Meaning & use
don't be a stranger
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseinformal
A friendly request to stay in touch or visit again, often said when leaving or ending a call.
Grammar: Always an imperative, spoken to one or more people: Don't be a stranger.
Patterns
- don't be a stranger
It was great to see you; don't be a stranger.
We had a lovely time, so don't be a stranger when you come back to town.
She hugged him at the door and said, "Don't be a stranger."
Common combinations
- say don't be a stranger
- My old boss always says don't be a stranger when I leave.
- a warm don't be a stranger
- He ended the email with a warm don't be a stranger.
- call me, don't be a stranger
- Call me soon and don't be a stranger.
- don't be a stranger now
- Now that you've moved, don't be a stranger.
Synonyms and how they differ
- keep in touch
- Keep in touch is neutral and slightly more formal, whereas don't be a stranger sounds warmer and more casual.
- stay in contact
- Stay in contact is more formal and often used in business.
- drop by
- Drop by means visit informally and covers only one half of what don't be a stranger can mean.
- take care
- Take care is a general goodbye, and unlike don't be a stranger it does not ask the person to be in touch.
Word family
Commonly confused: don't be a stranger or talk to strangers?
don't be a stranger vs talk to strangers
Talking to strangers means speaking to people you don't know; don't be a stranger asks a friend to keep in contact.
Practice
At the end of the party, Maya told her friend, 'Thanks for coming. Don't be a ___.'
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'don't be a stranger'. The other nouns are real words but do not form the idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “don't be a stranger”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.