Not gonna happen

[0212] Over my dead body

🎲 Not in a million years
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • An extremely emphatic way of saying you will do everything possible to prevent something from happening.
  • It implies very strong opposition and determination.

Origin

  • A figurative expression suggesting that the proposed action will only occur after the speaker is dead and therefore unable to prevent it.
  • Evokes a strong image of defiance.
  • Dates back to at least the mid-19th century.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Not gonna happen (much less emphatic)
  • No way in hell (Vulgar/Emphatic)
  • Absolutely not
  • I'll stop you at all costs
  • Not on my watch

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Not on my watch
  • Try and make me (Implies resistance)
  • Yeah, right (Sarcastic dismissal)

Vulgar/Emphatic:

  • Not if I fucking see you first
  • Fuck no / Hell no
  • No fucking way

Milder/Less Dramatic:

  • I strongly object
  • I won't allow it
  • Absolutely not
  • That's out of the question

Situational Appropriateness

  • Informal to semi-formal, but highly dramatic.
  • Its intensity makes it potentially confrontational.
  • Avoid in most professional contexts unless the stakes are exceptionally high and personal. Could be used ironically or humorously in casual settings.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Non-native speakers might be shocked by the literal imagery if they don't recognize it as a common idiom.
  • Emphasize it's a figure of speech for extreme opposition, not a literal threat.

Examples

  • You want to sell the family home? Over my dead body!
  • Let that bully join our team? Over my dead body!

Dialogue

Teenager: Dad, I'm thinking of getting a motorcycle.

Dad: A motorcycle? Over my dead body! They're far too dangerous.

Teenager: But all my friends have them!

Dad: I don't care what your friends have. The answer is absolutely not.

Social Media Examples

  • Post: Hearing rumors they might cut funding for the arts program at school. Over my dead body! Time to organize. #SaveTheArts #CommunityAction
  • Comment: User A: Suggests tearing down the old theater for condos. User B: OVER MY DEAD BODY. That building is a landmark!

Response Patterns

  • Surprise at the level of opposition: Wow, you feel that strongly?
  • Challenge: Don't be so dramatic. / We'll see about that.
  • Retreat: Okay, okay, calm down. I won't.
  • Inquiry: But why are you so against it?

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • The listener might ask for the reasons behind such strong opposition (Why are you so vehemently against this?).
  • The speaker might stand firm, reiterate their stance, or elaborate on their objections.
  • It often escalates the conflict or forces the proposer to back down.

Conversation Starter

  • No. A strong reaction to a proposal, not an opener.

Intonation

  • Strong stress on O-ver, dead, and BO-dy.
  • Often spoken with force, determination, and sometimes anger. O-ver my DEAD BO-dy!.

Generation Differences

  • Understood by most generations.
  • Might feel a bit theatrical or old-fashioned to some younger people, often associated with dramatic movie scenes.

Regional Variations

  • Widely understood across English-speaking regions.
Not gonna happen
🎲 Not in a million years