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February 19, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“Don’t change horses in the middle of the stream” (“Don’t swap horses in midstream”)

"Don't change horses in the middle of the stream" (or, "don't swap horses in midstream") means that once something has already started, it's too late to make…

November 28, 2014
Food/Drink

“Don’t chase anything but drinks and dreams”

"Don't chase anything but drinks and dreams" is a saying that has been printed on many posters. The saying has been cited on Twitter since January 11, 2001. Authorship is unknown.…

August 13, 2015
Food/Drink

“Don’t cheat yourself. Treat yourself”

"Don't cheat yourself. Treat yourself" is a popular saying that has been frequently used with food. "Don't Cheat Yourself buying inferior goods. Treat yourself with a box…

July 25, 2020
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“Don’t chop me down! I’m a talking tree!”/“And you will dialogue.”

"Dialogue" sounds like "die a log," and there's a lumberjack pun. "'But, I’m a talking tree!' said the oak. 'And, you will dialogue,' replied the…

September 29, 2022
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Don’t clap—just throw money”

"No applause -- just throw money" is an entertainment gag line of uncertain authorship. Some insist that the line is from vaudeville in the early 1900s, but it has been cited in print…

December 13, 2020
Work/Businesses

“Don’t cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it”

"Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying was posted on an image on Facebook by Dr. Laura…

October 8, 2008
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“Don’t confuse brains with a bull market” (Wall Street adage)

Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksThe Wheeler Dealers By Adam SmithNew York, NY: Bantam Books1969, ©1959Pg. 176:Son, when the market is goin' up everybody looks smart. Never confuse…

July 29, 2021
Food/Drink

“Don’t count calories, count chemicals”

"There are too many people counting calories and not enough people counting chemicals" is a saying that has been printed on many images. That is, the quality of the food is most…

March 23, 2015
Time/Weather

“Don’t count the days, make the days count”

"Don't count the days, make the days count" is a saying that has been printed on many posters, with credit often given to American boxer Muhammad Ali. If Ali ever said it, he…

August 8, 2009
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“Don’t cry about money—it never cries for you”

"Don't cry about money -- it never cries for you" was said by Kevin O'Leary to a contestant on the first televised show of Shark Tank (where entrepreneurs suggest business ideas…

March 26, 2024
Work/Businesses

“Don’t cry at home. Cry at work so they have to pay you for it”

Many people have jobs that keep them depressed. "Don't cry at home. Cry at work so they have to pay you for it" is a saying. "Don't cry at home - cry at work, on company…

September 29, 2014
Sports/Games

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" is a popular saying said at the end of a relationship, the end of school, the end of a theatrical performance, the end…

April 30, 2017
Food/Drink

“Don’t cry over spilt milk. It could have been whiskey”

To "cry over spilt milk" is to worry about an unfortunate event that already happened (when it is too late to change the event). "Don't cry over spilt milk. It could have been…

June 13, 2018
Work/Businesses

“Don’t depend too much on anyone. Even your shadow leaves you when you’re in darkness”

"Don’t depend too much on anyone in this world because even your own shadow leaves you when you are in darkness" is a saying that has been printed on many images. Wikipedia: Ibn…

December 27, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t discriminate against my unvaccinated children. They were born that way”

One point made by people against vaccinations (such as Covid-19 vaccinations), is that unvaccinated is the "default" state. People were born that way. "Don't discriminate…

May 30, 2018
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Don’t disturb anyone working on a puzzle or you may hear some cross words”

"Crosswords" should not be confused with "cross words." A joke was posted on Twitter by Pun of the Day on August 31, 2011: "Wordless Wednesday. Don't disturb anyone…

April 2, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t do anything yourself that someone else can do for you”

"Don't do anything yourself that someone else can do for you" is a quote that was attributed to Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) in June 1929. In The American Magazine and in his…

January 25, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time”

"Don't do the crime if you can't do the time" is a rhyming criminal justice expression. ""Don't commit the crime if you can't do the time" was called an…

March 31, 2019
Work/Businesses

“Don’t downgrade your dream just to fit your reality. Upgrade your conviction to match your destiny”

"Don't downgrade your dream just to fit your reality. Upgrade your conviction to match your destiny" is an inspirational saying that has been printed on many images. "Don't…

August 17, 2012
Food/Drink

“Don’t drink and drive—you might hit a bump and spill your drink”

"Don't drink and drive -- you might hit a bump and spill your drink" is a jocular saying that has been printed on gift items, such as T-shirts, bumper stickers and posters. The…

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BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

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