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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Olaf Davis (talk | contribs) at 13:48, 29 May 2009 (→Don't even think about it!: Reply to Dream Focus.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Don't even think about it!

Don't even think about it! (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) (delete) – (View log)

Non-notable coffee-mug catch phrase. WP's not a repository of idioms. Conical Johnson (talk) 07:36, 27 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]

  • Comment A 2003 article, and it shows. Oh-Are!! Although I would love to know who coined the phrase "don't even think about it", or when it was first seen in that form, I'm not sure whether research will ever yield the answer, and this article certainly doesn't reveal the answer. When the article started, it was about a Pepsi commercial. I got a laugh at the part about the New York City "landmark" (a sign that said "Don't Even Think About Parking Here"). If anyone wants to try to track down the earliest use of D.E.T.A.I., feel free to post it here, because I don't think that will save the article. Mandsford (talk) 12:43, 27 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment I'd add that Google news now has a feature that shows data about the frequency of the use of a search term in news "don't+even+think+about+it"&cf=all&sugg=d&sa=N&lnav=d3&as_ldate=1980&as_hdate=1989&hdrange=1990,2007, with bar graphs and other cool stuff. Even if not applicable here, worth noting for future reference. Mandsford (talk) 12:47, 27 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Again, pure O.R., which is O.K. because this is a discussion, not an article-- earliest use I see in print is [1] from an April 30, 1986 AP story where Dolphins' coach Don Shula is quoted as having said, "Don't even think about it". I will send one dollar to whoever can find the earliest use of the phrase. Mandsford (talk) 12:55, 27 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
The OED gives a use in 1751: "‘I will not hear a word on that head,’ cried Mr. Trueworth, hastily interrupting him, ‘and if you would add to the favours you have already conferred upon me, do not even think of it.’" Is that authoritative enough to earn me a buck? (Or, if you insist on 'about' instead of 'of', 1835.) Olaf Davis (talk) 16:24, 27 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Could you provide the citation? Which edition and under which entry is this quote? What work is the dictionary quoting? -Verdatum (talk) 16:40, 27 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
It's a "draft addition" from 2001, which I believe means it's available only online. The entry is think, v.2. The source is "E. HAYWOOD Hist. Betsy Thoughtless III. v. 64". Olaf Davis (talk) 16:54, 27 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  • Delete As it currently stands, there is no strong reason to believe that research regarding the origin and usage of this term currently exists. Without such information there is no basis for an article. If such information could be found, I would happily change my vote. -Verdatum (talk) 16:28, 27 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  • This feels like the kind of phrase that must have been discussed by reliable sources, but I really don't know how to go about finding them - the internet is, of course, full of uses of the phrase and fifteen minutes of searching has not produced anything very substantial. There's undoubtedly enough to wiktionary-ify before deleting though. Olaf Davis (talk) 16:36, 27 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Olaf gets the dollar. Do you have PayPal? Nah, leave post office box info on my talk page, and a one dollar bill shall follow forthwith. Mandsford (talk) 17:06, 27 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  • Delete without any real reliable sources proving its origin, it's just speculation and original research how it was invented. according to this it seemed to first appear in the media in 1925 (noting Olaf's wonderful discovery). mind you I think WP:INDISCRIMINATE should apply too. what next? an article "oh I missed my train"? LibStar (talk) 15:38, 28 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  • Keep Google returned 327,000 results of finding "don't even think about it". The expression predates the internet. If you searched through scripts of old television shows, you'd find the expression used quite commonly back in the 1980's. The expression is notable, but the article needs some work. Dream Focus 10:17, 29 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
    • But the issue is not how old or how popular it is - the issue is whether there are reliable sources to be found which justify an encyclopedia article and not just a dictionary entry. Olaf Davis (talk) 13:48, 29 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
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