{"id":88,"date":"2021-09-30T03:34:21","date_gmt":"2021-09-30T03:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=88"},"modified":"2021-10-09T21:42:03","modified_gmt":"2021-10-09T21:42:03","slug":"dont-do-anything-i-wouldnt-do-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/dont-do-anything-i-wouldnt-do-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t Do Anything I Wouldn\u2019t Do - Meaning and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Idioms like \u2018Don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do\u2019 can be confusing and make no sense if you are not sure what the intention is in the phrase. You may hear this in several circumstances.<\/p>\n

\u2018Don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do\u2019 is a vague phrase that is a casual parting for close friends, acquaintances, and family members. It is typically said in jest as a lighthearted and teasing gesture to let the receiver know to stay out of trouble.<\/p>\n

Idiom Meaning<\/h2>\n

When someone casually says to you, \u201cdon\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do,\u201d they are telling you to behave yourself in a playful way. They imply that you should avoid participating in any negative or destructive behaviors since they would not take part in these actions.<\/p>\n

This phrase lets the receiver know that they should not do anything reckless or foolish that could result in negative consequences. It typically does not include specifics but is only abstract in what would constitute destructive behaviors.<\/p>\n

Idiom Origin<\/h2>\n

There are a few early instances of \u2018Don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do\u2019 to be found when researching this idiom.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The first instance of this popular idiom goes back to July 7, 1911, appearing in an advertisement in the Great Falls Daily Tribune. It read, \u201cHave a good time while I\u2019m gone, but don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t.\u201d <\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. In a Shopper\u2019s Letter from March 12, 1914, in the Kansas City Star, a woman only known as E.J. concluded her advice to another individual using, \u201cGood-bye for this time. Don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t<\/strong>\u201d.<\/li>\n
  3. Another instance of this idiom in 1914 appeared on May 8, in the Illinois State Journal. It comes from a meeting of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, \u201cThe agents departed to their homes, with the admonition of Toastmaster Fitzgerald, to behave themselves \u201cwith decorum and don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do.<\/strong>\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Many more instances of this idiom followed in 1916, 1917, and 1918, as it became more popular and common.<\/p>\n

    Idiom Example Usage<\/h2>\n

    This idiom phrase can be apparent in many situations.<\/p>\n

    Here are some examples:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Before I left for my date, Dad said, \u201cDon\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do.<\/strong>\u201d<\/li>\n
    • When she was packing and leaving for college, I told her, \u201cDon\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do.<\/strong>\u201d<\/li>\n
    • He jokingly told me, \u201cDon\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do,<\/strong>\u201d when I was going to the party.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Phrases Similar to Idiom \/ Synonyms<\/h2>\n

      Several alternatives to the idiom phrase \u2018don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do\u2019 carry the same meaning.<\/p>\n

      Closest Synonyms<\/u> - Relating to staying away from participating in bad behaviors while away from the speaker:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t<\/li>\n
      • Don\u2019t do anything that I wouldn\u2019t<\/li>\n
      • You shouldn\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t<\/li>\n
      • Don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do\u2014if you ever find anything I wouldn\u2019t do<\/li>\n
      • Don\u2019t do anything you wouldn\u2019t want me to do<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Other Similar Phrases<\/u> - Related to acting appropriately while not with the speaker:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Behave yourself<\/li>\n
        • Make good choices<\/li>\n
        • Don\u2019t be foolish<\/li>\n
        • Follow my example<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Phrases Opposite to Idiom<\/h2>\n

          Even with several similar phrases to this \u2018Don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do\u2019 idiom, there are also opposite phrases that are popular.<\/p>\n

          Here are some examples of phrases with the opposite meaning to this idiom:<\/p>\n

          Antonyms<\/u><\/p>\n

            \n
          • Don\u2019t do anything I would do<\/li>\n
          • Don\u2019t do anything that I would do<\/li>\n
          • Don\u2019t do anything that I would<\/li>\n
          • Don\u2019t do as I do; do as I say<\/li>\n
          • Do as I say, not as I do<\/li>\n
          • Do what I say, not what I do<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            What Is the Correct Saying?<\/h2>\n

            As it is listed above, the Don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do idiom phrase has several alternatives, all of which carry the same meaning.<\/p>\n

            Similar phrases are typical when the speaker casually sends the receiver off with a vague parting.<\/p>\n

            Some of the more appropriate situation where this idiom fits well includes:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • A parent giving vague advice to a child<\/li>\n
            • A brother or sister parting ways with a sibling<\/li>\n
            • When best friends are going separate ways<\/li>\n
            • A coworker that is leaving for the day<\/li>\n
            • A teacher wishing a student farewell after graduating<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              If you need any further examples of the \u2018Don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do\u2019 idiom phrase, take a look at a few more variations:<\/p>\n

                \n
              • John and Bill finished in the locker room after the game, and Bill headed to dinner with his girlfriend. John smiled and called after him, \u201cDon\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do!\u201d<\/li>\n
              • He chuckled nervously when I told him, \u201cDon\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do,\u201d as he left the police station.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                Idioms like \u2018Don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do\u2019 can be confusing and make no sense if you are not sure what the intention is in the phrase. You may hear this in several circumstances. \u2018Don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do\u2019 is a vague phrase that is a casual parting for close friends, acquaintances, and family […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":95,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88\/revisions\/95"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}