Etymology Journal ยท W
What part of no don't you understand?
Meaning
- A stern, no-nonsense way to let someone know they are being persistent in an annoying or disrespectful way. It is a hard stop to a pushy conversation.
Firm, icy
Used in a sentence
- I told you I am not going to the store. What part of no don't you understand?
- He kept asking to borrow money after I already said no. I finally said, what part of no don't you understand?
- Stop trying to change the menu. What part of no don't you understand?
The backstory
This became a common idiom in the late 20th century, often used by parents and authority figures to emphasize that the word 'no' is not a starting point for negotiation.
Heard in
Nationwide
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