What is the origin of the saying no dice?

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.

What does the expression 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.

Where did close but no dice come from?

"No dice" originates from America in the early 20th century. In most states, gambling was illegal. Therefore, when a gamblers' haunt was raided by the police, the gamblers would quickly hide, even swallow, their dice.

What is an example of no dice?

something that people say when you may not or cannot do something: I asked if we could go to the party, but Mom said no dice.

What is the term dice mean?

: die sense 1. : a gambling game played with dice. plural also dices : a small cubical piece (as of food) 3. : a close contest between two racing-car drivers for position during a race.

No Dice | Meaning and Usage | English Phrases

What is the origin of the word dice?

Etymology of Dice

'Die', the singular form of 'dice', originates from the Old French 'dé' and the Latin 'datum' which refers to "something which is given or played".

What is dice symbolic of?

Dice represent a means of control, or at least the illusion of control, and that is why they are still popular today. How ironic it is that the same tool used to tell us about our lives is also used for games!

Why is dice illegal?

The statute you are referring to is a provision of the California Penal Code that generally prohibits people from operating commercial gambling enterprises. The statute in its entirety prevents businesses from operating any dice-based gambling games for money, regardless of the number of sides on the die.

What is a death dice?

Death dice was presumably, a kind of gambling game that Nym and Jinkins often played. The rules of the game are unknown. Nym was supposedly good at the game, or was a bit of a cheater as sometimes Jinkins accused Nym of cheating going as far as challenging him to a dogfight. Advertisement.

What does the saying close but no cigar mean?

used to say that a guess was almost correct or that an effort was almost sufficient. Quick: What country jails the most journalists? If you guessed China, you were close, but no cigar.

What were dice originally called?

The probable immediate forerunners of dice were knucklebones (astragals: the anklebones of sheep, buffalo, or other animals), sometimes with markings on the four faces. Such objects are still used in some parts of the world.

What is the oldest known dice?

2600 BCE: Oldest confirmed dice. Pyramidal d4s found in the board game, the Royal Game of Ur from ancient Sumeria. Source: Brittish Museum.

Why are dice called snake eyes?

The term snake eyes probably comes from the appearance of the single black dot in each die. Together, the two dice with one dot each can resemble the literal eyes of a snake. It is also possible that the animal snake was chosen due to the negative association of the low roll and the animal.

What does a terrifying dice with death mean?

to do something very dangerous that could kill you.

What does the phrase pass the buck mean?

To shift blame from oneself to another person: “Passing the buck is a way of life in large bureaucracies.” (See the buck stops here.)

What is the definition of dice girl?

noun. : a girl who acts as dealer at various dice games.

What are the 6 dots on dice?

On dice, pips are small dots on each face of a common six-sided die. These pips are typically arranged in patterns denoting the numbers one through six. The sum of opposing faces traditionally adds up to seven.

What is snake eyes in dice?

A roll of two 1s (the lowest roll possible) on a pair of six-sided dice. The probability of rolling snake eyes is 1/36, or 2.777... %.

What are the 7 types of dice?

Standard set of seven dice– a four-sided (d4), six-sided (d6), eight-sided (d8), ten-sided (d10), ten-sided percentile (d10 in 10's), a twelve-sided (d12), and the classic twenty-sided (d20) dice.

What is the dice game for black people?

Craps is derived from the English dice game hazard. The private form of craps played in the United States evolved in the mid-19th century among African Americans.

Why can't you roll dice in California?

As part of these Tribal-state negotiations, house-banked card games were regulated, but certain games such as craps, roulette, and dice-games based on chance remained prohibited under the state constitution and laws. Essentially, California forbids games where a ball or dice alone determines the outcome.

Why is it illegal to hang dice in your car?

Some states have made it illegal to hang fuzzy dice and other large items from your rearview mirror. This is simply a safety precaution that could prevent collisions from happening. While the decoration itself isn't illegal, it's the obstructed view that's discouraged.

What does 5 on a dice mean?

EVEN NUMBERS (2 AND 6) INDICATE A YES OR POSITIVE ANSWER AND ODD NUMBERS (1 AND 5) INDICATE A NO OR NEGATIVE ANSWER. NUMBERS 3 AND 4 INDICATE MAYBE OR TRY AGAIN.

What do black fuzzy dice mean?

After the WWII pilots returned home, the tradition of carrying dice for good luck was translated into hanging them from your vehicle's rearview mirror, and the fuzzy dice meaning continued to be for good luck.

What does a tattoo of dice mean?

Dice tattoos are symbols of risk taking and gambling. They're commonly part of a larger design such as a gambling sleeve or bold Lady Luck piece. Whether they are alone or accompanied by other images dice tattoos make a great little design.