Etymology

don't try this at home

Today it means: A caution that the activity being described or demonstrated is not safe for ordinary members of the public to attempt. Full definition →

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The story

From a phrase used by announcers in early broadcast television whenever something dangerous or inappropriate was demonstrated in a program that might be watched by children: "Kids, don't try this at home".

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.