“Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining”
"Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining" was the title of a 1996 book by television's "Judge Judy" (Judith Sheindlin). A older version is, "Don't…
Work/Businesses
“Don’t plant until Mother’s Day” (gardening adage)
"Don't plant until Mother's Day" is an agriculture adage. Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May, and the chance of frost is usually eliminated. The gardening adage is…
“Don’t practice until you get it right; practice until you can’t get it wrong”
"Don't practice until you get it right; practice until you can't get it wrong" (or "Amateurs practice until they can get it right; professionals practice until they…
“Don’t pray in my school and I won’t think in your church”
"Don't pray in my school and I won't think in your church" is a saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts and bumper stickers. The popular saying against…
“Don’t prune in May or June” (gardening adage)
A popular gardening adage rhymes "prune" and "June." “Don't Prune in May or June" was cited in print in 1980. "If it flowers before June, don't prune"…
“Don’t put sugar on shit and tell me it’s a brownie”
To "sugarcoat" something is to make something more pleasant than it actually is. "Don't put/sprinkle sugar on shit and tell me it's a brownie/candy/chocolate" is a…
“Don’t put sugar on shit and tell me it’s ice cream”
"Don't feed me bullshit/crap/manure/shit and tell me it's ice cream" means "Don't give me something bad and tell me it's a special treat." The expression has…
“Don’t put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket”
"Don't/Never put the/your key to happiness in someone else's pocket" is an inspirational saying that has been printed on many images. "'Don't put the key to your…
“Don’t quit your day job” (show business adage)
"Don't quit your day job" (or "Don't give up your day job" or "Keep your day job") is advice to an actor/artist/model/musician/writer who probably won't…
“Don’t Rain On My Parade” (1964, 1968)
The song "Don't Rain On My Parade" was in the Broadway musical (1964) and movie (1968) Funny Girl, about the New York performer Fanny Brice. Funny Girl had music by Jule Styne and…
“Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument”
“You raise your voice when you should enforce your argument" is an admonishment that has been credited to lexicographer Samuel Johnson (1709-1784). Desmond Tutu, a South African social…
“Don’t reach for the stars. They are extremely hot and will incinerate you”
People in the performing arts are often told to reach for the stars. The expression "reach for the stars" does not, of course, mean reaching for actual stars. "Don't reach for…
“Don’t retreat—reload”
Sarah Palin (the former governor of Alaska and Republican party candidate for vice president in 2008) tweeted on March 23, 2010: "Commonsense Conservatives & lovers of America:…
“Don’t rob my tools. I need them to pay your benefits” (commercial vehicle sign)
"Don't rob/steal my tools. I need them to pay your benefits" is a commercial vehicle sign that has been printed on many images. "DON'T ROB MY TOOLS, I NEED THEM TO PAY YOUR…
“Don’t scare the horses or the children”
The British actress Mrs, Patrick Campbell (1865-1940) is supposed to have said about an actor or about the playwright Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), "I really don't mind what people do, so long…
“Don’t sell America short”
"Don't sell America short!" (or "Don't sell the United States short!") is a famous Wall Street. phrase. It means to hold stock in the United States -- whatever dips…
“Don’t sell drills—sell holes”
The book The Five Great Rules of Selling (1947) by Percy H. Whiting stated: "Leo McGivena wrote: 'Last year over one million quarter- inch drills were sold — not because people wanted…
“Don’t sell the steak—sell the sizzle”
Elmer Wheeler (1903-1968) created the Tested Selling Institute, a one-employee firm at 321 Fifth Avenue in New York City. Wheeler's 1937 book, Tested Sentences That Sell, included his famous…
“Don’t send a boy to do a man’s job”
"Don't send a boy to do a man's job/work" means that one should not have someone do what that person cannot do. "Hire a boy to do a man's business; he will make up his…
“Don’t send my boy to Texas” (Oklahoma University song)
"Don't send my boy to Texas" was a song sung by Oklahoma University students at Texas-Oklahoma football games, dating to at least the 1940s. "Don't send my boy to…