Cool MateAdmit vs Please don't deny it
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Admit
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Please don't deny it
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Admit
| Admit | Please don't deny it | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ədˈmɪt/","/ədˈmɪts/","/ədˈmɪtɪd/","/ədˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈmɪt/","/ədˈmɪts/","/ədˈmɪtɪd/","/ədˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //pliːz dəʊnt dɪˈnaɪ ɪt//🇺🇸 //pliz doʊnt dɪˈnaɪ ɪt// |
| Meaning | To say that something is true, especially something you want to keep secret. | Don't say something is not true. |
| Example | She had to admit that she was wrong about the decision. | Everyone saw you at the party, so please don't deny it. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | freely, readily, frankly, be forced to, have to, must, to, I don’t mind admitting, freely, readily, frankly, be forced to, have to, must, to, I don’t mind admitting | deny the truth, deny responsibility, deny accusations, deny feelings, deny knowledge |
| Antonyms | deny, refuse | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'admit' vs 'accept' - they have different meanings., Using 'admit' without an object, e.g., saying 'I admit' without specifying what., Incorrectly using 'admit to' with a noun, instead of 'admit' with a clause. | Confused with 'deny' vs 'refuse', Using in overly formal situations, Misplacing 'it' leading to confusion |
| Usage notes | Use in contexts where someone is confessing or acknowledging something. It's suitable in both personal and formal scenarios. Avoid in very casual conversations where simpler words might suffice. | Used to request honesty or confirmation. Appropriate in both serious and casual conversations. Avoid in formal writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Admit vs Please don't deny it
What's the difference between Admit and Please don't deny it?
Admit: To say that something is true, especially something you want to keep secret. Please don't deny it: Don't say something is not true.
Which is more common: Admit and Please don't deny it?
Admit is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Admit: She had to admit that she was wrong about the decision. Please don't deny it: Everyone saw you at the party, so please don't deny it.
Can I use Admit and Please don't deny it interchangeably?
Not always. Admit and Please don't deny it are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.