“No dice” is an informal expression meaning no, not possible, or no success. It appeared in American English in the early 1900s, but its exact origin is uncertain.
The expression is commonly associated with dice gambling. A popular origin story says that gamblers hid or swallowed their dice to avoid prosecution: without the dice, authorities supposedly had no evidence. However, that story is not a securely established explanation of how the expression developed. It is better to separate the uncertain backstory from the well-established modern meaning.
For a refusal, the expression gives a short, firm negative answer. It can sound blunt, so it fits casual conversation better than a polite business message.
- “Can I borrow your car tonight?” “No dice. I need it myself.”
For an unsuccessful attempt, it tells the listener that someone tried something, but it did not work or produce the wanted result.
- I asked the hotel for a late checkout, but no dice.
- We tried restarting the printer, but no dice—it still would not print.
You do not need to be discussing gambling to use the expression today. The surrounding sentence usually makes its meaning clear: a request gets rejected, or an effort fails. In more formal writing, choose a direct alternative such as the request was declined or the attempt was unsuccessful.
