don't ask

Idioms

A phrase used to fend off questions about a situation one finds awkward, unpleasant, or unsatisfactory. For example, How did we do in the bridge tournament? Don't ask! [Colloquial; 1960s] For a similar phrase, see forget it.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I never asked for your crutch,” Dylan sings, “Now don’t ask for mine.”

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

Read: Kids as young as 13 can now trade stocks without a parent’s approval — but don’t ask them, ‘How much did you make today?’

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

When one morning turns into an eternity, you don’t ask for the bill.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

In a separate interview on Tuesday, he told RTL radio that Epstein had been "generous" and "courteous", adding: "When I meet people I don't ask to see their criminal record."

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

“If you don’t ask her out, I will.”

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023