never say never

Idioms

Nothing is impossible, anything can happen, as in Mary said Tom would never call her again, but I told her, “Never say never.” This expression was first recorded in Charles Dickens's Pickwick Papers (1837).

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“You should never say never,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Never say never but history isn’t a single train rushing down a single track.

From The Wall Street Journal

“That would be hostile,” he said, before adding he could “never say never” on a potential offer.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Never say never," Carrick said.

From BBC

"But never say never. I want to dream big."

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023