no can do

English

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Chinese Pidgin English. A calque of Chinese 不能做.

Interjection

no can do

1. (informal) I cannot do it.
   • 2018, The Avengers: Infinity War:

     Tony Stark: If Thanos needs all six, why don't we just stick this one down a garbage disposal?
     Doctor Strange: No can do.
     Wong: We swore an oath to protect the Time Stone with our lives.

See also

• nothing doing