American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

no ifs or buts Also, no ifs, ands, or buts. No reservations, restrictions, or excuses, as in You'd better be there tomorrow, and no ifs, ands, or buts about it. This expression uses the conjunctions to stand for the conditions and objections that they introduce. The earliest phrase to appear was ifs and ands in the 1600s. This phrase is actually an emphatic redundancy, for and often meant "if."

But was tacked on to this pair soon afterward.

no joke Also, no laughing matter. A serious issue, as in Missing the last flight out was no joke, or This outbreak of flu is no laughing matter. The first term dates from about 1800, and the variant from the second half of the 1500s.

no kidding

Truly, seriously, as in No kidding, I really did lose my wallet. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]

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 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]

none

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with NONE, also see ALL (NONE) OF THE

ABOVE; BAR NONE; NOT HAVE IT (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

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

hand. 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

hand. 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

hand. see HIDE NOR HAIR; NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL; NEITHER HERE NOR THERE; RHYME OR REASON (NEITHER RHYME NOR REASON).

nose

hand. 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; FOLLOW ONE'S NOSE; KEEP ONE'S NOSE CLEAN; LEAD BY THE NOSE; LOOK DOWN ON (ONE'S NOSE); NO SKIN OFF MY 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; 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 AT.

nose into

hand. 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 displeased.

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

hand. 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

hand. see under NO PROBLEM.

not

hand. 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; (NOT A) CHINAMAN'S CHANCE; COMING OR GOING, NOT KNOW IF; DO AS I SAY (NOT AS I DO); GAME IS NOT WORTH THE CANDLE; 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 TO) SNEEZE AT; (NOT) TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER; (NOT) THE HALF OF IT; (NOT) TURN A HAIR; TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT; WASTE NOT, WANT NOT; WHETHER OR NOT; WITHOUT A (NOT 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

hand. see BAD SORT.

not a bit

hand. Not at all, not in the least, as in She was not a bit interested. [Mid-1700s]

not able

hand. 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. hand. See under

CHINAMAN'S CHANCE.

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

hand. see WITHOUT A LEG TO STAND ON.

not a living soul

hand. see LIVING SOUL.

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

hand. see LONG SHOT.

not by any means

hand. see BY NO MEANS.

notch

hand. 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

hand. see BREAD AND BUTTER LETTER (NOTE); COMPARE NOTES; MAKE A NOTE OF; OF NOTE; STRIKE THE RIGHT NOTE; TAKE NOTE; TAKE NOTES.

no telling

hand. 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

hand. 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 about 1920. 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

hand. see NOT BAD.

no thanks to

hand. see THANKS TO.

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

hand. 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.

not have an earthly chance Also, stand no earthly chance. Have no chance whatever, as in

She doesn't have an earthly chance of getting into medical school, or Bill stands no earthly chance of winning the lottery. The use of no earthly in the sense of "no conceivable" dates from the mid-1700s.

not have anything on

hand. see HAVE NOTHING ON.

not have it 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 one's heart in it

see under HEART IN IT.

not have the heart to

Be unable to bring oneself to say or do something, as in He didn't have the heart to tell her the cat had died. [Mid-1600s] Also see HAVE A HEART.

not having any

hand. see under NOT HAVE IT.

nothing

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with NOTHING, also see COME TO

NOTHING; COUNT FOR (NOTHING); GO FOR NOTHING; HAVE NOTHING ON; HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH; HERE GOES (NOTHING); IN NO TIME (NOTHING FLAT); LEAVE A LOT (NOTHING) TO BE DESIRED; MAKE NOTHING OF; MAKE SOMETHING OF (NOTHING); MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING; NOT KNOW BEANS (FROM NOTHING); NOT TO MENTION (SAY NOTHING OF); STOP AT NOTHING; SWEET NOTHINGS; THINK NOTHING OF; WANT FOR NOTHING.

nothing but

Only, as in She thinks of nothing but money. This term was first recorded about 1380.

nothing doing