Etymology Journal · D
Don't pay it no mind
Meaning
- A way of telling someone to ignore a negative comment, a weird occurrence, or a minor problem. It encourages indifference toward things that don't deserve attention.
Reassuring, dismissive
Used in a sentence
- That old dog barks at everyone, don't pay it no mind.
- He was just being grumpy this morning, don't pay it no mind.
- I know the neighbor is acting strange, but don't pay it no mind.
The backstory
This is a classic Southernism that makes use of the double negative for emphasis. It has deep roots in regional rural dialects.
Heard in
The South
Vibe check