no dice
1
used to say that one has no chance in achieving success or is out of luck when trying to do something
The origin of the idiom "no dice" is uncertain, but it may be related to the idea of a game of chance, where dice are used to determine the outcome. The phrase has been in use in English since at least the early 20th century, and it has been applied to a wide range of situations, including personal and professional interactions, negotiations, and requests. In general, the phrase is used to indicate that someone has failed to achieve their goal or that their request has been denied, without any possibility of changing the outcome.
- I asked my boss for a raise, but he said no dice.
- I asked my friend if I could stay at their place for a week but they said no dice as their guest room was already booked.
- When I requested more time to finish the project, my boss said no dice because the deadline was immovable.
- We proposed a big budget for the event but the client said no dice since costs had to be tightly controlled.
- I asked if we could apply for an extension on the loan repayment but the bank said no dice given our financial history.