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Difference between Never ever and Never-never

never ever—(emphatic) absolutely never:

  • Keep background noise to a minimum when speaking on the telephone—and never, ever let your children answer your business line!

never-never, the

1. (UK coll.) the hire-purchase system:

  • Some people bought on the never-never with no idea as to how they would meet their repayments should things turn sour.

2. (Never-Never, the) in Australia, the unpopulated northern part of Queensland; the desert country of the interior:

  • His intention was to enjoy this trip … not to “do a perish” in the Never-Never.