say no

verb
UK: /seɪ nəʊ/
US: /seɪ noʊ/

  1. To refuse to give permission or approval; to decline an offer or request.

    1. I can't always say no to candy. [ ] [ ]
    2. It's important to say no when you feel uncomfortable with a request, respecting your boundaries. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

reject disallow refuse decline
say no idiom

  1. Expressing a refusal or denial.

    1. Just say no to drugs. [ ] [ ]
    2. The campaign encourages young people to say no to peer pressure and make healthy choices. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "say no" is /seɪ nəʊ/ in British English and /seɪ noʊ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "say no": reject, disallow, refuse, decline.

Example usage of "say no": "I can't always say no to candy.". More examples on the page.