doesn't

Crime doesn't pay.

something that you say which means if you do something illegal, you will probably be caught and punished. Police arrests are being given maximum publicity as a reminder that crime doesn't pay.

See also: crime, pay

someone's face doesn't fit

if someone's face doesn't fit, their appearance or personality are not suitable for a particular job or activity. He'd always wanted to star in action movies but his face just didn't fit.

See also: face, fit

he/she doesn't have a [jealous, mean, unkind etc.] bone in his/her body

something that you say in order to emphasize that someone is not jealous, mean, unkind etc.. He'd never deliberately hurt someone's feelings - he doesn't have a mean bone in his body.

See also: body, bone, her, his, she, unkind

it doesn't take a rocket scientist

if you say that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand something, you mean that it is obvious. Drugs equals crime. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. (usually + to do something)

See also: rocket, scientist, take

the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing

something that you say which means that communication in an organization is bad so that one part does not know what is happening in another part. I was sent the same letter from two different departments. I get the feeling the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

See also: doing, hand, know, left, right

A leopard can't/doesn't change its spots.

something that you say which means that a person's character, especially if it is bad, will not change, even if they pretend it has. I doubt very much that marriage will change Chris for the better. A leopard doesn't change its spots.

See also: can't, change, spot

Money doesn't grow on trees.

something that you say which means you should be careful how much money you spend because there is only a limited amount. 'Dad, can I have a new bike?' 'We can't afford one. Money doesn't grow on trees, you know.'

See also: grow, money, tree

one swallow doesn't make a summer (British & Australian)

something that you say which means because one good thing has happened, you cannot therefore be certain that more good things will happen and the whole situation will improve. Okay, they won their last game but one swallow doesn't make a summer. They're still bottom of the league.

See also: summer, swallow

---

it doesn't hurt to do something

it is an advantage to do or have something. It doesn't hurt to take a look at what you've done and see if it could be improved. It doesn't hurt to have a group of talented, educated people living in your community.

Usage notes: also used in the forms it couldn't hurt, it wouldn't hurt, or it can't hurt, or in the form of a question, would it hurt, all with the meaning that doing or having something would be an advantage

See also: hurt

it doesn't take a rocket scientist to do something

it is easy to understand something. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that fewer and fewer schools can afford to maintain competitive athletic programs.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form it's not rocket science: A five year old could put this puzzle together — it's not rocket science.

See also: rocket, scientist, take