not on your nelly

adverb

Absolutely not; under no circumstances.

Similar
a cold day in Hellnot in a million yearsnot likelynot on your lifeno wayno way Joseno way Joséwhen pigs fly
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Meanings

adverb

alternative not on your Nellie

  1. UKidiomaticAbsolutely not; under no circumstances.

    Synonyms: a cold day in Hell, not in a million years, not likely, not on your life, no way, no way Jose, no way José, when pigs fly

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbAbsolutely not; under no circumstances.

Similar
a cold day in Hellnot in a million yearsnot likelynot on your lifeno wayno way Joseno way Joséwhen pigs fly
Also see
i don't think sonot on your lifeno way jose

Origin

From nelly, Nelly Duff, rhyming slang for puff (of breath = life).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

not on your nelly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/not%20on%20your%20nelly

MLA

“not on your nelly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/not%20on%20your%20nelly. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “not on your nelly,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/not%20on%20your%20nelly.

Source: not on your nelly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.