Free Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts by Richard Spears

ceremony, Fred,” urged Sally. “Go around and introduce yourself to everyone.
”
    Don’t stay away so long . Please visit more often. (Said upon the arrival or departure of a guest.)
J OHN : Hi, Bill! Long time no see. Don’t stay away so long! B ILL : Thanks, John. Good to see you
.
ARY : I had a nice time. Thanks for inviting me. S ALLY : Good to see you, Mary. Next time, don’t stay away so long.
    Don’t sweat it ! Don’t worry about it. (Slang.)
B ILL : I think I’m flunking algebra! B OB : Don’t sweat it! Everybody’s having a rough time
.
M ARY : Good grief! I just stepped on the cat’s tail, but I guess you heard. S UE : Don’t sweat it! The cat’s got to learn to keep out of the way.
    Don’t sweat the small stuff . Don’t worry about the little problems that have minor consequences.
I DA : I just can’t seem to get comfortable in my office chair. I’m too far from the network printer, and my own printer is too slow. H ANNA : Don’t sweat the small stuff. You’re also a week late on your time-and-effort report
.
Relax, Tom. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Save your energy for the really serious problems.
    Don’t tell a soul . Please do not tell anyone this gossip.
B ILL : Is your brother getting married? S ALLY : Yes, but don’t tell a soul. It’s a secret
.
M ARY : Can you keep a secret? J OHN : Sure. M ARY : Don’t tell a soul, but Tom is in jail.
    Don’t tell me what to do ! Do not give me orders.
B OB : Get over there and pick up those papers before they blow away. S ALLY : Don’t tell me what to do! B OB : Better hurry. One of those papers is your paycheck. But it’s no skin off my nose if you don’t
.
S UE : Next, you should get a haircut, then get some new clothes. You really need to fix yourself up. S ALLY : Don’t tell me what to do! Maybe I like me the way I am!
    Don’t think so . Go to I guess not.
    Don’t waste my time . Do not take up my valuable time with a poor presentation.; Do not waste my time trying to get me to do something.
B OB : I’d like to show you our new line of industrial-strength vacuum cleaners. B ILL : Beat it! Don’t waste my time
.
“Don’t waste my time!” said the manager when Jane made her fourth appeal for a raise.
    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