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

“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.

Read more on Salon

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

Wrobleski, a rookie left-hander who had been one of the Dodgers’ better relievers of late, had Rafael Marchán break up the no-no with a one-out single, Harrison Bader and Kyle Schwarber to load the bases with two more hits after that, Harper to gap a double that brought two runs across, and Marsh to go deep on a hanging 0-2 slider for a go-ahead three-run shot.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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