en English es español fr française it italiano de deutsche ja 日本語 pl polski cs česky sv svenska tr Türkçe nl Nederlands

Explaining "Never say die"

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 28/10/2024, 08:46
English.me team member

What does it mean?

Never say die

"Never say die" is an idiomatic expression used to encourage perseverance and determination in the face of difficulties. It means to never give up or lose hope.

Tone

Encouraging and optimistic

Origin

The expression "never say die" has been in use since at least the early 1800s. The earliest published example is from "The-Man-of-War’s-Man, Chapter XVI," part of a novel serialization in Blackwood’s Magazine, Volume 18 (1825): "Cheer up then, and never say die, for the devil a morsel of good it will do."

Examples of usage

  • Even though the project faced multiple setbacks, the team adopted a "never say die" attitude and eventually succeeded.
  • He may have faced many challenges in life, but his "never say die" spirit kept him going.

Recommended posts in Phrases

At the end of my rope

At the end of my rope

The phrase "at the end of my rope" means that ... Learn more →

Time is money

Time is money

The phrase "Time is money" suggests that time is a ... Learn more →

False friends are worse than open enemies

False friends are worse than open enemies

The phrase means that people who pretend to be your ... Learn more →

Tomorrow is another day

Tomorrow is another day

The phrase "Tomorrow is another day" means that no matter ... Learn more →