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 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

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

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

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