Definitions and Usage:
Won’t take no for an answer: Will not accept a refusal. This term dates from the mid-1800s; it appeared in Thomas Halliburton’s Sam Slick’s Wise Saws (1853). Its frequent repetition makes it a cliché. The Washington Post had it headlining an article by Dan Froomkin about President Obama’s position on health care, “Obama Won’t Take No for an Answer” (June 26, 2009).
🤔 Similar Expressions:
- Persistent like a dog with a bone: Someone who refuses to give up.
- Don’t take ‘No’ for an answer: A more direct version of the idiom itself.
- Tough nut to crack: A very determined or stubborn person.
- Not backing down: Standing firm on one’s beliefs or decisions.
🙃 Antithesis:
- Taking “No” for an answer: Accepting refusal.
- Throwing in the towel: Giving up or quitting.
🎭 Contextual Quotes:
- Winston Churchill: “Never, never, never give up.”
- Mae West: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
📚 Recommended Literature, Songs, Poetry, and Movies:
- Book: The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper - Classic tale of perseverance.
- Song: “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey - Anthem of relentless hope.
- Poetry: “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley - Celebrates the unconquerable human spirit.
- Movie: Erin Brockovich - A powerful example of a person who truly didn’t take “No” for an answer.
Quizzes:
⚡️ Inspirational Thought to Ponder:
“Fortitude is the marshal of thought, the armor of the will, and the fort of reason.” — Francis Bacon
Let your resolve be as solid as diamonds and in full bloom like daffodils in the spring sunshine. Refuse to accept refusal where your dreams take flight!
