nay

he that will not when he may, when he will he may have nay

proverb Avail yourself of something now, even if you don't need it, because it might not be available later when you do need it. A: "Oh wow, it's rare to see this skincare line in stores—it usually sells out really fast." B: "Yeah, but I don't need any more moisturizer right now." A: OK, but he that will not when he may, when he will he may have nay." "He that will not when he may, when he will he may have nay" is my mom's whole ethos—and what's led to the hoarding situation you see before you. I know their wedding is still a few months away, but if you love that dress, get it now. He that will not when he may, when he will he may have nay.

See also: have, he, may, nay, not, that, will

nay

1. formal No. Used to indicate a negative vote or to emphasize a point. It was an unethical, nay, downright abhorrent thing to do.

2. A negative vote. I plan to vote nay on this proposal.

3. One who has cast a negative vote. The nays overwhelmed the handful of yeas on this vote.

yea or nay

Yes or no. "Yea" is pronounced (and commonly misspelled as) "yay." What do you think of this outfit for tonight? Yea or nay? All right kids, Chinese take-out—yea or nay? Speak now or forever hold your peace.

See also: nay, yea

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

nay

mod. ugly; unfavorable. (From nasty.) What a nay thing to say.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.