Am I going to lend him money? Not on your nelly.
not on your nelly
idiomnot on your life, an emphatic form of no.
Origin
disputed originFrom nelly, Nelly Duff, rhyming slang for puff (of breath = life).
She asked if I'd ever move back to my hometown, and I said, 'Not on your nelly.'
When the corrupt official suggested he might quietly overlook the violation for a small fee, the inspector laughed and said, 'Not on your nelly — not while I wear this badge.'
Last updated April 17, 2026