Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (44 page)

Don't waste your breath
.
You will not get a positive response to what you have to say, so don't even say it.; Talking will get you nowhere.
A
LICE
: I'll go in there and try to convince her otherwise. F
RED
: Don't waste your breath. I already tried it
.
S
ALLY
: No, I won't agree! Don't waste your breath. B
ILL
: Aw, come on.

Don't waste your time
.
You will not get anywhere with it, so don't waste time trying.
M
ARY
: Should I ask Tom if he wants to go to the convention, or is he still in a bad mood? S
ALLY
: Don't waste your time. M
ARY
: Bad mood, huh?
J
ANE
: I'm having trouble fixing this doorknob. M
ARY
: Don't waste your time. I've ordered a new one.

Don't work too hard
.
an expression said at the end of a conversation after or in place of
good-bye
.
M
ARY
: Bye, Tom. T
OM
: Bye, Mary. Don't work too hard
.
S
UE
: Don't work too hard! M
ARY
: I never do.

Don't worry
.
Do not become anxious—everything will be all right.
“Don't worry, Fred,” said Bill, “everything will be all right.
”
B
ILL
: I think I left the car windows open. S
UE
: Don't worry, I closed them.

Don't worry about a thing
.
Everything will be taken care of. Do not be anxious.
M
ARY
: This has been such an ordeal. S
UE
: I'll help. Don't worry about a thing
.
“Don't worry about a thing,” the tax collector had said. “We'll take care of everything.” Or was it “We'll take everything?
”

(Don't you) get it?
Don't you understand the point or the joke?
Q: It's very simple. Don't you get it? A: Sorry, I just don't understand.
I
SABEL
: I've explained it as well as I can. Get it?

Don't you just love it?
Don't you agree that it is great? (Also used sarcastically.)
H
ANNA
: What a cool little computer! I
DA
: Yes. Don't you just love it?
D
ON
: Yuck. It looks like it's going to rain all day again today. A
NDY
: Don't you just love it?