never say die

N

never say die

Meaning

• don’t get discouraged or give up, no matter what.
• stay optimistic with a positive attitude.
• don’t quit and have a positive attitude.
• refrain from accepting failure while there’s a chance that you might succeed.

Example Sentences

1. Things look bad for the team, but never say die. A miracle could happen.
2. I have not gotten a job yet, but I never say die. There are many job openings I have yet to try.
3. The manager prides himself on the fact that we never say die.
4. Their never say die attitude is excellent. It has enabled them to persist through adversity.
5. It should be about skill, sacrifice, suffering, tenacity, endeavor, and a “never say die” attitude.
6. More than anything, it is controlled fury, a never-say-die attitude.
7. The team has a never-say-die attitude that has allowed it to perform well.
8. Both football teams have a “never say die” attitude.
9. I was glad my employees displayed a never-die spirit during the recession.
10. You get ahead through military-style planning, guile, and never-say-die determination.
11. This winter, we have worked on our never-say-die attitude and team spirit.
12. There are still a dozen job vacancies that she hasn’t tried. Never say die.

Origin

People use this idiom to encourage others to remain hopeful or continue something. A never-say-die spirit describes teams or individuals who never quit. Soldiers with this spirit fight even when the situation is dangerous or scary. People with a never-say-die attitude about something like a game will keep playing hard even if they are losing. The earliest published example of the idiom is from The Man of War’s Man, Chapter 16. There are numerous citations from the 1800s where the idiom is used, including a poem credited to J.F. Waller. The poem is reprinted in Oddfellows’ magazine, Volume 13, 1881, page 91. Various writers have used the phrase as the title of their books. Examples are Never Say Die by Will Hobbs and Never Say Die by Anthony Horowitz.

About the Author

Elena Jones holds a PhD in Education from Harvard University. She has extensive experience teaching at both the K–12 and university levels, with a particular focus on English as a Second Language. Elena has dedicated her career to advancing educational practices, and she has contributed to numerous educational journals.

Death, Failure, Hard, Hope, Success