Meaning & use
don't take it personally
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
Used to tell someone not to feel hurt or offended by what you say or do.
Grammar: Stands alone as a full sentence, or follows a statement: I can't help you — don't take it personally.
Patterns
- don't take it personally
- say something, but don't take it personally
I'm rejecting your plan, so don't take it personally — it just costs too much.
She didn't invite you, but don't take it personally; the room was tiny.
Don't take it personally when the coach shouts at everyone.
phrasefixed phrase
Used to say that someone's rude or cold behavior is not aimed at you in particular.
Grammar: Often said about a person's general manner rather than one remark: He's like that with everyone — don't take it personally.
Patterns
- someone is like that with everyone, so don't take it personally
The waiter was short with us, but don't take it personally; he was rushed off his feet.
Don't take it personally if she doesn't reply to your messages — she's terrible at texting.
Common combinations
- don't take it personally
- Don't take it personally, but your draft needs a lot of work.
- try not to take it personally
- Try not to take it personally when clients change their minds.
- I hope you don't take it personally
- I hope you don't take it personally, but we chose someone else.
- said gently, don't take it personally
- She said it gently — don't take it personally — but the answer was no.
Synonyms and how they differ
- don't be offended
- Close in meaning, but it names the feeling directly and can sound more blunt than the softer, more common don't take it personally.
- it's nothing personal
- Said about your own action to explain that no insult was intended; don't take it personally is addressed to the other person as advice.
- no hard feelings
- Used after a disagreement to say the relationship is still fine; it looks backward at what happened, while don't take it personally warns in advance.
Word family
- personal adjective
- Relating to one particular person rather than everyone.
- personally adverb
- In a way that concerns you yourself, or speaking for yourself.
- impersonal adjective
- Not showing friendly feelings toward individuals.
Commonly confused: don't take it personally or don't take it personal?
don't take it personally vs don't take it personal
This is a common mistake in informal speech; standard English uses the adverb personally, not the adjective personal.
Practice
Your friend is upset because the teacher criticized her essay. Which sentence fits best?
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase uses the adverb personally. Option 2 uses the adjective personal, which is a very common error in speech but not standard; option 4 changes the meaning to 'in person', i.e. face to face.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “don't take it personally”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.