The phrase ‘no dice’ originated in America in the early 20th century. Gambling was illegal in several states, making gamblers take care to hide their dice or even swallow them if challenged by authorities. Courts would often throw gambling cases out if no dice were in evidence.
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What does the phrase no dice mean?
No, certainly not; also, impossible. For example, Anthony wanted to borrow my new coat, but Mom said no dice, or We tried to rent the church for the wedding, but it’s no go for the date you picked, or Jim asked Dad to help pay for the repairs, but Dad said no soap.
What mean dice?
Definition of dice
(Entry 1 of 2) 1a : die sense 1. b : a gambling game played with dice. 2 plural also dices : a small cubical piece (as of food) 3 : a close contest between two racing-car drivers for position during a race.
What is the origin of close but no cigar?
Apparently from the practice of giving cigars as prizes at carnivals in the United States in the 20th century; those who did not win would fail to receive a cigar, even if they came close.
Where does Bob your uncle originate?
In 1887, British Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil appointed his nephew Arthur James Balfour as Minister for Ireland. The phrase ‘Bob’s your uncle’ was coined when Arthur referred to the Prime Minister as ‘Uncle Bob’. Apparently, it’s very simple to become a minister when Bob’s your uncle!
What are dice called in the UK?
Die is certainly the preferred singular in AmE, but in BrE one is likely to see dice as both the singular and the plural, even in edited texts like newspapers. A90Six comments on the forum at wordreference.com: Many people in the UK would not even be aware that die is the singular of dice.
What is a pair of dice called?
synonyms for pair of dice
Compare Synonyms. bones. counters. craps. ivories.
What is a single dice called?
Die is the singular form of dice. It comes from the French word des, a plural word for the same objects.
Where did the saying mind your P’s and Q’s originate?
The first is in a poem by Charles Churchill, published in 1763: ‘On all occasions next the chair / He stands for service of the Mayor, / And to instruct him how to use / His As and Bs, and Ps and Qs. ‘ The conclusion must be that this is the true origin.”
What is the meaning of the idiom can’t cut the mustard?
What does “cut the mustard” mean? To cut the mustard is “to reach or surpass the desired standard or performance” or more generally “to succeed, to have the ability to do something.” For instance, Beyoncé really cut the mustard in her new song.
Where did the saying close but no banana come from?
It comes from traveling fairs and carnivals from the 1800s. The prizes back then were not giant-sized stuffed teddy bears, they were usually cigars or bottles of whiskey. If you missed the prize at a carnival game, the carnie folk would shout, “Close! But no cigar!”
Why do we say Fanny’s your aunt?
Used as a humorous response to the phrase “Bob’s your uncle,” which is used to emphasize how easily or quickly something can be done. Primarily heard in UK, Australia.
Where does the saying happy as Larry come from?
Larry Foley was an australian boxer who never lost a fight. His last fight was in the 1870’s, he was paid the vast sum of £1000 and won the fight – “hence as happy as Larry”.
Where does the phrase Fanny’s your aunt come from?
The origins are uncertain, but a common theory is that the expression arose after Conservative Prime Minister Robert Cecil known as Bob appointed his nephew Arthur Balfour as Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1887, an act of favoritism which was apparently both surprising and unpopular.
What are two fours in dice called?
Names of rolls
| 1 | 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snake Eyes | |
| 2 | Ace Deuce | |
| 3 | Easy Four | |
| 4 | Five (Fever Five) | Hard Eight |
Why is 1 and 4 red on a dice?
Chinese and Korean dice will have a red 4-spot as well as the 1. The Chinese custom of painting the 4-spot red is said to have originated when an Emperor playing sugoruku with his queen was about to lose and desperately needed fours to win the game. He cried out, threw the dice and they came up accordingly.
Why do dice add up to 7?
For the six-sided die, opposite faces are arranged to always sum to seven. This gives two possible mirror image arrangements in which the numbers 1, 2, and 3 may be arranged in a clockwise or counterclockwise order about a corner. Commercial dice may, in fact, have either orientation.
Why is it called Little Joe in craps?
4 – ‘little Joe’ or ‘little Joe from Kokomo’. It is rumoured this relates to Joe Fohn, a famous bowler in the 1920s who was called ‘Little Joe from Kokomo’. He had a four-step delivery. 5 – ‘five, five, no field five’.
What do they call 11 in craps?
Natural
Mark the Point: The dealer puts the Puck on the layout to indicate the point number. Midnight: Slang for the 12. Also called box cars. Natural: A seven or 11 thrown on the come out roll for a winning bet.
What is the six on a dice called?
Standard variations
| Sides | Shape |
|---|---|
| 6 | cube |
| 8 | octahedron |
| 10 | pentagonal trapezohedron |
| 12 | dodecahedron |
What is plural for mouse?
plural mice ˈmīs