no-no

[ noh-noh ]

noun

, Informal.

, plural no-nos, no-no's.

1. anything that is forbidden or not advisable, as because of being improper or unsafe:

   If you want to lose weight, rich desserts are a no-no.

Word History and Origins

Origin of no-no¹

1940–45, Americanism; reduplication of no ¹

Example Sentences

Erykah Badu Erykah Badu began her set nearly half an hour after its scheduled start time — a serious no-no at a festival with a tightly programmed live stream — and consequently found her sound cut after only about 20 minutes of music.

From Los Angeles Times

He once got in trouble for bowing to a company executive with his hand in his pocket, a major no-no in Korean culture.

From Los Angeles Times

Websites materialized for buying them across state lines, a no-no for licensed weed.

From Slate

Another big no-no is showing up to work or events when you’re sick.

From Los Angeles Times

Guto Harri, a former Downing Street director of communications under Boris Johnson, told BBC Radio 5 Live's Matt Chorley that being paid more than your boss at No 10 was "basically a no-no".

From BBC

Related Words

• check
• condition
• constraint
• control
• curb
• limit
• regulation
• restraint
• rule
• stipulation
• stricture