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January 8, 2010
Food/Drink

“Don’t stand outside and be miserable; come inside and get fed up” (restaurant sign)

"Don't stand outside and be miserable -- come inside and be/get fed up!" is a one-line food joke that appeared in restaurant windows across the country by 1965. The joke is of…

April 14, 2018
Work/Businesses

“Don’t stay in bed, unless you can make money in bed”

"Don't stay in bed, unless you can make money in bed" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying has been credited to New York-born actor and comedian George Burns…

December 27, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t steal—the government hates competition”

"Don't steal -- (the) government hates (the) competition" has been a saying on bumper stickers and T-shirts since about 1984. It is not known who originated the popular saying. U.S.…

January 1, 2024
TransportationWork/Businesses

“Don’t steal 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…

January 21, 2016
Pets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)Work/Businesses

“Don’t stop and throw stones at every dog that barks” (business adage)

"Cast not a stone at every dog that barks" is a proverb that has been cited since at least 1579. British statesman Winston Churchill (1874-1965) said in 1923: "You will never get to…

April 3, 2017
Exercise/Running/Health Clubs

“Don’t stop until you’re proud”

"Don't stop until you're proud" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many images. Many inspirational gym posters feature the saying. The "Don't stop until…

April 12, 2018
Exercise/Running/Health Clubs

“Don’t stop when you are tired. Stop when you are done”

"Don't stop when you are tired. Stop when you are done" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many images. "DONT STOP WHEN YOU ARE TIRED, STOP WHEN YOU ARE…

December 3, 2017
Food/Drink

“Don’t stress if someone says you are fat. You are bigger than that”

The expression "to be bigger than" means that someone is "above" a small matter. "My mate asked me if he should punch the guy who told him he was fat as a walrus. I said,…

September 4, 2018
Education/Schools

“Don’t stress. Do your best. Forget the rest”

"Don't stress. Do your best. Forget the rest" is an inspirational saying that has been printed on many images. "DO your best, forget the rest" was printed in a 1915…

September 12, 2012
Work/Businesses

“Don’t sweat the small stuff”

"Don't sweat the small stuff" became a popular saying from books such as Michael R. Mantell's Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: P.S., It's All Small Stuff (1988) and…

February 8, 2015
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“Don’t take any wooden nickels”

"Don't take any wooden money/nickels" means "don't be cheated/duped." "Don't take any wooden nickels or bad checks" was cited in 1903 and…

June 21, 2012
Food/Drink

“Don’t take candy from strangers”

"Don't take candy from strangers" is a popular admonition that parents give to children. In July 1874, Charley Ross (age four) was lured from his Philadelphia home by strangers…

June 22, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t talk about rope in a hanged man’s house”

"Don't talk about rope in a hanged man's house" (that is, don't bring up a sore point) is an old Spanish proverb. "Where have you found that 'tis good naming the…

August 11, 2024
Food/DrinkWork/Businesses

“Don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee. Also, I don’t drink coffee”

"Don't talk to me until I've had my coffee" is what one worker might say to another in the morning. An anti-social worker might add, "I don't drink coffee." That…

June 1, 2019
Work/Businesses

“Don’t talk, just act. Don’t say, just show. Don’t promise, just prove”

"Don't talk, just act. Don't say, just show. Don't promise, just prove" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many images. "Don’t talk, just act. Don’t…

December 28, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t tax you, don’t tax me, tax the fellow behind that tree”

"Don't tax me; tax the other fellow" has been cited in print since at least 1910. "Congress, congress, don't tax me; tax that fellow behind the tree" became a popular…

December 2, 2022
Time/Weather

“Don’t tell anyone ‘I hate you’ directly. Say ‘You are the Monday of my life’”

Many people hate Mondays. "How to say I hate you in a nice way? 'You are the Monday of my life'" and "Don't tell anyone 'I hate you' directly. Say 'You…

August 2, 2019
Education/Schools

“Don’t tell anytwo, but I suck at math”

There is the word "anyone," but not "anytwo." "Monday math class anyone? Anytwo? Anythree? Monday bloody monday" was posted on Twitter by AdhikaRahmanto on December…

July 17, 2024
Pets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“Don’t tell me what to do, you’re not my dog”

"You don't get to tell me what to do, you're not my dog" (also "Don't tell me what to do, you're not my dog" and "You can't tell me what to do,…

July 24, 2011
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“Don’t tell my mother I’m a banker—she thinks I play piano in a whorehouse”

"Don't tell my mother I'm a banker -- she thinks I play piano in a bordello/brothel/cat house/whorehouse" is a joke about how little people think of bankers. The joke began…

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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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