I'll pass

[0208] Thanks, but no thanks

🎲 No can do
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • A way to refuse an offer that often carries an undertone of dismissal, sarcasm, or implies the offer is unwanted, unappealing, or unnecessary.
  • It acknowledges the offer (Thanks) but firmly rejects it with an emphasized, slightly redundant no thanks.

Origin

  • A colloquial play on the standard No, thank you.
  • The repetition/structure Thanks, but no thanks creates emphasis and often conveys irony or a lack of genuine gratitude for the offer itself, focusing instead on the firmness of the refusal.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • I'll pass. (More neutral, less dismissive)
  • Definitely not. (Direct, strong refusal)
  • No way. (Informal, strong refusal)
  • I appreciate the thought, but I must decline. (Formal, polite, lacks the dismissive tone)
  • Hard pass. (Informal, emphatic refusal)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Yeah, nah. (Aus/NZ slang for 'no')
  • Hard pass.
  • Get outta here. / Get lost. (Rude dismissal)
  • I'm good. (Can be dismissive depending on tone)

Vulgar/Emphatic (Directly rude/dismissive):

  • Fuck off.
  • Shove it. / Stick it. (Referring to the offer)
  • Not interested, piss off.

Milder/More Polite:

  • No, thank you.
  • I'm not interested, thank you.
  • I appreciate the offer, but I'll decline.

Situational Appropriateness

  • Informal.
  • Use when you want to be very clear about refusal and the offer is perceived negatively (unwanted, silly, suspicious, etc.).
  • Can sound rude, sarcastic, or ungrateful in formal settings or if the offer was genuinely well-intentioned. Use with caution regarding politeness.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • The core meaning (refusal) is clear.
  • The main aspect learners might miss is the *connotation* – the dismissal, irony, sarcasm, or slight rudeness compared to a simple No, thank you. It's not just 'no', it's often 'hell no, politely phrased'.

Examples

  • Salesperson: Want to buy this 'genuine' Rolex for $50? You: Uh... thanks, but no thanks.
  • Annoying acquaintance: I can tell you exactly what you're doing wrong in your life. You: Thanks, but no thanks.
  • Friend: Remember that awful restaurant we went to? Want to give it another try? You: Thanks, but no thanks. Never again.

Dialogue

Person A: Hey, I found this half-eaten sandwich on the bus seat. You want it?

Person B: (Recoiling slightly) Whoa. Uh, thanks, but no thanks.

Person A: Okay, more for me I guess. (Shrugs)

Social Media Examples

  • Replying to a spammy ad comment: Get rich quick scheme! DM me! -> Thanks, but no thanks. #Scam
  • Tweet about dating: My toxic ex hit me up asking to 'talk'. Mmm, thanks, but no thanks. Blocked. 🚫

Response Patterns

  • The offerer usually gets the message that the refusal is firm and possibly dismissive.
  • They might back off quickly.
  • Oh. Okay then.
  • Suit yourself.
  • May result in silence or an awkward end to the topic.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After the refusal:

  • The offer is definitively dropped.
  • The conversation likely moves on, potentially awkwardly.

Action:

  • Offer strongly rejected; topic closed.

Conversation Starter

  • No.
  • It's a response to an offer, usually an unwanted one.

Intonation

  • Often dry, sarcastic, dismissive, or firmly final.
  • Stress is clearly on the second part: NO THANKS.
  • Thanks, but NO THANKS.

Generation Differences

  • Understood by most generations.
  • The slightly sarcastic edge might resonate particularly with Gen X and Millennial humor, but it's widely used.

Regional Variations

  • Widely understood and used across major English-speaking regions.
I'll pass
🎲 No can do