Cool MateDon't dawdle vs Hurry
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Don't dawdle
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Hurry
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Most formal: HurryMost common: Hurry
| Don't dawdle | Hurry | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dəʊnt ˈdɔː.dl//🇺🇸 //doʊnt ˈdɔː.dl// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhʌri/","/ˈhʌriz/","/ˈhʌrid/","/ˈhʌriɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhɜːri/","/ˈhɜːriz/","/ˈhɜːrid/","/ˈhɜːriɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Don't waste time; hurry up. | To go fast or make someone go fast. |
| Example | You need to finish your homework and avoid dawdling. | You need to hurry if you want to catch the bus. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | don't dawdle, dawdle around, dawdling behavior | hurry up, in a hurry, hurry home, hurry along, hurry to finish |
| Antonyms | - | delay, slow, pause |
| Common mistakes | Often confused with 'dawdle' alone, missing the 'don't'., Learners sometimes say 'do' instead of 'don't'., Mispronunciation can lead to misunderstanding the urgency. | Confusing 'hurry' with 'rush' in different contexts., Using 'hurry' without an object when one is needed., Mispronouncing 'hurry' as if it has two syllables. |
| Usage notes | Used to encourage someone to be quick, often in casual conversation. It may sound rude if said too harshly. | Use 'hurry' when you need to act quickly. It's suitable for all types of communication but avoid it in very formal contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Don't dawdle vs Hurry
What's the difference between Don't dawdle and Hurry?
Don't dawdle: Don't waste time; hurry up. Hurry: To go fast or make someone go fast.
Which is more formal: Don't dawdle and Hurry?
Hurry is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Don't dawdle and Hurry?
Hurry is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Don't dawdle: You need to finish your homework and avoid dawdling. Hurry: You need to hurry if you want to catch the bus.
Can I use Don't dawdle and Hurry interchangeably?
Not always. Don't dawdle and Hurry 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.