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dice
loaded dice
1. Literally, dice that have each been weighted to one side so as to increase the odds of their landing on the opposite number. When they found out we'd been using loaded dice, they threw us out of the club and told us to never come back.
2. By extension, a means of gaining an advantage through the exploitation or manipulation of rules or regulations. At the height of the economic boom, investment bankers were using sub-prime mortgages with falsified credit ratings as loaded dice to make as much money as possible.
roll the dice
1. Literally, to roll dice, as for or in a game of chance. I'm usually not much of a gambler, but I couldn't resist heading to the craps table to roll the dice!
2. By extension, to take some risk on the hope or chance of a fortunate outcome. Look, worst case scenario is that we get hit with a fine, so I say we just roll the dice and hope it doesn't come to that.
play with loaded dice
1. Literally, to use dice that have been weighted to one side so as to increase the odds of their landing on the opposite number. When they found out we'd been playing with loaded dice, they threw us out of the club and told us to never come back.
2. By extension, to gain an advantage through the exploitation or manipulation of rules or regulations. At the height of the economic boom, investment bankers were playing with loaded dice by using sub-prime mortgages with falsified credit ratings to make as much money as possible.
no dice
Inf. no; not possible. When I asked about a loan, he said, "No dice." No. It can't be done, no dice.
no dice
this result did not or will not happen no go The Giants could have made it an exciting ballgame, but no dice, they didn't even score.
dice with death
to do something very dangerous (often in continuous tenses) You're dicing with death driving at that sort of speed on icy roads.
the dice are loaded against somebody
if the dice are loaded against someone, they are not likely to succeed When I realized I was the only male applicant I knew that the dice were loaded against me.
See no diceno dice
(American & Australian informal) also no soap (American) something that you say in order to refuse a request or to make clear that something is not possible 'Can you lend me ten dollars?' 'Sorry, no dice - I don't have any money with me.' We were looking for a house to rent on the island but it was no soap.
dice are loaded, the
load the dice
Rig the odds so there is little chance for another person to win; cheat. For example, There's no way we can win this contest; they've loaded the dice. This expression is also put as the dice are loaded, as in There's no point in trying; the dice are loaded. This expression alludes to adding weight to one side or another of dice so that they will always come up with certain numbers facing upward. [Late 1800s]
no dice
Also,
no go;
no soap. No, certainly not; also, impossible. For example,
Anthony wanted to borrow my new coat, but Mom said no dice, or
We tried to rent the church for the wedding, but it's no go for the date you picked, or
Jim asked Dad to help pay for the repairs, but Dad said no soap. All of these slangy expressions indicate refusal or an unsuccessful attempt.
No dice, from the 1920s, alludes to an unlucky throw in gambling;
no go, alluding to lack of progress, dates from about 1820; and
no soap dates from about 1920 and possibly alludes to the phrase
it won't wash, meaning "it won't find acceptance." Also see
nothing doing;
won't wash.
no dice
interj. no; not possible. When I asked about a loan, he said, No dice.
load the dice
1. To make an outcome highly probable; predetermine a result: "These factors merely load the dice, upping the odds that a household will fall into a certain ... income distribution" (Thomas G. Exter).
2. To put another at a distinct disadvantage, as through prior maneuver: The dice were loaded against the defendant before the trial.
no dice
1. Of no use; futile.
2. Used as a refusal to a request.
no dice
An absolute refusal. According to one explanation, courts would not convict gamblers at illegal craps games unless they were caught with dice (swallowing the evidence was not an uncommon way to get rid of it). “No dice, no conviction” was the watchword that referred to that refusal to convict.