Cool MateDon't take too long vs Hurry up
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Don't take too long
Top 2,000 (common)
Hurry up
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Don't take too long
| Don't take too long | Hurry up | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dəʊnt teɪk tuː lɒŋ//🇺🇸 //doʊnt teɪk tu lɔŋ// | 🇬🇧 //ˈhʌri ʌp//🇺🇸 //ˈhɜri ʌp// |
| Meaning | Don’t spend too much time. | Do something faster. |
| Example | Don't take too long; we need to leave soon. | You need to hurry up or we will miss the train! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | take too long, don't take long, take longer than expected, take your time, take a while | hurry up and wait, hurry up before, hurry up to |
| Common mistakes | Misusing 'too' for 'to' in 'take too long'., Omitting 'don't' and saying 'take long'., Using a formal tone when it's more conversational. | Omitting 'up', saying just 'hurry'., 'Hurry up' used in formal writing., Using 'hurry up' without an object or activity. |
| Usage notes | Used informally to advise someone to hurry. It may be considered dismissive if said too harshly. | Commonly used in casual contexts to prompt someone to act more quickly. Avoid in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Don't take too long vs Hurry up
What's the difference between Don't take too long and Hurry up?
Don't take too long: Don’t spend too much time. Hurry up: Do something faster.
Which is more formal: Don't take too long and Hurry up?
Don't take too long is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Don't take too long: Don't take too long; we need to leave soon. Hurry up: You need to hurry up or we will miss the train!
Can I use Don't take too long and Hurry up interchangeably?
Not always. Don't take too long and Hurry up 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.