not take no for an answer

not take no for an answer

To not stop with what one has planned or desires, regardless of others' lack of agreement. Once my brother gets his mind made up, he won't take no for an answer, so don't bother trying to reason with him. It's nice of you to refuse, sweetheart, but this car is a gift from your grandmother and me—we won't take no for an answer!See also: answer, no, not, take

not take no for an answer

Fig. not to accept someone's refusal. (A polite way of being insistent.) Now, you must drop over and see us tomorrow. We won't take no for an answer. I had to go to their party. They just wouldn't take no for an answer.See also: answer, no, not, take

take no for an answer, not

Not accept a refusal, be persistent in demanding something, as in I want you to show me the statements and I won't take no for an answer. This idiom was first recorded in 1930 in Winston Churchill's My Early Life: "Don't take no for an answer, never submit to failure." See also: no, not, take

not take no for an answer

COMMON If someone won't take no for an answer, they do not accept that someone has refused what they have asked for. Five reporters who wouldn't take no for an answer entered U.S. quarters without authorization. She told me that she had, of course, refused, but that he wouldn't take no for an answer.See also: answer, no, not, take

not (or never) take no for an answer

persist in spite of refusals.See also: answer, no, not, take

not take ˌno for an ˈanswer

refuse to accept that somebody does not want something, will not do something, etc: You’re coming and I won’t take no for an answer!See also: answer, no, not, take