Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (orig. US) absolutely not! you must be joking! you can’t fool me!

1970		G. Cain Blueschild Baby 119: ‘Niggers just ain’t no good, no way’.
1976		Byron W. Gibson (age 5 yrs) in Ebony Jr! Jan. 31: Chili today! Spaghetti, no way!
1980		J. McClure Spike Island (1981) 459: She was determined I should do something, well, legitimate — and this kiddie was saying, ‘No way.’.
1984		B. Ellem Doing Time 111: [H]e’s a top fella, but I would not associate with him on the outside, no way. Because I know he’s still ‘working’.
1985		E. Leonard Glitz 34: Iris said,‘No way, José.’.
1993		I. Welsh Trainspotting 198: If ah start hingin roond losers like Spud [...] ah’m back tae usin again in nae time at aw. No way José.
1999		K. Sampson Powder 27: ‘Let’s just get the bleedin’ show on the road.’ ‘No way.’.
2000		Guardian Guide 5–11 Feb. 6: They all yell, ‘Do Bart! Do Bart!’ and I just say [...] ‘No way, man!’.
2000		R.G. Barrett Leaving Bondi (2013) [ebook] ‘Are you going to cop it?’ [...] ‘No fuckin way Jose’.
2004		Shystie ‘Somedayz’ 🎵 No way, José.
2010		Sun. Times Mag. 19 Dec. 21/1: All hairy? No way!
2021		C. Hammer Opal Country 440: ‘Claxton is dead. Insulin overdose.’ [...] ‘No way’.
2024		J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 303: I wouldn’t have wanted to be one of the performers. No way José.

2. used in rejoinder to a story that, however bizarre, is true; ‘Surely not!’ ‘Really, that’s amazing!’. The usu. affirmative reply is way! excl.

1997		C. Hiaasen Lucky You 38: ‘God’s truth. I sold it to the woman myself.’ [...] ‘Right here? No way.’.
2012		J. Fagan Panopticon (2013) 96: ‘You get an owl out here at night,’ she grins [...] ‘No way. I heard something hooting the other night but I’ve never actually seen an owl’.