Where Did the Term “No Dice” Originate?

Where did the term “no dice” originate?

We get this question every year or so. It's a popular term, which we use ourselves, so it stands to reason that when people hear it, they get curious about where it comes from, then think of the gambling-answer people at QoD.

Anyway, "no dice" is a phrase that's believed to have originated in the United States in the early 20th century.

Since gambling with dice was illegal in most states, crapshooters went to great lengths to hide or dispose of the bad-boy bones when the law showed up (there were reports of gamblers actually swallowing the dice to avoid arrest). Prosecutors and judges had to throw out illegal-gambling charges when there were "no dice" -- in other words, a distinct lack of evidence.

According to phrases.org, the earliest known reference to the term was printed in the Port Arthur [Texas] Daily News in April 1921: "It's 'no dice' when the bones can't be found, according to a local court decision. Six white men were arrested Tuesday by Officer W. D. Moore and charged with gaming with dice." At the trial, the men were acquitted due to the lack of evidence. So "no dice" meant no conviction.

Somewhere along the line, like many gambling terms, "no dice" insinuated itself into the general slang to mean "an unacceptable alternative," or "an unfavorable result," or "a refusal to accept a proposition" -- in short, "nothing doing," "forget it," "no way," "not on your life," "don't hold your breath," "not until pigs fly," "when hell freezes over," "the over/under is zero and I'm taking the under," or even the plain final "never."

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Comments

Jackie Mar-09-2023

Also

It's a term said by the Craps Table Dealer any time a single or both dice do not land within the pit of the Table (the green felt).

The meaning is that the number on the dice once stopped moving is not a valid number and does not play.
.

[email protected] Mar-09-2023

No dice

Crap dealer.....just under 40 years.....never said "no dice" unless it was in response to the boss' question "Why isn't this game open?"

(:

Jackie Mar-09-2023

@  gigustafson52

So enlighten us crap players.
What was your 40 year term for dice thrown onto the ring around the table and/or off the table completely.
I'm sure there is more than one version.

Barry Inciong Mar-09-2023

"No roll"

When a craps roll is invalid because one or both dice do not land on the felt (off the table, on house chips, etc) they say "no roll".  I have never heard the dealers call "no dice".

Reno Faoro Mar-09-2023

no dice--lol

being 81 , on a fixed income , with economy tanking , 'NO DICE' means  'NO CRAPS' at tables $10 and up !!!!!!!!!! to play properly at a $10 table, $10 pass line , $20 (or more)  odds line , $18 each on 6 and 8 , $5 on hard (point), $5 line bet for dealers , totals $76 . POINT IS ESTABLISHED , NEXT THROW IS A 7 , OMG . $76 IS TOAST , ty,tyvm

dchealer Mar-09-2023

No Dice!

Reno, you made my day!

Roy Furukawa Mar-09-2023

Thanks Barry

Barry Inciong got the correct phrase of "no roll" when the dice leave the table at craps. I don't think I have ever heard anything else when that happened.

[email protected] Mar-09-2023

I'm With "Reno"

As a "seasoned citizen" that used to LOVE playing $1 craps/100X odds back in the day at Binion's, I have ZERO use for any craps tables these days because of the $10 (or more) table minimums. And because I will wager a significant portion of the 55+ crowd feel the same way and that's why craps these days has mostly turned into a "carnival game" with the silly "bubble" craps tables...

Ray Mar-09-2023

agree with Jackie

I have often heard the box man say "no dice" when the dice are rolled and something happens to make it an illegal throw, like when one or both dice leave the table. I've also heard it when a shooter fails to throw the dice far enough to hit the back wall.

Jxs Mar-09-2023

Learn it. Know it. Live it.

No shirt, no shoes, no dice. -Spicoli

Question of the Day - 09 March 2023

Comments