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January 22, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t let the bastards grind you down” (Illegitimi non carborundum)

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Illegitimi non carborundum Illegitimi non carborundum is a mock-Latin aphorism jokingly taken to mean "don't let the bastards grind you down".…

February 11, 2020
Food/Drink

“Don’t let the government take away your favorite side dish. They’re trying to disenfrenchfries you”

"Disenfranchise" -- meaning "to deprive someone of a franchise, generally their right to vote" -- has nothing to do with french fries, but there are jokes. "I had to break…

January 20, 2021
Work/Businesses

“Don’t let the same snake bite you twice”

"Don't/Never let the same snake bite you twice" is a proverbial saying that has been printed on many images. It's similar to the saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool…

November 18, 2008
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“Don’t let the tax tail wag the investment dog” (Wall Street adage)

"Don't let the tax tail wag the investment dog" (sometimes given as simply "dog" or "profit dog" or "savings dog"or "economic dog") means that…

January 25, 2025
Time/Weather

“Don’t let the weekend be your weak end”

"Don't let the weekend become your weak end" (or "Don't let the weekend be your weak end") is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying could refer to…

January 25, 2025
Time/Weather

“Don’t let the weekend become your weak end”

"Don't let the weekend become your weak end" (or "Don't let the weekend be your weak end") is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying could refer to…

April 14, 2016
Work/Businesses

“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today”

"Don't/Never let yesterday take/use up too much of today" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Don't let yesterday use up too much of today" was included…

February 16, 2020
Work/Businesses

“Don’t let your fear decide your future”

"Don't/Never let your fear(s) decide your future" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many images. “Dont let your fear decide your future“ was posted on Twitter by…

February 16, 2020
Work/Businesses

“Don’t let your fears decide your future”

"Don't/Never let your fear(s) decide your future" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many images. “Dont let your fear decide your future“ was posted on Twitter by…

December 14, 2025
Food/Drink

“Don’t let your food get cold watching someone else’s plate”

"Don't let your food get cold watching someone else's plate" (or "Don't let your food get cold worrying about what's on someone else's plate") is a…

December 18, 2025
Food/Drink

“Don’t let your food get cold while staring at someone else’s plate”

"Don't let your food get cold watching someone else's plate" (or "Don't let your food get cold worrying about what's on someone else's plate") is a…

December 14, 2025
Food/Drink

“Don’t let your food get cold worrying about what’s on my plate”

"Don't let your food get cold watching someone else's plate" (or "Don't let your food get cold worrying about what's on someone else's plate") is a…

December 14, 2025
Food/Drink

“Don’t let your food get cold worrying about what’s on someone else’s plate”

"Don't let your food get cold watching someone else's plate" (or "Don't let your food get cold worrying about what's on someone else's plate") is a…

November 6, 2019
Food/Drink

“Don’t let your meat loaf!” (slang)

"Don't let your meat loaf!" (or "Don't let your meatloaf!") is an expression with a pun on "loaf" as a verb. It means don't "loaf" -- stay…

November 6, 2019
Food/Drink

“Don’t let your meatloaf!” (slang)

"Don't let your meat loaf!" (or "Don't let your meatloaf!") is an expression with a pun on "loaf" as a verb. It means don't "loaf" -- stay…

February 10, 2010
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“Don’t let your mouth write checks your body can’t cash”

"Don't let your mouth write a check (or "checks") your body (or "ass") can't cash" has been used in black English since at least the 1960s. Comedian Flip…

July 9, 2021
Work/Businesses

“Don’t let your printer know you’re in a hurry. They smell fear”

"Don't let your printer know you're in a hurry. They smell fear" (or "Never hint to a printer that you're in a rush. Those bastards smell fear") is a jocular…

March 27, 2025
Food/Drink

“Don’t like that ciabatta bread was invented in 1982. That’s too late for them to be inventing new types of bread”

Bread is an ancient food, and many people are surprised to learn that ciabatta bread was invented in 1982. This was posted on X/Twitter by DΔΠTE on April 23, 2024, and it received over 56,000…

June 11, 2018
Work/Businesses

“Don’t limit your challenges. Challenge your limits”

"Don't limit your challenges. Challenge your limits" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many images. The saying has been used in classified advertisements since at…

November 26, 2019
Food/Drink

“Don’t look for crumbs when there’s a cake right in front of you”

The "Dear Abby" syndicated newspaper advice column by Abigail Van Buren (the pen name, written by Pauline Phillips and her daughter Jeanine Phillips) in February 1991 answered a letter…

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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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