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July 24, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

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

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

December 16, 2015
Work/Businesses

“Don’t tell people your plans. Show them your results”

"Don't tell people your plans. Show them your results" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many posters. "Stop telling them about your plans but show them your…

November 28, 2021
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Don’t think of yourself as a meme thief. The official title is Social Media Redistribution agent”

Many people share memes on social media -- or is it stealing? "Don't think of yourself as a meme thief. The official title is Social Media Redistribution agent" (shown on an image)…

November 26, 2019
Food/Drink

“Don’t throw away cake to start looking for crumbs”

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…

April 29, 2025
Food/Drink

“Don’t throw sodium chloride at people. That’s a salt”

"A salt" sounds like "assault," and there are sodium chloride jokes that have been printed on many images. "Some one just threw a bag of sodium Chloride at me! That's…

November 26, 2011
Radio/Television

“Don’t touch that dial!”

"Don't touch that dial!" is said going into a radio or television commercial (or the next show), telling the listener or viewer to stay tuned to the station. "Ah-ah-ah!…

September 19, 2020
Work/Businesses

“Don’t touch the whatchamacallit because it will make the doohickey not work with the thingamabob”

Folksy "placeholder" words sound more ridiculous in the same sentence. "I've told them a hundred times 'Don't touch the whatchamacallit because it will make the…

April 18, 2018
Work/Businesses

“Don’t treat people as bad as they are, treat them as good as you are”

"Don't treat people as bad as they are, treat them as good as you are" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying is similar to the "golden rule."…

September 14, 2024
Food/DrinkRestaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“Don’t trust anyone that orders a medium pizza”

Many people cannot understand how anyone orders a medium pizza. One should always order a large pizza, even if there is leftover pizza. "@FabMissK: 'Pl[a]ybook is like a medium pizza. Who…

May 10, 2018
Work/Businesses

“Don’t trust everything you see. Even salt looks like sugar”

"Salt and sugar look the same. Be careful who you trust" (or "Don't/Never trust everything you see. Even salt looks like sugar") is a saying that has been printed on many…

May 10, 2018
Food/Drink

“Don’t trust everything you see. Even salt looks like sugar”

"Salt and sugar look the same. Be careful who you trust" (or "Don't/Never trust everything you see. Even salt looks like sugar") is a saying that has been printed on many…

October 7, 2020
Work/Businesses

“Don’t trust people that do acupuncture. They’re back stabbers”

"Don't trust people that do acupuncture. They're back stabbers" is a classic joke about acupuncture. The joke was posted on the website "Pun of the Day" on October 28,…

February 7, 2024
Food/Drink

“Don’t underestimate yourself. You can do hard things. Like making coffee in the morning…”

"Don't underestimate yourself. You can do hard things. Like making coffee in the morning before you've had any coffee" is a coffee saying that has been printed on many images.…

February 14, 2017
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Don’t update your status when you’re drunk”

"Never go shopping when you're hungry" is a saying that became popular in the 1970s. "THree rules to live by" were first posted on Twitter on April 17, 2012: 1. Don't…

February 17, 2017
Food/Drink

“Don’t update your status when you’re drunk”

"Never go shopping when you're hungry" is a saying that became popular in the 1970s. "THree rules to live by" were first posted on Twitter on April 17, 2012: 1. Don't…

March 18, 2024
Education/SchoolsWork/Businesses

“Don’t use a big word when a singularly unloquacious and diminutive linguistic expression…”

"Don't use a big word when a singularly unloquacious and diminutive linguistic expression will satisfactorily accomplish the contemporary necessity" is a jocular expression that has…

January 24, 2025
Exercise/Running/Health ClubsFood/DrinkWork/Businesses

“Don’t use the weekend as an excuse to give up on your goals”

"Don't use the weekend as an excuse to give up on your goals" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying could refer to diet goals, fitness goals and professional…

September 14, 2020
Food/Drink

“Don’t use your fridge as a morgue”

"Is your refrigerator a morgue or a garden?" (that is, containing mostly animal products or mostly plant products) is a vegan saying that has been printed on many images. "Is your…

January 4, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t vote—it only encourages them”

"Don't vote -- it only encourages them" is a joke that television comedian Jack Paar told in May 1966. During the presidential election year of 1976, the saying was put on buttons…

August 26, 2014
Exercise/Running/Health Clubs

“Don’t wail on the scale if you cheat when you eat”

"Don't wail on the scale if you cheat when you eat" is a jocular saying that has been printed on posters. The saying has been cited in print since at least 1976 and is of unknown…

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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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