REFUSAL
in no mood to do something
not to feel like doing something; to wish not to do something.I'm in no mood to cook dinner tonight.Mother is in no mood to put up with our arguing.
no can do
cannot do (something). (Slang.)Sorry, John. No can do. I can't sell you this one. I've promised it to Mrs. Smith.BILL: Please fix this clock today. BOB: NO can do. It'll take a week to get the parts.
nothing doing
no. (Informal.)No, I won't do that. Nothing doing.BOB: Will you help me with this? BILL: Nothing doing.
sit on its hands
[for an audience] to refuse to applaud.We saw a very poor performance of the play. The audience sat on its hands for the entire play.The audience just sat on its hands.
turn someone down
1.
to refuse or deny someone.
I applied for a job with the city, but they turned me down.They turned down Mary who also applied.
2.
to deny someone's request.
I offered her some help, but she turned it down.She had turned down John's offer of help, too.
See also NO.
back up
in. to refuse to go through with something; to back out (of something).Fred backed up at the last minute, leaving me with twenty pounds of hot dogs.Don't back up now, man. It's too late.
nix
tr. to put a stop to something; to say no to something; to ban something; to turn something down.The boss nixed my plan.I wanted to say a certain word in my speech, but the management nixed it.
pass
1.
in. to decline something; to decline to participate in something.
No, thanks. I pass.I'll have to pass. I am not prepared.
2.
n. an act of declining something.
I'll have to take a pass.Can I have a pass on that one? There is nothing I can do.
take the fifth and five it
tr. to decline to answer any questions.I'll take the fifth on that one. Ask Fred.Don't ask me. I am going to five it.
would not be seen dead
phr. would not do something under any circumstances.I wouldn't be seen dead going out with Bruno!Martha would not be seen dead going into a place like that.