won

(I) won't breathe a word (of it). and (I) won't tell a Soul.

Fig. I will not tell anyone your secret. Bill: Don't tell anybody, but Sally is getting married. Mary: I won't breathe a word of it. Alice: The Jacksons are going to have to sell their house. Don't spread it around. Mary: I won't tell a soul.

See also: breathe, word

(It) won't bother me any. and (It) won't bother me at all.

Inf. It will not trouble me at all.; I have no objection if you wish to do that. (Not very polite or cordial. For the present tense of this expression, see also (It) doesn't bother me any.) John: Will you mind if I sit here? Jane: Won't bother me any. Sally (lighting a cigarette): Do you mind if I smoke? Bill: It won't bother me at all.

See also: any, bother

Faint heart never won fair lady.

Prov. A timid suitor never won his lady. (Used to encourage boys or men to be bold in courting women.) Bill: I'd really like to go out with Alice, but what if she says no? Alan: You won't know till you ask her. Faint heart never won fair lady. Don't be so shy about talking to Edith. Faint heart never won fair lady.

See also: faint, fair, heart, lady, never

I won't give up without a fight.

Fig. I will not give in easily. (Compare this with Don't give up too eas(il)y.) Sue: Stick by your principles, Fred. Fred: Don't worry, I won't give up without a fight. Bob: The boss wants me to turn the Wilson project over to Tom. Sue: How can he do that? Bob: I don't know. All I know is that I won't give up without a fight.

See also: fight, give, up, without

It won't wash!

Fig. Nobody will believe it! Sorry, it won't wash. Try another approach. Don't expect me to believe that! It won't wash.

what one doesn't know won't hurt one

Cliché Unknown facts cannot worry or upset a person. Don't tell me that I have made a mistake. What I don't know won't hurt me. Don't tell him the truth about his missing dog. What he doesn't know won't hurt him.

See also: hurt, know, one

What you don't know won't hurt you. and What you don't know can't hurt you.

Prov. If you do not know about a problem or a misdeed, you will not be able to make yourself unhappy by worrying about it. (Often used to justify not telling someone about a problem or misdeed.) Ellen: What a beautiful diamond necklace! Thank you! But how on earth did you get the money to pay for it? Fred: What you don't know won't hurt you.

See also: hurt, know

will not hear of something and won't hear of something

will refuse to tolerate or permit something. You mustn't drive home alone. I will not hear of it. My parents won't hear of my staying out that late.

See also: hear

won't hold water

to be inadequate, insubstantial, or ill-conceived. Sorry, your ideas won't hold water. Nice try, though. The prosecution's case wouldn't hold water, so the defendant was released.

See also: hold, water

Won't you come in?

the standard phrase used to invite someone into one's home or office. Bill: Won't you come in? Mary: I hope I'm not early. Tom stood in the doorway of Mr. Franklin's office for a moment. "Won't you come in?" said Mr. Franklin without looking up.

See also: come

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somebody/something won't bite  (humorous)

something that you say in order to tell someone not to be frightened of someone or something I think you should talk to your uncle about this. Go on, he won't bite.

See bite head off

See also: bite

What you don't know won't hurt you.

something that you say which means that if you do not know about a fact or a problem, you do not worry about it 'Tell me how much you spent on the car, then.' 'No, what you don't know won't hurt you.'

See also: hurt, know

won't hear a word (said) against somebody/something

if you won't hear a word said against someone or something, you refuse to believe anything bad about them He's completely infatuated with the woman and won't hear a word said against her.

See also: against, hear, word