no fair

You broke rules!

No fair is a childish exclamation protesting something perceived as unjust: No fair, you got a bigger piece!

Adults use it playfully or sarcastically to object to perceived unfairness.

The phrase drops the implied "that's" from "that's not fair," giving it an emphatic, whining quality.

protest

unjust

Not fair or right

biased · rigged · fixed · stacked · loaded · one-sided · lopsided · uneven · unequal · inequitable

childish

whine

Complain in high pitch

  • poutSulky facial expression
  • tantrumUncontrolled display of frustration
  • sulkBrood in silence

stomp · cry · fuss · outburst · playground · recess · game · turn · sharing · rules

Categories
Opposites
fairness/justice

no fairfair

Impartial and unbiased

fair enough · just · equitable · on the level · legitimate

sportsmanship/conduct

no fairgood sportsmanship

Honorable conduct in competition

fair play · honorable · sporting · gentlemanly · clean

acceptance/protest

no fairfair enough

Acknowledging reasonable logic

I accept · good game · well played · okay · you win

Family

no, fair, fairly, fairness, unfair, unfairly, unfairness, fairer, fairest

Familiarity
Top 50,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G