not likely
Probably won't happen
Not likely expresses skepticism or dismissal—something probably won't happen or isn't true.
It can be a simple probability assessment: Is it going to rain? Not likely.
But often it's emphatic refusal or disbelief: Me, apologize to him? Not likely!
The phrase carries more force than "unlikely," suggesting the speaker finds the idea almost absurd.
- fat chanceSarcastic denial of possibility
- slim chanceLow probability outcome
- improbableNot likely true
- doubtfulUncertain of truth
- questionableOf uncertain validity
as if · implausible · never · dream on · no way · no way José · far-fetched · rare · dubious · inconceivable · when pigs fly · hard to believe · long shot · don't hold your breath · yeah right · remote · scarcely · never in a million years
- refusalsno, decline, no thanks, refuse, nope
- sarcastic rejectionsas if, dream on, fat chance, in your dreams, yeah right
- sarcastic phraseswhatever, who cares, yeah right, so what, why bother