Never say die
Never give up.
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Never say die
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never say die
never say dieDon't ever give up, do not despair, as in This stage set doesn't look too promising, but never say die, it may still work out. This maxim today is often used ironically and deprecatingly, for something that has already failed. [Early 1800s]
Never say die
Cultural
never say die
Idioms
Explanation
If you have a never-say-die attitude, you don't give up or get discouraged, no matter what. People love a never-say-die spirit because it describes people or teams that just don’t quit. Unless they die, then they can’t say it anymore. A never-say-die soldier keeps on fighting even when the situation is scary and dangerous. Someone with a never-say-die attitude about winning a game will keep on playing hard even when they’re losing by a lot. You can also use this phrase to encourage someone who's feeling hopeless — a football coach might call to his struggling team, "Never-say-die!"
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"Never say die, simple as that," said Detroit's Cade Cunningham, who top scored in the match with 32 points.
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
“Ha, ha! Never say die, take a pinch of snuff, goodbye, goodbye!” squalled Polly, dancing on her perch, and clawing at the old lady’s cap as Laurie tweaked him in the rear.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
"Never say die, Mister Charles," replied Jacques, taking up the axe from the bottom of the canoe; "it's quite clear that cuttin' through the trees is easier than cuttin' through the bushes, so here goes."
From The Young Fur Traders by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne
"Never say die," warned Ensign Eph Somers seriously, "until you know you're really dead!"
From Dave Darrin's Fourth Year at Annapolis by H. Irving (Harrie Irving) Hancock
"Never say die till you're dead," he cried, squaring his shoulders— "that's the Englishman's motto."
From The Gentleman A Romance of the Sea by Alfred Ollivant
In 2016, Michael Bisping became the UFC's middleweight champion, after refusing to be denied time and again, in a never say die narrative which had turned the Lancastrian into a folk hero.
From BBC ● May 10, 2022
Its very optimistic, forward-looking "never say die" perspective informed him from an early age.
From Salon ● Jul. 16, 2018
On Capitol Hill, immigration issues never say die.
From Slate ● Feb. 20, 2015
“Nothing’s over. I never say die for anything. Do you ever quit on anything?”
From Washington Times ● Sep. 26, 2014
Harnwicke thought not, being of the opinion that the vested interests would never say die until they were quite dead.
From The Grafters by Francis Lynde
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
