PhrasesHub

No dice

    Definitions

      • refusal or rejection
        To indicate that something will not be accepted or agreed to

      • no chance of success
        To convey that something is not going to happen or is unlikely to be successful

    Examples of No dice

    • The sales manager approached the CEO with a new marketing strategy, but the CEO replied, "No dice. We're sticking with our current approach."

      In this example, "No dice" is being used as a colloquial expression meaning "no" or "not possible" in a informal or conversational context. The sales manager's proposal was rejected by the CEO who announced his preference to continue with the current marketing strategy with the phrase "No dice".

    • The lottery ticket, which held the potential of a life-changing jackpot, ended up yielding nothing. The winner exclaimed, "No dice. I guess I'll have to try my luck again."

      This scenario illustrates another way "No dice" can be used. Here, we can think of the phrase as a term of defeat or a statement of futility. The lottery ticket did not result in a win for the winner, hence the disappointment-inducing "No dice".

    • The recipe for the cake, much to the baker's dismay, didn't work out. The baker sighed, "No dice. I'll have to find another recipe."

      "No dice" could also be substituted with another colloquial expression such as "no luck" or "nothing doing" in this context. It depicts the baker's failure to execute the recipe and the pronouncement of probable experimentation with other recipes.

    • The employee requested a raise from the manager, yet the manager replied, "No dice. We'll have to hold off on promotions for now."

      This use of "No dice" represents a rejection on the part of the manager, denying the employee's requests. Despite the employee's plea, the manager decided against promotions at that point in time, as signified by the use of "No dice".

    • The sales manager pitched a new marketing campaign to the CEO, but it didn't seem to impress him. The manager threw up his hands in frustration and said, "No dice."

      The idiom "no dice" is used to express that a proposal or request has been rejected. In this example, the sales manager is telling the CEO that his pitch wasn't successful.

    • The student begged his teacher to let him make up a missed exam, but she refused. He groaned and muttered, "No dice."

      The idiom "no dice" is often spoken with frustration, when a person is disappointed with an outcome. In this example, the student is disappointed that his teacher won't let him make up the exam.

    • The actor auditioned for the lead role in a new movie, but the director chose someone else. The actor shrugged and said, "No dice."

      The idiom "no dice" is commonly used when a person has tried to achieve something but has been unsuccessful. In this example, the actor's audition didn't result in getting the lead role.

    • The firefighter desperately tried to put out the blaze in the building, but the water from the hose wouldn't reach the upper floors. He screamed, "No dice!"

      In this example, the idiom "no dice" is being used in a more dramatic or urgent context. The firefighter is using it to express that his efforts to quell the fire were ineffective.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "no dice" is commonly used to express refusal or rejection, as well as to convey that there is no chance of success in a particular situation. It is often used to firmly communicate that something will not be agreed to or that a certain outcome is unlikely to occur.

    This idiom is frequently used in casual conversation and informal settings to quickly and clearly convey a negative response or outlook. It can be used in a variety of contexts, from expressing disapproval of a suggestion to indicating that a particular plan or idea is not feasible.

    Overall, "no dice" is a straightforward and direct way to communicate a lack of agreement or a low likelihood of success in a given situation.

    Origin of "No dice"

    The origin of the idiom "no dice" can be traced back to the early 20th century, specifically to the world of gambling. The phrase likely originated in the United States and was initially used in the context of dice games.

    When a player rolled the dice and did not get the combination needed to win, it was common for the dealer to simply say "no dice" to indicate that the roll was not successful. Over time, the phrase transitioned from being specific to dice games to being used more broadly to convey a lack of success or agreement in any situation.

    The idiomatic use of "no dice" has become a part of everyday language, with its origins in the world of gambling still evident in its meaning of rejection or lack of success.