don't be that guy

phrase

Used to caution someone against behavior seen as obnoxious, inconsiderate, or socially inappropriate.

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Meanings

phrase
  1. colloquialimperativeinformalUsed to caution someone against behavior seen as obnoxious, inconsiderate, or socially inappropriate.

    Don't be that guy, by the way.

    2017, Cassie Leigh, You Have a Date, Don't F It Up
    4 more examples

    "Maybe I'm the guy not to be. Maybe that's my value to this team ... Don't be that guy.

    1997, Scott Fowler, Charles Elliott Chandler, The Year of the Cat, page 144

    This, I thought, is a sign. This is someone telling me something. Don't be that guy', Jeff. Stop now.

    1998, Golden Empire Publications (publisher), Computer Gaming World - Volumes 162-164

    He was waving to the crowd and he plowed into another car in the pits. I just kept thinking, "Don't be that guy."

    2001, Hearst Magazines (publisher), Popular Mechanics - Nov 2001, page 54

    All too often, trolls (and even guys in general) think that dinner and drinks are the price of admission into a TGirl's pants. Don't be that guy. Be a gentleman.

    2016, Michael David Freel, Trans-Oriented - A Guide to Love and Relationships for Men who Love Transsexual Women, page 135
Cite this entry
APA

don't be that guy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/don't%20be%20that%20guy

MLA

“don't be that guy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/don't%20be%20that%20guy. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “don't be that guy,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/don't%20be%20that%20guy.

Source: don't be that guy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.