Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (40 page)

Don't give it a (second) thought
.
Go to Think nothing of it.

Don't give it another thought
.
Go to Think nothing of it.

Don't give up
!
Do not stop trying!; Keep trying!
J
OHN
: Get in there and give it another try. Don't give up! B
ILL
: Okay. Okay. But it's hopeless
.
J
ANE
: I asked the boss for a raise, but he said no. T
OM
: Don't give up. Try again later.

Don't give up the ship
!
Do not give up yet!; Do not yield the entire enterprise! (From a naval expression.)
B
ILL
: I'm having a devil
of a time with calculus. I think I want to drop the course. S
ALLY
: Keep trying. Don't give up the ship!
B
ILL
: Every time we get enough money saved up to make a down payment on a house, the price of houses skyrockets. I'm about ready to stop trying. S
UE
: We'll manage. Don't give up the ship!

Don't give up too eas(il)y
!
AND
Don't give up without a fight
!
Do not yield so easily.; Keep struggling and you may win. Do not give up too soon.
S
UE
: She says no every time I ask her for a raise. M
ARY
: Well, don't give up too easily. Keep after her
.
J
OHN
: I know it's my discovery, not hers, but she won't admit it. S
ALLY
: Don't give up without a fight.

Don't give up without a fight
!
Go to Don't give up too eas(il)y!

Don't hold your breath
.
Do not stop breathing while you are waiting for something to happen. (Meaning that it will take longer for it to happen than you can possibly hold your breath.)
T
OM
: The front yard is such a mess. B
OB
: Bill's supposed to rake the leaves. T
OM
: Don't hold your breath. He never does his share of the work
.
S
ALLY
: Someone said that gasoline prices would go down. B
OB
: Oh, yeah? Don't hold your breath.

Don't I know it
!
I know that very well!
M
ARY
: Goodness gracious! It's hot today. B
OB
: Don't I know it!
S
UE
: You seem to be putting on a little weight. J
OHN
: Don't I know it!

Don't I know you from somewhere?
a way of starting a conversation with a stranger, usually at a party or other gathering.
B
ILL
: Don't I know you from somewhere? M
ARY
: I don't think so. Where did you go to school?
H
ENRY
: Don't I know you from somewhere? A
LICE
: No, and let's keep it that way.