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What is the difference between “no” and “not”?

there is a question always confusing me. Is it 'no good' or 'not good'? How do I use them? I guess they are different, but I never know what is the difference! Thank you in advance!

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Please add some example sentences to provide context. As is, your question can't properly be answered. Oh, when you edit your question, remove the "Thank you in advance!" part. – jwpat7 Apr 17 '12 at 2:54
Possible dupplicate of What is the difference between "no" and "not" – Bidella Apr 17 '12 at 3:38

marked as duplicate by simchona♦, jwpat7, waiwai933♦ Apr 17 '12 at 4:08

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2 Answers

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From OED (good):

colloq. to be any, some, no good: to be any, some, no use. Also of persons, to be no good = 'to be a bad lot', to be worthless. Also of things a bit of no good, quite a lot of harm.

No good functions as both an attributive adjective (e.g., a no-good dirty dog) and noun (e.g., what a no good)

On the other hand, saying that something is not good is just indicating that the adjective 'good' does not apply to it. In many instances, no good and not good can both be used. No good is certainly the more informal alternative.

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up vote -1 down vote

The only difference I can immediately think of is:

'No good' implies doing something, so an idea is 'no good', a lamp is 'no good' if it doesn't light and software is 'no good' if it doesn't work.

'Not good' seems more of a property of the substance, so milk that has gone bad is 'not good'

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-1: I would have liked to see some references. It seems like this is just a hunch. – J D OConal Apr 17 '12 at 3:59

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