no way
- 1Used as a firm refusal, meaning absolutely not or under no circumstances.
"Can I borrow your car for the weekend?" "No way. You still haven't paid for the last dent."
My boss asked me to work on Christmas Day, and I told her no way.
Similarno
Note
As a refusal it is blunt and informal, the usual answer to a request or a dare that will not be granted. The same two words make the cry of disbelief, and context and tone tell them apart: a refusal is flat and final, while disbelief rises in surprise and can even sound delighted.
- 2Used to express astonished disbelief at something surprising.
"I just got engaged!" "No way! When did he ask?"
No way, you met the president? Tell me everything.
Similarreally
- 3Not any possibility or means by which something can happen or be done.
There's no way we'll finish the project by Friday without more help.
The road was flooded, and we had no way to reach the village.
Less common meaning
- 4In no way whatsoever; not at all.
The treaty could no way be changed without the consent of both kings.
Her brother was no way responsible for the damage to the fence.
Note
In older writing the phrase sits inside the verb and simply means not at all: John Florio's 1603 translation of Montaigne's Essays says merely human means "can no way be capable of it". Put first in casual speech, it pushes the verb ahead of its subject, as in No way can we fix this tonight, and sounds far blunter.
Practice
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