Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

don't look now en · X

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (colloquial) Used before a statement to tell someone to be aware of something (often a person) without looking.
    • 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:
    • 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:
    • 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:
    • 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. (colloquial) Used to point out something the speaker feels is obvious.
    • Oh, yeah? Well, don't look now, but we're on the grass!
    • 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):