is believed to have come from the game of dice. In ancient times, people would roll dice to determine the outcome of a bet or contest. If someone won, they might say "no dice, I won!" And if they lost, they might say "no dice, I lost!" Over time, the phrase became associated with the idea that something is not going to happen or that an idea is not feasible.

Synonyms in English

• Won't work out
• Not gonna happen
• Unlikely to succeed
• No way
• Forget about it

Synonyms in other languages

• 不可能 (Japanese) - This phrase means "not possible" and is commonly used in both formal and informal situations.
• نיאוך (Hebrew) - This phrase is often used to express disappointment or frustration when plans don't work out as expected.
• عجمنو (Arabic) - This phrase means "it won't happen" and is commonly used in both formal and informal situations.
• غذاء القضية (Arabic) - This phrase means "the dice of the court" and is often used to express the idea that something is not going to happen or that an idea is not feasible.
• ไม่เก่าใจ (Thai) - This phrase means "not familiar with" and can be used to express disappointment or frustration when plans don't work out as expected.

Similar Idioms

• not have a clue

• not hurt a fly or flea

• necessary evil