| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| don't go away mad; just go away |
do not be angry, but leave; you are not welcome here
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He said to the heckler, "Don't go away mad; just go away."
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| don't go there |
(See don't want to go there)
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| don't hand me that |
(See don't give me that)
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| don't have a cow |
don't become so excited or angry, chill out)
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"Do you want a punch in the nose?" "Now, Ralph, don't have a cow."
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| don't hold your breath |
it is not going to happen soon, be prepared to wait
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The City will repair the street but don't hold your breath.
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| don't knock it |
don't be negative, it could be worse
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"I only got a C for my report." "Don't knock it. I got a D."
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| don't know him from Adam |
do not know who he is, have never met him
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The man says he knows me, but I don't know him from Adam.
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| don't know the first thing about it |
do not know anything about it
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I can't fix a transmission. I don't know the first thing about it.
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| don't know the half of it |
do not know all the facts, have not heard all of it
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Yes, they got divorced, but you don't know the half of it.
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| don't know whether you're coming or going |
you are confused, you do not understand, go in circles
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If you believe the cult leaders, you won't know whether you're coming or going.
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