forget

an elephant never forgets

One remembers everything. A play on the idea that elephants have great memories. I don't think we can pick up where we were before you betrayed me because an elephant never forgets! I would be hesitant to cross him—he's a dangerous man, and an elephant never forgets. A: "It's like Mom remembers every thing I've ever done wrong in my life!" B: "Oh, an elephant never forgets."

See also: an, elephant, forget, never

don't forget to write

cliché A farewell urging someone to remain in contact while they are gone. Sometimes used humorously as a casual farewell. Have a wonderful time in Paris, Colin! Don't forget to write! A: "I'd better get going, thanks for having me!" B: "No problem. Don't forget to write!" It was great to see you. Now, don't forget to write!

See also: forget, to, write

forget (about) it

1. To not expect something to work or happen. Often used as an imperative. If it's a pay raise you're looking for, you can just forget about it. Forget it, there's no way we could get up there without better equipment. You think he's really gonna get a hole in one here? Pfft, forget it.

2. Never mind; I am not going to explain further. Forget about it. I don't want to talk about it. You know what, just forget it. I'm sorry I ever mentioned it. Just forget it, OK? I'm sick of talking about this.

3. Don't mention it; it was nothing. A response to someone thanking one. A: "Thank you again for your help yesterday." B: "Forget it, I was happy to lend a hand." A: "Thanks so much for saving me a seat." B: "Eh, forget about it!" A: "Oh wow, I can't believe you got my computer working again. Thank you so much!" B: "Hey, forget it."

4. Don't worry about it; don't consider it a problem. You're still thinking about that? I told you I'm over it. Forget about it. A: "Sorry I didn't call you back. I've just been so busy with work." B: "Ah, forget it, I was just calling to see how you're doing." Oh, if you can't make it on Friday, forget about it—attendance isn't mandatory or anything.

5. An expression used to indicate that what has just been mentioned is superlative or extreme, and perhaps cannot be put into words. Their wedding ceremony was already a bit weird, but the reception? Forget about it! They were good last year, but with the new draft pick? Forget about it! Yeah, their old house was really nice, but the new one? Forget it.

See also: forget

forget (one's) manners

To act in a rude, impolite, or otherwise inappropriate way. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to reach across the table like that—I must have forgotten my manners for a minute there. How could you say something like that to me? Have you forgotten your manners? I'm sorry, I've forgotten my manners—let me introduce the two of you.

See also: forget, manner

forget (oneself)

To behave in an impolite or unrestrained manner. Sure, sometimes I forget myself and snap at the kids, but doesn't every mother? I'm sorry, I forgot myself for a minute there—let me introduce the two of you. A: "I understand you forgot yourself, but do you really think that screaming at the waitress helped anything?" B: "I know, she's definitely going to spit in my food now."

See also: forget

forget about (someone or something)

1. To not think about, fail to remember, or disregard someone or something. Don't forget about us after you've become a big shot out in LA! This traffic jam is awful! I forgot about the work they were doing to the road. Forget about snowshoes, you'd need a snowmobile to get up to that part of the mountain.

2. To not expect someone or something to work, happen, or do something. The roads are so narrow in this neighborhood—forget about driving your big truck in here! Forget about Sarah, she couldn't lead the team if her life depended on it. When Halloween falls on a school day, you might as well forget about teaching anything.

See also: forget

forget you

slang A forceful expression of anger, dismissal, or contempt directed at someone. Can be used as a euphemism for "fuck you," meaning the same. I'm not cleaning up your mess! Forget you! A: "Did you actually think your singing sounded good there?" B: "Oh, forget you." I have every right to be here, so forget you!

See also: forget

forgive and forget

To forgive someone and (attempt to) forget that the wrong they committed ever happened. I really do want to move on, but I just can't forgive and forget that you tried to steal my boyfriend! I know you're supposed to forgive and forget, but I'm still mad at Vince—I can't help it. You stole my money and lied to my face about it! And I'm just supposed to forgive and forget? I don't think so!

See also: and, forget, forgive

he who sleeps forgets his hunger

proverb You do not notice your hunger when you are sleeping. We don't have anything else to eat, so why don't we just go to bed? He who sleeps forgets his hunger, right? Of course I'm hungry now that I've brushed my teeth. Oh well, he who sleeps forgets his hunger, right? My family was quite poor when I was kid, so I learned at a young age to embrace the axiom, "He who sleeps forgets his hunger."

See also: forget, he, hunger, sleep, who

lest we forget

Used to emphasize the need to remember (someone or something). Lest we forget all of the men and women who bravely gave their lives during the war, we can come visit them here, their final resting place. I know you're frustrated that Amelia's been acting out lately, but, lest we forget, she's only 16. I think her behavior is pretty normal, in the scheme of things. Lest we forget, the Owls have the worst record in the league—by far. So you can sugarcoat our loss to them however you want, but it's still embarrassing.

See also: forget, lest, we

not forgetting (someone or something)

Including; as well as; last but not least. And finally, not forgetting our stalwart IT department—there's no way we would have been so successful this year without their incredible work. So in the morning, you'll need to open the blinds, water the plants, and feed the dog. Oh, and not forgetting the heating system, which you'll need to turn off the night before.

See also: forget, not

remember to write

A clichéd farewell urging someone to remain in contact while they are gone. Sometimes used humorously as a casual farewell. Have a wonderful time in Paris, Colin! Remember to write! A: "I'd better get going, thanks for having me!" B: "No problem. Remember to write!"

See also: remember, to, write

up to (one's) neck in alligators

business adage So overcome or preoccupied by various tangential worries, problems, or tasks that one loses sight of the ultimate goal or objective. The full expression is some variation of "When you are up to your neck in alligators, it's easy to forget that the goal was to drain the swamp." I've spent so much time dealing with various infrastructure problems for my new business that I've had no time to actually develop our product properly. I guess it's easy to forget that when up to your neck in alligators, the mission was to drain the swamp.

See also: alligator, neck, to, up

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

Forget (about) it!

 

1. Inf. Drop the subject!; Never mind!; Don't bother me with it. Jane: Then, there's this matter of the unpaid bills. Bill: Forget it! You'll have to pay them all! Sally: What's this I hear about you and Tom? Sue: Forget about it! I don't want to talk to you about it.

2. Inf. Nothing. Sue: What did you say? Mary: Forget it! Tom: Now I'm ready to go. Sue: Excuse me? Tom: Oh, nothing. Just forget it.

3. Inf. You're welcome.; It was nothing. John: Thank you so much for helping me! Bill: Oh, forget it!' Bob: We're all very grateful to you for coming into work today on your day off. Mary: Forget about it! No problem!

See also: forget

forget about someone or something

 

1. to put someone or something out of one's mind. Don't forget about me! You ought to forget about all that.

2. to fail to remember something at the appropriate time. She forgot about paying the electric bill until the lights were turned off. She forgot about the children and they were left standing on the corner.

See also: forget

forget one's manners

to do something ill-mannered. Jimmy! Have we forgotten our manners?

See also: forget, manner

forget oneself

to forget one's manners or training. (Said in formal situations in reference to belching, bad table manners, and, in the case of very young children, pants-wetting.) Sorry, Mother, I forgot myself. John, we are going out to dinner tonight. Please don't forget yourself.

See also: forget

Forget you!

Sl. Drop dead!; Beat it! Oh, yeah! Forget you! Forget you! Get a life!

See also: forget

Forgive and forget.

Prov. You should not only forgive people for hurting you, you should also forget that they ever hurt you. When my sister lost my favorite book, I was angry at her for weeks, but my mother finally convinced me to forgive and forget. Jane: Are you going to invite Sam to your party? Sue: No way. Last year he laughed at my new skirt. Jane: Come on, Sue, forgive and forget.

See also: and, forget, forgive

Remember to write,

 and Don't forget to write. 

1. Lit. a final parting comment made to remind someone going on a journey to write to those remaining at home. Alice: Bye. Mary: Good-bye, Alice. Remember to write. Alice: I will. Bye. Sally: Remember to write! Fred: I will!

2. Fig. a parting comment made to someone in place of a regular good-bye. (Jocular.) John: See you tomorrow. Bye. Jane: See you. Remember to write. John: Okay. See you after lunch. Jane: Yeah. Bye. Remember to write.

See also: remember, to, write

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

forget it

Overlook it, it's not important; you're quite mistaken. This colloquial imperative is used in a variety of ways. For example, in Thanks so much for helping-Forget it, it was nothing, it is a substitute for "don't mention it" or you're welcome; in Stop counting the change-forget it! it means "stop doing something unimportant" in You think assembling this swingset was easy-forget it! it means "it was not at all easy"; and in Forget it-you'll never understand this theorem it means that the possibility of your understanding it is hopeless. [c. 1900]

See also: forget

forget oneself

Lose one's reserve, temper, or self-restraint; do or say something out of keeping with one's position or character. For example, A teacher should never forget herself and shout at the class. Shakespeare used it in Richard II (3:2): "I had forgot myself: am I not king?" [Late 1500s]

See also: forget

forgive and forget

Both pardon and hold no resentment concerning a past event. For example, After Meg and Mary decided to forgive and forget their differences, they became good friends . This phrase dates from the 1300s and was a proverb by the mid-1500s. For a synonym, see let bygones be bygones.

See also: and, forget, forgive

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

forˈget it

(spoken)
1 used to tell somebody that something is not important and that they should not worry about it: ‘I still owe you for lunch yesterday.’ ‘Forget it — it was my treat!’
2 used to tell somebody that you are not going to repeat what you said: ‘Now, what were you saying about John?’ ‘Forget it, it doesn’t matter.’
3 used to emphasize that you are saying ‘no’ to something: ‘Any chance of you helping out here?’ ‘Forget it, I’ve got too much to do.’
4 used to tell somebody to stop talking about something because they are annoying you: Just forget it, will you?

See also: forget

not forgetting...

(British English) used to include something in the list of things that you have just mentioned: I share the house with Jim, Ian and Sam, not forgetting Spike, the dog.

See also: not

forˌgive and forˈget

decide to forget an argument, an insult, etc: Come on, it’s time to forgive and forget. ♢ Many of his victims find it impossible to forgive and forget.

See also: and, forget, forgive

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

Forget it!

1. exclam. Never mind, it wasn’t important! I had an objection, but just forget it!

2. exclam. Never mind, it was no trouble at all! No trouble at all. Forget it!

See also: forget

Forget you!

exclam. Drop dead!; Beat it! (Possibly euphemistic for Fuck you!) Forget you! Get a life!

See also: forget

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

forget (oneself)

To lose one's reserve, temper, or self-restraint.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

forget it

Overlook it, disregard it. This colloquial imperative, dating from about 1900, is used in several ways. It can mean the same as “don’t mention it” or “you’re welcome,” as in, “‘Thanks for picking me up.’ ‘Forget it, it was no trouble.’” It also can mean “it won’t happen” or “it’s impossible,” as in “Find a parking space near the theater? Forget it!” These same meanings can be conveyed by forget about it, which, however, also may mean not to recall something and is not a cliché.

See also: forget

forgive and forget

Both pardon and dismiss someone’s mistake, rudeness, or other transgression. This expression has been an English proverb since at least the thirteenth century. William Langland in Piers Ploughman held it up as a form of Christian charity to be practiced by all: “So will Cryst of his curteisye, and men crye hym mercy, bothe forgive and forgeter.” It appears in John Heywood’s 1546 collection of proverbs and was used by Shakespeare in at least four of his plays, including King Lear (4.7): “Pray you now, forget and forgive; I am old and foolish.” It remains current to the present day.

See also: and, forget, forgive

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer