don't look now

phrase

Used before a statement to tell someone to be aware of something (often a person) without looking.

“Oh, yeah? Well, don't look now, but we're on the grass!”

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Meanings

phrase
  1. colloquialUsed before a statement to tell someone to be aware of something (often a person) without looking.

    For mercy's sake, just look at that scarecrow there. Did you ever see such a fitting dress. Don't, don't look now; she'll think we're staring at her.

    1916, Harrison Goodel, “At the Reception”, in Goodwal Dickerman, Henry Marlin Soper, editors, Scrap-book Recitation Series: A Miscellaneous Collection of Prose and Poetry […] , page 43
    3 more examples

    SQUIRE What's this young feller's name comin' along ovah yondah with Miss Carey? MRS. P. [Going to gate.] Where? SQUIRE Over yon- To right. Don't look now 'cause he'll think I'm talkin' about him. Been presented to him twice, an' can't remember his name.

    1905, Augustus Thomas, Alabama: A Drama in Four Acts, page 6

    Don't look now. That's his father over there. [The other three turn at once and look at Carlton. He happens to be looking in their direction and scowls at them. HALE beams at them. They instantly look away.] Stupid. I told you

    1922, J. Hartley Manners, The National Anthem: A Drama, page 76

    Don't look now, Annie, " said the narrow-shouldered girl. "All right." "They're smilin' at us." Annie glanced up, then bent over her plate. "They're smilin' at you." The other was pleased. "Oh, no. At you."

    1963, Christopher Davis, “Silence”, in Atkinson's Evening Post and Philadelphia Saturday News, page 48
  2. Used to alert the listener of danger, so that one may flee while the attacker thinks they are still unseen.
  3. colloquialUsed to point out something the speaker feels is obvious.

    Oh, yeah? Well, don't look now, but we're on the grass!

    1 more example

    Dad: You shouldn't be afraid of the ocean, Marvin. Just think of it as a giant bathtub. Marvin: Well, don't look now, but my rubber ducky just grew a fin.

    1986, Tom Armstrong, Marvin (comic)
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: don't look now on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.