never

Better late than never.

something that you say which means it is better for someone or something to be late than never to arrive or to happen. 'Karen's card arrived 2 weeks after my birthday.' 'Oh well, better late than never.'

See also: better, late

I've never [felt/heard/seen etc.] something in all my (born) days! (old-fashioned)

something that you say when you are shocked or very surprised by something. There were two men kissing in the street. I've never seen anything like it in all my born days!

See also: all, days, felt, hear, seen

It never rains but it pours.

something that you say which means that when one bad thing happens, a lot of other bad things also happen, making the situation even worse. First of all it was the car breaking down, then the fire in the kitchen and now Mike's accident. It never rains but it pours!

See also: but, pour, rain

It'll never fly. (American)

something that you say when you think an idea will not be successful. He sent me a movie script but it'll never fly - it's just too unbelievable.

See also: fly, it'll

It's now or never.

something that you say which means that you must do something immediately because you will not get another opportunity. As she was leaving I thought, it's now or never. So I just went up to her and asked her out.

See also: it's, now

never darken your door again (old-fashioned)

if you tell someone never to darken your door again, you mean you never want to see them again. Did her father really tell you never to darken his door again? How melodramatic.

See also: again, door

You'll never hear the end of it. (informal)

something that you say which means that someone will continue to talk about something they have achieved for a long time and in an annoying way. If she wins you know we'll never hear the end of it.

See also: end, hear

never live something down

if you say that you will never live down something bad or embarrassing that you have done, you mean people will not forget it. Three million people saw the singer fall off the edge of the stage. He'll never live it down. I'll never live down the fact that I spilt champagne down my boss's trousers.

See also: down, live

Never say die.

something that you say which means that you should not accept that you have failed while there is still a chance that you may succeed. There are still a couple of job agencies that you haven't tried. Never say die.

See also: die, say

Never the twain shall meet. (literary)

something that you say when two things or people are so different that they can never exist together or agree with each other. Psychologists support behavioural therapy, pharmacologists support drugs, and never the twain shall meet.

See also: meet, shall

a never-never land

an imaginary place where everything is perfect in a way that it is not in the real world. The film is set in a pre-war English never-never land of roses and sunny days.

See also: land

on the never-never (British, humorous)

if you buy something on the never-never, you pay for it in regular, small amounts over a period of time. Buy something on the never-never and you end up paying twice as much.

Sticks and stones may break my bones (but words will never hurt me).

something that you say which means that people cannot hurt you with bad things they say or write about you. Criticism has never bothered me. Sticks and stones may break my bones, and all that.

See also: bone, break, may, Stick, stone

A watched pot never boils.

something that you say which means if you wait anxiously for something to happen, it seems to take a very long time. There's no point sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring. A watched pot never boils.

See also: boil, pot, watch

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almost never

very rarely. Documentary films almost never win prizes.

better late than never

it is good this happened now although it should have happened sooner. I guess it's better late than never, but getting the award after he died strikes me as less than satisfactory.

See also: better, late

(there is) never a dull moment

something interesting is always happening. One thing about an ice show – there's never a dull moment.

See also: dull, moment

never hear the end of it

to have to listen for a long time to talk about something embarrassing or annoying. If you don't send your aunt a thank-you letter, you'll never hear the end of it from your mother!

See also: end, hear

never mind (someone/something)

do not worry about someone or something. “I lost that wallet you gave me.” “Well, never mind, I can always buy you another one.” Never mind Susan – she can get a ride home with someone else.

skip it

See also: mind

never mind something

without considering something. Top executive salaries are huge, never mind that ordinary employees are having their pensions cut.

See also: mind

never say die

to refuse to stop trying to do something. What I liked best about hiking with this group of people was that they would never say die!

See also: die, say

never say never

do not ever say that you will not ever do something. At the present time, he has no intention of running for mayor, but never say never.

Usage notes: used mainly in business and politics

See also: say

never the twain shall meet

these two things or people will never exist together or agree with each other. Psychologists believe in therapy, chemists believe in drugs, and never the twain shall meet.

See also: meet, shall

(it's) now or never

you should do something immediately because you may not get another opportunity. Olympic athletes only get a chance to compete every four years, so it's now or never for me.

See also: now

something will never fly

something will not succeed. People told him it was a great story, but it would never fly as a movie.

See also: fly

you never can tell

there is no way to know or be certain of something. It sounds like a nice place to live, but you never can tell – we may end up hating it.

there's no telling

See also: can, tell