Word.ws English Dictionary

don't be that guy

don't be that guy phrase: used to caution someone against behavior seen as obnoxious, inconsiderate, or socially inappropriate.

Phrase

don't be that guy

  1. (colloquial, imperative, informal) Used to caution someone against behavior seen as obnoxious, inconsiderate, or socially inappropriate.
    • "Maybe I'm the guy not to be. Maybe that's my value to this team ... Don't be that guy.1997, Scott Fowler, Charles Elliott Chandler, The Year of the Cat, page 144
    • This, I thought, is a sign. This is someone telling me something. Don't be that guy', Jeff. Stop now.1998, Golden Empire Publications (publisher), Computer Gaming World - Volumes 162-164

Questions about don't be that guy

What does don't be that guy mean?
Don't be that guy means used to caution someone against behavior seen as obnoxious, inconsiderate, or socially inappropriate.
What part of speech is don't be that guy?
Don't be that guy is a phrase.

Words near don't be that guy in the dictionary

  1. don't ask me
  2. don't ask, don't tell
  3. don't ask, don't tell, don't harass, don't pursue
  4. don't be a fool, wrap your tool
  5. don't be a stranger
  6. don't be that guy
  7. don't bite the newbie
  8. don't buy green bananas
  9. don't call me sir, I work for a living
  10. don't call us, we'll call you
  11. don't cha

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: don't be that guy (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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