not on your life


not on your life

Absolutely not; no way. A: "Hey, John Boy, come over and help me paint the house this afternoon." B: "Not on your life, Davey! I've got plans tonight and have no intention of getting dirtied up before then!"See also: life, not, on

not on your life

Certainly not, as in Go hang-gliding? Not on your life. The first recorded use of this interjection was in 1896. See also: life, not, on

not on your life

said to emphasize your refusal to comply with some request. informalSee also: life, not, on

not on your ˈlife

(spoken) used to refuse very firmly to do something: Go out and miss the football match on TV? Not on your life! ♢ Lend him $50? Not on your life.See also: life, not, on

not on your life

Informal Absolutely not; not for any reason whatsoever.See also: life, not, on

not on your life

Under no circumstances. This expression, which means just about the same as “not if your life depended on it,” dates from the late nineteenth century. It appeared in print fairly often from 1900 on, as in Jack London’s The Valley of the Moon (1913): “‘You’d vote the socialist ticket.’—‘Not on your life.’” Its positive counterpart is you (can) bet your life. See also: life, not, on