no longer Not any more, as in They no longer make this model of blender. [c. 1300]
no love lost Dislike, ill will, hate, as in There’s no love lost between Bob and Bill. This term originated in the 1500s and until about 1800 could indicate either extreme love or extreme hate. The former was meant in “No love between these two was lost, each was to the other kind” (Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, 1765). Today, however, the term signifies ill will exclusively.
no man is an island Human beings necessarily depend on one another, as in You can’t manage this all by yourself; no man is an island. This expression is a quotation from John Donne’s Devotions (1624): “No man is an Island, entire of it self; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main.”
no man’s land A neutral area, one to which no one has a claim. First recorded c. 1350, referring to unowned land between two boundaries, the term acquired a military meaning in 1864 when it signified the area between two opposing armies. In more general use today it means an indeterminate or uncertain place or position, as in I’m in the no man’s land between finding a producer for my play and obtaining funding. [Second half of 1800s]
no matter 1. It’s not important, as in She wasn’t home when I came by, but no matter. [Mid-1500s] 2. Also, no matter what. Regardless, it makes no difference, as in No matter what I say, she’ll do what she likes, or The car must be repaired, no matter what. [Mid-1500s]
no matter how you slice it Regardless of how one views something, as in No matter how you slice it, he’s still guilty of perjury. This expression uses slice in the sense of “cut apart.” [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
no more Mr. Nice Guy Changing from being friendly and pleasant to being unyielding and difficult. This phrase appears in many contexts and does not necessarily involve an individual, as in The Republican Party is playing no more Mr. Nice Guy, threatening to cut off all funding and close down the government. A number of songs are entitled “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” among them one by Alice Cooper (2005). [Colloquial, mid-1900s] For a much older near-synonym, see GRANT NO QUARTER.
none → In addition to the idioms beginning with NONE, also see ALL (NONE) OF THE ABOVE; BAR NONE; NOT HAVE; (HAVE NONE OF); SECOND TO NONE.
none of one’s business Not one’s concern, as in How much I earn is none of your business. This expression employs business in the sense of “one’s affairs,” a usage dating from about 1600. (Also see MIND ONE’S OWN BUSINESS.) A slangy, jocular variant from about 1930 is none of one’s beeswax. The related verb phrase have no business is used to indicate that one should not meddle or interfere, as in He has no business discussing the will with outsiders.
none of the above → See under ALL OF THE ABOVE.
none other than That very person or thing, the same as. For example, In the elevator I ran into none other than the woman we’d been talking about, or It turned out to be none other than Jim in a clown costume. [Late 1800s]
none the wiser Knowing no more than before, as in He tried to explain the tax structure, but in the end I was none the wiser. [Early 1800s]
none the worse for 1. Not harmed from, as in He was none the worse for walking the entire ten miles, or This carpet may be old, but it’s none the worse for wear. [Early 1800s] 2. Be improved by, as in The dog would be none the worse for a good brushing. [Early 1800s]
none too Also, not too. Not very, as in The application arrived none too soon, or I’m afraid this secretary is not too smart, or He was here not too long ago. The first usage was first recorded in 1885; the variant dates from about 1920. Also see NOT ALL THAT.
no news is good news Having no information means that bad developments are unlikely, as in I haven’t heard from them in a month, but no news is good news. This proverbial phrase may have originated with King James I of England, who allegedly said “No news is better than evil news” (1616).
nonsense → See STUFF AND NONSENSE.
no offense Please don’t feel insulted, I don’t mean to offend you, as in No offense, but I think you’re mistaken. This expression, first recorded in 1829, generally accompanies a statement that could be regarded as insulting but is not meant to be, as in the example.
nook and cranny, every Everywhere, as in I’ve searched for it in every nook and cranny, and I still can’t find it. This metaphoric idiom pairs nook, which has meant “an out-of-the-way corner” since the mid-1300s, with cranny, which has meant “a crack or crevice” since about 1440. Neither noun is heard much other than in this idiom.
no pain, no gain Suffering is needed to make progress, as in I’ve worked for hours on those irregular French verbs, but no pain, no gain. Although this idiom is often associated with athletic coaches who urge athletes to train harder, it dates from the 1500s and was already in John Ray’s proverb collection of 1670 as “Without pains, no gains.”
no picnic Difficult, no fun, as in Recovering from abdominal surgery is no picnic. This expression, alluding to a picnic as a pleasant occasion, was first recorded in 1888.
no problem 1. Also, no sweat; not to worry. There’s no difficulty about this, don’t concern yourself. For example, Of course I can change your tire—no problem, or You want more small change? no sweat, or We’ll be there in plenty of time, not to worry. The first of these colloquial terms dates from about 1960 and the second from about 1950. The third, originating in Britain in the 1930s and using not to with the sense of “don’t,” crossed the Atlantic in the 1970s. 2. You’re welcome, as in Thanks for the ride, Dad.—No problem. [Late 1900s]
nor → See HIDE NOR HAIR; NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL; NEITHER HERE NOR THERE; RHYME OR REASON (NEITHER RHYME NOR REASON).
nose → In addition to the idioms beginning with NOSE, also see BROWN NOSE; CAN’T SEE BEYOND THE END OF ONE’S NOSE; COUNT NOSES; CUT OFF ONE’S NOSE TO SPITE ONE’S FACE; FOLLOW ONE’S NOSE; KEEP ONE’S NOSE CLEAN; LEAD BY THE NOSE; LOOK DOWN ON (ONE’S NOSE AT); NO SKIN OFF ONE’S NOSE; ON THE NOSE; PAY THROUGH THE NOSE; PLAIN AS DAY (THE NOSE ON YOUR FACE); POKE ONE’S NOSE INTO; RUB SOMEONE’S NOSE IN IT; THUMB ONE’S NOSE; TURN UP ONE’S NOSE AT; UNDER ONE’S NOSE; WIN BY A NOSE.
nose about Also, nose around. Look for something, especially something private or hidden. For example, She was always nosing about the kitchen, looking in all the cupboards, or The detective nosed around the apartment. [Second half of 1800s]
nose in Also, nose into. 1. Advance cautiously, front end first, as in We nosed the boat into her berth, or The car nosed in very slowly. [Mid-1900s] 2. Pry, snoop, as in He was nosing into our finances again. [First half of 1900s] Also see NOSE ABOUT; POKE ONE’S NOSE INTO.
nose in a book, have one’s Be constantly reading, as in Walter is known for having his nose in a book. This expression graphically depicts immersing oneself in reading. [Mid-1900s]
nose in the air, have one’s Be haughty or disdainful, as in Ever since we moved in, our next-door neighbor has had her nose in the air. The related phrase with one’s nose in the air means “haughtily,” as in She thinks she’s so smart; she’s always walking around with her nose in the air. Also see TURN UP ONE’S NOSE.
nose into → See NOSE IN.
nose out 1. Defeat by a narrow margin, as in She barely nosed out the incumbent. This expression, alluding to a horse’s winning with its nose in front, has been used figuratively since the mid-1900s. 2. Discover, especially something hidden or secret, as in This reporter has a knack for nosing out the truth. This usage alludes to following the scent of something. [Early 1600s]
nose out of joint, have one’s Be upset or irritated, especially when displaced by someone. For example, Ever since Sheila got promoted he’s had his nose out of joint. Similarly, put one’s nose out of joint indicates the cause of the upset, as in The boss’s praise of her assistant put Jean’s nose out of joint. The earliest form of this idiom, first recorded in 1581, was thrust one’s nose out of joint, with put appearing shortly thereafter. Presumably all these expressions allude to the face-distorting grimace made by one who is dis
pleased.
nose to the grindstone, keep one’s Stay hard at work, as in We expect John to get good grades again, since he really keeps his nose to the grindstone. This expression, first recorded in 1539, alludes to a tool that must be sharpened by being held to a grindstone.
no shit Really, do you mean it, as in You took her to a prizefight? No shit! This vulgar slangy interjection is used to express surprise, disbelief, or scornful acknowledgment of the obvious.
no sir Also, no sirree. Certainly not. This emphatic denial is used without regard to the gender of the person addressed. For example, No sir, I’m not taking her up on that, or Live here? No sirree. [Mid-1800s]
no skin off one’s nose Not harmful or bothersome to one, as in I don’t care if you stay home—it’s no skin off my nose. This expression probably arose in boxing, but there is no evidence to prove it. [Early 1900s]
no smoke without fire, there’s Also, where there’s smoke there’s fire. A suspicion or rumor usually has a basis in fact, as in When the sales figures continued strong but the company still wasn’t making money, he suspected something was wrong—there’s no smoke without fire. First stated in the late 1300s, this expression appeared in numerous proverb collections from 1546 on and remains current today.
no soap → See under NO DICE.
no sooner said than done Accomplished immediately, as in He said we should leave and, no sooner said than done. This expression employs no sooner . . . than in the sense of “at once,” a usage dating from the mid-1500s.
no spring chicken No longer a young person, as in Sally’s no spring chicken, but she plays a fine game of tennis. This unflattering expression, often applied to women, has been used since the early 1700s, although spring was omitted from the earliest citation (1711).
no stomach for, have Dislike, be unable to tolerate, as in Pat has no stomach for violent movies. This expression uses stomach in the sense of “appetite” or “relish for.” [Early 1700s]
no strings attached Without conditions or restrictions, as in They give each of the children $10,000 a year with no strings attached. This expression dates from the mid-1900s, although string in the sense of “a limitation” has been used since the late 1800s.
no such thing 1. Nothing like that, nothing of the kind, as in We’ve been looking for a car without air-conditioning, but no such thing is available. [Mid-1500s] 2. On the contrary, certainly not, as in You thought I was quitting? No such thing! [Mid-1700s]
no sweat → See under NO PROBLEM.
not → In addition to the idioms beginning with NOT, also see ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD; (NOT) ALL THERE; (NOT) AT ALL; BELIEVE IT OR NOT; CAUGHT DEAD, NOT BE; COMING OR GOING, NOT KNOW IF ONE IS; DO AS I SAY (NOT AS I DO); GAME IS NOT WORTH THE CANDLE; (NOT THE) HALF OF IT; HEART (NOT) IN IT; HOLD ONE’S BREATH, NOT; (NOT) IN THE LEAST; (NOT) IN THE MOOD; IT’S (NOT) YOUR FUNERAL; LAST BUT NOT LEAST; LIKE AS NOT; LIVING SOUL, NOT A; MINCE MATTERS, NOT TO; MORE OFTEN THAN NOT; (NOT) MOVE A MUSCLE; NO PROBLEM (NOT TO WORRY); (NOT) TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER; (NOT) TURN A HAIR; TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT; WASTE NOT, WANT NOT; WHETHER OR NOT; WITHOUT (NOT HAVE) A LEG TO STAND ON; WON’T (WILL NOT) HEAR OF. For verbal phrases also see under CAN’T; COULDN’T; WOULDN’T.
not a bad sort → See BAD SORT.
not a bit Not at all, not in the least, as in She was not a bit interested. [Mid-1700s]
not able → See under CAN’T or under main phrase.
not about to → See ABOUT TO, def. 2.
not a Chinaman’s chance Also, not a ghost of a chance. → See under CHINAMAN’S CHANCE.
not a dry eye in the house The entire audience of a play, film or other entertainment was moved to tears. This hyperbolic term (surely not every single person was weeping) actually appeared in a biography of Cardinal Wolsey of c. 1562 and remains current.
not a hope in hell Also, not a prayer. No chance at all, as in There’s not a hope in hell that we have a winning bid, or If you don’t watch the conductor you won’t have a prayer of coming in on time. The first term was first recorded in 1923, the second in 1941. Both allude to the chance for heavenly salvation. Also see SNOWBALL’S CHANCE IN HELL.
not a leg to stand on → See WITHOUT A LEG TO STAND ON.
not a living soul → See LIVING SOUL.
not all it’s cracked up to be It is disappointing, it does not live up to its reputation, as in The restaurant wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be. This term uses crack up in the sense of “to praise,” which survives only in this expression. [Colloquial; early 1800s]
not all that → See ALL THAT, def. 1.
not all there → See ALL THERE.
not anything like Also, nothing like; not anywhere near; nowhere near. Quite different from, far from; also, not nearly. For example, The town’s library isn’t anything like the university’s library, or His outfit was nothing like his brother’s, or It isn’t anything like as cold as it was last winter, or That movie isn’t anywhere near as exciting as I thought it would be, or Her diamond is nowhere near as big as mine. The phrases with like date from the late 1700s, and those with near from the mid-1400s.
not at all → See AT ALL, def. 4; YOU’RE WELCOME.
not bad Also, not half bad; not so or too bad; not too shabby. Fairly good, as in Not bad, said the conductor, but we need to play the scherzo again, or The movie wasn’t half bad, but Jerry wanted to go home, or Our garden’s not too bad this year, or How are things going?—Not too shabby. All of the terms involving bad, which imply that something is less bad than it might be, date from the mid-1700s. The last variant, using shabby in the sense of “inferior,” is slang of the late 1900s.
not bat an eye → See WITHOUT BATTING AN EYE.
not be caught dead → See CAUGHT DEAD.
not born yesterday More experienced and less naive than one appears to be, as in Don’t think you can fool me; I wasn’t born yesterday. This term gained currency from the title of Garson Kanin’s popular Broadway play, Born Yesterday, which was made into an even more popular film. In both, Judy Holliday played a stereotypical dumb blonde who shows more common sense than her sophisticated acquaintances. [Early 1800s]
not breathe a word Not reveal a secret, keep concealed, as in You must promise not to breathe a word of what I’m about to tell you. This phrase relies on the verb breathe as meaning “to utter,” a usage dating from the late 1500s.
not built that way Not so disposed or inclined, as in I can’t apologize for something I didn’t do—I’m just not built that way. [Late 1800s]
not by a long shot → See LONG SHOT.
not by any means → See BY NO MEANS.
notch → See TAKE DOWN A NOTCH.
not cricket Unfair, unsportsmanlike, as in It’s not cricket to let him go without notice. This term, in which the sport of cricket is equated with upright behavior, survives in America despite the relative unfamiliarity of the sport there. [Mid-1800s]
not done Socially unacceptable, improper, as in Bringing along two friends without asking, that’s not done. [First half of 1900s]
note → See COMPARE NOTES; MAKE A NOTE OF; OF NOTE; STRIKE THE RIGHT NOTE; TAKE NOTE; TAKE NOTES.
no telling → See THERE’S NO TELLING.
not enough room to swing a cat Very little space, cramped quarters, as in There’s not enough room to swing a cat in this tent. This expression, first recorded in 1771, is thought to allude to the cat-o’-nine-tails, or “cat,” a whip with nine lashes widely used to punish offenders in the British military.
not feel oneself → See NOT ONESELF.
not for all the tea in China Not at any price, never, as in I wouldn’t give up my car, not for all the tea in China. This term originated in Australia and alludes to the presumed huge quantity of tea in China. [Late 1800s] Also see FOR ALL THE WORLD; NOT FOR LOVE OR MONEY.
not for a moment Never, not in the least, as in Not for a moment did I believe he was telling the truth. This expression employs moment in the sense of “the tiniest length of time,” a usage
dating from the mid-1300s.
not for love or money Never, under no circumstances, as in I’d never visit them again, not for love or money. A version of this expression, which alludes to these two powerful persuasive forces, was recorded in A.D. 971.
not give a damn Also, not give a fig or hang or hoot or rap or shit. Not care about, be indifferent to, as in I don’t give a damn about him, or She doesn’t give a fig if he comes or not. The nouns in all these terms signify something totally worthless. Although probably in oral use for much longer, damn is first recorded in this negative form in the late 1700s and the worthless item it is used to denigrate is a curse. Fig has denoted something small and worthless since about 1400, and hang since the mid-1800s; hoot has been used for the smallest particle since the later 1800s; rap, also for the smallest particle, since the first half of the 1800s, and shit, for excrement, since the late 1500s. All but the first of these terms are colloquial and the last (using shit) is vulgar.
not give someone the time of day Ignore someone, refuse to pay the slightest attention to someone, as in He’s tried to be friendly but she won’t give him the time of day. This expression, first recorded in 1864, alludes to refusing even to answer the question, “What time is it?”
not half bad → See NOT BAD.
no thanks to → See THANKS TO.
not have Also, have none of; not or won’t or wouldn’t hear of. Not allow; refuse to tolerate, accept, or endure. For example, Mary wanted to have the reception at home, but her mother would not have it, or I’ll have none of your backtalk, or The minister wouldn’t hear of a change in the worship service. [Late 1500s] The related not having any, for wanting no part of (as in Fund-raising? I’m not having any!) was first recorded in 1902.
not have a bean Be destitute or penniless, as in He doesn’t have a bean, but she’s set on marrying him. Bean has been a slang term for a guinea or a sovereign coin since the early 1800s. The precise expression was first recorded in 1928.
not have a clue → Have no idea or inkling about something, as in Jane doesn’t have a clue as to why John won’t call her, or Do you know what’s wrong with the boiler?—No, I haven’t a clue. This usage was first recorded in 1928.
The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms Page 82