you don't say

Idioms  

1. How surprising, is that true? Also, I find that hard to believe. For example, I've been working on this project for two years.—You don't say, or The man who runs this soup kitchen is a real saint.—You don't say! This expression, a shortening of you don't say so, may be used straightforwardly or ironically. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

you don't say

And I didn't want Gus to be tarred with any of that, so at first you don't say anything and then I thought, I have to tell his friends and I have to tell people.

From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2026

What you say matters — and what you don’t say matters.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2024

“You either decide to go forward, that there is proof here, or you don’t say anything at all with respect to your opinions about the case,” he said.

From Salon ● Feb. 9, 2024

And, while you don’t say what your mom’s perspective is, I’m curious whether she’s contributing to the emotional intensity or pointing out a pattern of Lily being treated differently.

From Slate ● Jan. 24, 2023

A couple years ago she asked me to teach her archery, and you don’t say no to Vasya.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

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