Meanings
- idiomaticAn unacceptable alternative.
- idiomaticAn unfavorable result.
- informalUsed to express a negative outcome or decision.
We looked all over the house for it. No dice.
3 more examples
The board considered the proposal at the meeting, but no dice for now.
Of course. The idea was a straight swop. The girl against his cheque for forty million. Well, he wouldn't play: wouldn't think of playing. She was in the Service and knew what she was up against. He wouldn't even ask M. This job was more important than her. It was just too bad. She was a fine girl, but he wasn't going to fall for this childish trick. No dice.
1953, Ian Fleming, “Black Hare and Grey Hound”, in Casino Royale, London: Pan Books, published 1955, page 105I′m a-gonna raise a fuss, I'm a-gonna raise a holler / About a-workin′ all summer just-a tryin' to earn a dollar / Every time I call my baby, try to get a date / My boss says "No dice son, you gotta work late"
1958, Cochran, Ray Edward; Capehart, Jerry Neil, “Summertime Blues” (vinyl), performed by Cochran, Ray Edward, Liberty Records, →OCLC, B-side "Love Again"
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
A term used in the game craps when the dice land off the table, invalidating the throw.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
no dice. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/no%20dice
“no dice.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/no%20dice. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “no dice,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/no%20dice.
Source: no dice on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.