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.
Goonies never say die, not because they’re invincible, but because they refuse to go it alone.
From Salon • Jun. 7, 2025
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
"Nothing's over. I never say die for anything. Do you ever quit on anything?"
From US News • 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 Lynde, Francis
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.
