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Etymology Journal ยท N

Never say die

Meaning

A mantra for perseverance. It means to keep trying and refusing to give up even when things look bleak.

Encouraging, sturdy

Used in a sentence

  • The business is struggling, but never say die, we have one more idea to try.
  • He is a never say die kind of guy who always finds a way to win.
  • We are down by ten points, but never say die, let us get back in the game.

The backstory

The phrase appears in the literature of the 19th century, notably in the writings of Charles Dickens. It was a common motivational rallying cry for the working class.

Heard in

Nationwide

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