no-no

[noh-noh]

noun

Informal.

plural

no-nos, no-no's 

1. anything that is forbidden or not advisable, as because of being improper or unsafe.

   If you want to lose weight, rich desserts are a no-no.

Word History and Origins

Origin of no-no¹

1940–45, reduplication of no ¹

Example Sentences

“Natural light is the best. I can’t do a dark house. The no-no of no-nos is bad floor plan and flow, and not enough natural light.”

Read more on MarketWatch

“The thing not to do? Don’t be insipid. A little jack lantern on the table — that’s not much of a Halloween gesture. I think you have to sort of go all out,” Stewart told Vogue last year when asked about her biggest Halloween no-no.

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Telling shoppers their goods are only worth a fraction of what they originally paid for them is also a no-no for brands.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, a trade deadline acquisition, throw insults in the face-off circle and make not-so-accidental contact with rival goalies—a serious no-no in hockey’s unwritten code.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Justin Rose was unhappy that Bryson DeChambeau’s caddie strayed too close when he was ready to putt on the 15th green - another no-no in golfing circles - leading to an exchange of words which also involved Rose's playing partner Tommy Fleetwood and his and Scottie Scheffler's caddies.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• check 
• condition 
• constraint 
• control 
• curb 
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• regulation 
• restraint 
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• stipulation 
• stricture