let's not and say we did

phrase

Indicates that the speaker does not agree with a proposed action, and does not wish to participate.

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Meanings

phrase
  1. colloquialidiomaticIndicates that the speaker does not agree with a proposed action, and does not wish to participate.

    "Let's kick in a window on George," Dick Buckford said. "Let's not and say we did," Andy Houlihan said.

    1947, James Thomas Farrell, The Life Adventurous and Other Stories, Vanguard Press, page 286
    2 more examples

    “We must go on to the Gulf of the St. Lawrence, Pa,” said Seb, bravely. “We can't feel any worse.” “Let's not and say we did,” groaned the sick father from his position of vantage at the rail.

    1921, Harvard Lampoon, volume 80, number 10, page 324

    Many teachers take a "Let's not and say we did" attitude toward extended experiential learning in the different styles.

    2006, Jane A. G. Kise, Differentiated Coaching: A Framework for Helping Teachers Change, Corwin Press, →ISBN, page 65
Cite this entry
APA

let's not and say we did. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/let's%20not%20and%20say%20we%20did

MLA

“let's not and say we did.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/let's%20not%20and%20say%20we%20did. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “let's not and say we did,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/let's%20not%20and%20say%20we%20did.

Source: let's not and say we did on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.