Meaning & use
don't be naughty
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Meaning
phrasefixed phraseinformal
A mild, often affectionate instruction to a child to stop behaving badly or to behave well.
Grammar: Used as a complete utterance, usually with a rising, playful tone. You can add a name: 'Don't be naughty, Sam.'
Patterns
- don't be naughty, someone
- someone, don't be naughty
Don't be naughty, Lily — give your brother back his toy.
The little boy pulled the cat's tail, and his mother said, 'Don't be naughty!'
Don't be naughty and hide your sister's shoes again.
Common combinations
- don't be naughty!
- Don't be naughty! You know you shouldn't draw on the walls.
- a naughty thing to do
- Taking the biscuits without asking was a naughty thing to do.
- be naughty at school
- He was naughty at school today and had to sit alone.
Synonyms and how they differ
- behave yourself
- This is a more neutral, slightly firmer instruction; 'don't be naughty' sounds softer and more playful.
- stop misbehaving
- This is more formal and direct, used when the behavior is actually causing a problem.
Opposites
Word family
- naughty adjective
- Behaving badly, especially in a way that is mild or amusing; often used of children.
- naughtiness noun
- The quality or state of being naughty.
- naughtily adverb
- In a naughty way: 'She smiled naughtily.'
Commonly confused: don't be naughty or don't be nasty?
don't be naughty vs don't be nasty
This means 'don't be unkind or cruel', which is stronger and more serious than 'don't be naughty', which is about mild misbehavior.
Practice
A grandmother says to her five-year-old grandson, 'Don't be naughty — put the cake back.' What does she mean?
Choose one answer.
The phrase 'don't be naughty' is a mild instruction to stop misbehaving, so option 0 fits. Option 1 is wrong because she wants him to put the cake back, not eat it. Option 2 is wrong because the phrase is about behavior, not noise. Option 3 is wrong because nothing suggests he must leave.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “don't be naughty”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.