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No dice

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

No dice|Idiomatic Phrase|An expression indicating a firm refusal, rejection, or complete failure to achieve a desired outcome; often used to convey that an attempt was unsuccessful or a request is denied without possibility of negotiation.

Detailed Definition
No dice means no, not possible, or no success, especially after a request, hope, or attempt has been made. In poetry, the idiom can puncture expectation with a crisp note of realism. It suits scenes of rejection, failed bargaining, gambling, courtship, bureaucracy, or fate refusing appeal. The dice image links chance with denial, suggesting that luck has not favoured the speaker. A poet may use it humorously or bleakly to show how hope meets refusal in ordinary speech.
Example
Example in poetry:
Refusal: "When opportunity knocked, the answer came back no dice."; Failure: "No dice on that risky venture, better paths await ahead."; Student use: "Adds realism in decision-making poems."; "His proposal received no dice."
Additional Notes
Denial or failure, adds realism in decision or opportunity poems. Educational for setbacks. Suggests rejection. Use in dialogue. Contrasts with success. Enhances disappointment. Pair with imagery of closed doors.
Also Known As
No luck No go Nothing doing Not a chance No way
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