don't sweat it
1
7.4
- idiom
- Informal
:
no te preocupes
- You're worried about the exam, but don't sweat it; you've studied hard.
- don't sweat it," he said
If there's some hang up in the science, don't, don't sweat it, OK?
- If there's some hang up in the science, don't, don't sweat it, OK?
- So don't get freaked out like if you can't purchase it tomorrow, don't sweat it.
- These guys are doing some crazy shit so they don't don't sweat it, you'll be out.
Examples
-
Hey, don't sweat it.
-
Look, Miguel, if those cops ask you any questions, don't sweat it.
-
Alright, well don't sweat it, okay.
-
I mean, don't sweat it.
-
Oh, dude, don't sweat it!
-
"Hey, don't sweat it," I told her.
Fiction book (1991) -
"Don't sweat it," he said.
Fiction book (1990) -
You're six minutes late, but don't sweat it.
Fiction book (1993) -
Richie, don't sweat it.
-
"Don't sweat it, Mandy."
Fiction book (2001)
Synonyms
224
2.7
Telling someone not to worry and to forget what you said
13
8.5
Not a serious problem you need to worry about
2
6.6
A friendly reply that tells someone there is no problem
1
8.6
Stay calm and be patient
A friendly phrase to tell someone not to worry
Tell someone not to worry about something
Antonyms
How Worried
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines literal elements ('don't' negation + 'sweat' + pronoun 'it') but relies on a metaphorical extension of 'sweat' to mean 'worry' (sweating as a symptom of anxiety). This bodily-reaction metaphor is somewhat inferable and cross-linguistically common, yet colloquial and pragmatic, so the meaning is partly predictable but not fully compositional for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Don't sweat it comes from the clear image of sweating when you are hot or nervous, so saying don't sweat is like telling someone not to get anxious or worked up. That's why it means 'don't worry' or 'it's not a problem'.