keep your unkindnesses to yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep your unkindnesses to yourself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to ask someone to refrain from expressing their negative or hurtful thoughts or actions towards others. Example: "If you have nothing nice to say, please keep your unkindnesses to yourself and let us enjoy the moment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Then, put your shirt back on, come out and keep your unkindnesses to yourself.

Vice

Then, put your shirt back on, come out, and keep your unkindnesses to yourself.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Keep your sins to yourself.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Keep your Schmolli to yourself.

The New York Times - Arts

Keep your suspicions to yourself.

The New York Times

Don't keep your worries to yourself.

The Guardian

Keep your snout to yourself, buddy".

The New Yorker

But keep your pity to yourself.

The Guardian - Opinion

Keep your views to yourself at first.

The Economist

Please keep your wisdom to yourself," he said.

The Guardian

The public could say feel free to keep your opinions to yourself, your honor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when you want to firmly, but politely, request someone to stop expressing hurtful or negative opinions.

Common error

While seemingly polite, overuse of this phrase can create distance. It's better to address the root cause of the unkindness, if appropriate, rather than simply suppressing its expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep your unkindnesses to yourself" functions as an imperative, directly instructing someone to refrain from expressing negative or hurtful thoughts. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in contexts where the speaker wants to maintain a positive or respectful environment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep your unkindnesses to yourself" is a direct imperative used to ask someone to refrain from expressing negative or hurtful thoughts. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct, although relatively rare in usage. Primarily found in News & Media contexts, it serves the purpose of maintaining civility and preventing conflict. While seemingly polite, its directness requires careful consideration of context to avoid causing offense. Alternatives like "keep your negativity to yourself" or "hold back your unkind remarks" offer similar meanings with varying degrees of emphasis. When used, it's important to balance the need for directness with empathy and understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep your negativity to yourself

Replaces "unkindnesses" with the broader term "negativity", focusing on the overall negative disposition.

hold back your unkind remarks

Uses "hold back" instead of "keep", emphasizing the act of restraining from saying something.

refrain from expressing your negativity

Emphasizes the action of refraining and replaces "unkindnesses" with "negativity".

keep your complaints to yourself

Focuses specifically on withholding complaints.

keep your criticisms unspoken

Highlights the act of keeping criticisms silent, rather than expressing them.

suppress your negative comments

Uses "suppress" to indicate actively holding back negative comments.

keep your hurtful thoughts to yourself

Replaces "unkindnesses" with "hurtful thoughts", emphasizing the potential emotional impact.

do not voice your unkind opinions

Directly instructs not to express unkind opinions.

silence your negative expressions

Focuses on silencing any form of negative expression.

bottle up your mean sentiments

Uses the idiom "bottle up" to suggest suppressing mean sentiments.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "keep your unkindnesses to yourself" to be more gentle?

Consider using softer alternatives such as "Perhaps we could focus on the positive aspects" or "I understand your frustration, but let's try to maintain a respectful tone". These phrases aim to guide the conversation without directly telling someone to suppress their thoughts.

What is the difference between "keep your unkindnesses to yourself" and "be kind"?

"Keep your unkindnesses to yourself" is a direct request to withhold negative expressions, while "be kind" is a general exhortation to act with compassion and consideration. The former addresses specific instances, while the latter is a broader behavioral guideline.

When is it appropriate to tell someone to "keep your unkindnesses to yourself"?

This phrase is appropriate when someone is repeatedly expressing negativity or hurtful opinions that are detrimental to the situation or the well-being of others. It should be used when other attempts to address the behavior have been unsuccessful.

Are there contexts where saying "keep your unkindnesses to yourself" would be considered rude?

Yes, using this phrase can be considered rude if said abruptly or aggressively. It's generally better to use a more diplomatic approach, especially if the person is genuinely trying to express a valid concern or feeling. A more empathetic response might be more constructive.