Is there any idiom that means "do as you wish, but I warned you, so don't complain about consequences"?
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13 Answers
Fairly informal, and rather cutting is
That's/It's your funeral!
something that you say that means that if someone suffers bad results from their actions, it will be that person's fault, not yours
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On your own head be it!
Is less informal and can be less awkward.
What is the meaning of the phrase 'on your [own] head be it'?
It means that you must take the responsibility. It is usually used when someone is about to say or do something which another thinks is unwise. He will advise against, but typically say 'but on your own head be it'.
answered Jan 8, 2022 at 19:18
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4Do people really say "That's your funeral!"? Not a native speaker but that wording sounds pretty damn harsh to me.– MaxDCommented Jan 9, 2022 at 13:08
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2That's your funeral is more like "you shouldn't do it, and don't be a damn fool, but if you do anyway its your choice, good luck surviving!" "On your own head be it" is the one of these you'd want to use.– StilezCommented Jan 9, 2022 at 13:42
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2Yes, but one has to be very careful with the time and occasion, Max. And Covid makes this even trickier. Commented Jan 9, 2022 at 17:53
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21@MaxD Yes. Often the answers here are in the dictionary or books, but no one would ever actually say it. But regular Americans really do say "it's your funeral". But not when you could actually die. It's like saying "my wife would kill me" or "he murdered that hamburger". Commented Jan 9, 2022 at 18:24
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2As a foreigner, I've stumbled on "your funeral" quite a few times, but never heard "on your own head be it". Just commenting on rarity, not accuracy. Commented Jan 11, 2022 at 9:43
The phrase "Don't say I didn't warn you" means exactly that, with all its implications.
answered Jan 8, 2022 at 19:08
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5And in Taylor Swift's song Blank Space: Don't say I didn't say, I didn't warn ya. Commented Jan 8, 2022 at 23:08
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2IMO this is the answer that ought to be accepted as the best one. "It's your funeral" is much more restricted in usage and much less common. Commented Jan 10, 2022 at 14:22
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4it carries the right meaning....but is not an idiom. The question asked for an idiom.– KidburlaCommented Jan 10, 2022 at 16:22
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1What Kidburla said: this isn't an idiom. It means exactly what the words say.– MarthaªCommented Jan 10, 2022 at 17:30
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3@Marthaª an idiom can also be literal (e.g. Keep your eye on [something]), from wikipedia "An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase"– MattCommented Jan 11, 2022 at 14:22
Another interesting addition, though with some nuance, is "I wash my hands of it".
If you wash your hands of something that you were previously responsible for, you intentionally stop being involved in it or connected with it in any way Cambridge
So this can be used if you were working on something with someone, and want to make it clear that you no longer want anything to do with it.
For example:
"Do as you wish, but I wash my hands of it".
This is a fairly specific use-case. In general I would go with "On your head be it".
If you predict a bad outcome of the other party's desired actions:
It's up to you, but don't come crying to me later.
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1This isn't an idiom, though: it pretty literally means what it says (for variously-generous definitions of "crying").– MarthaªCommented Jan 10, 2022 at 17:28
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I have to go with Martha on this, only since SE:EnglishLanguage tends to be stretched so much. So many people completely ignore single-word or idiom and offer general writing advice that we have to yell at even mostly well-intentioned not-all-that-off-the-mark answerers such as yourself. Commented Jan 10, 2022 at 18:05
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1Or Louise Rennison's version - "If you fall down from there and break both your legs, don't come running to me!"– J...Commented Jan 10, 2022 at 18:22
A shorter expression than other answers, but with pretty much the exact meaning desired is suit yourself
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1@TechInquisitor or the rather fun version... "Whatever floats your goat" (warning this may just be an Australianism).– AaronCommented Jan 11, 2022 at 20:42
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In addition to the other great answers:
Don't come running to me when it goes wrong!
Or:
You'll be sorry!
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1Or with an added bit of humor - "don't come running to me if you break your leg!" Commented Jan 10, 2022 at 14:48
It's your lookout. OED: "One's own responsibility or concern, which others are not obliged to consider."
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1Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please edit to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.– Community BotCommented Jan 10, 2022 at 14:38
"You do you" carries a meaning similar to that.
This short statement can be subtle or overt, depending on the tone it is spoken in. It implies a negative judgement of the other person's proposed course of action, but not to the degree that the speaker is prepared to expend effort stopping them from undertaking it.
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Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please edit to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.– Community BotCommented Jan 10, 2022 at 11:07
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1I've never heard that phrase - could you point us to a reference that supports your claim? Even better if it lists the regions where it's understood. Commented Jan 11, 2022 at 15:26
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2This is a bit of a neologism; it's more common among younger speakers (esp. the somewhat condescending "you do you, boo").– SchismCommented Jan 12, 2022 at 0:56
I also might use a future rendition of the idiom:
[You/go ahead and] make your bed, you'll lie in it.
which is a saying that has been around a while.
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I suggest that sentiment has been around for more time than we could count but still, the specific wording is far too un-idiomatic to matter Commented Jan 11, 2022 at 22:27
You're on / skating on thin ice.
on thin ice In a precarious or risky position, as in After failing the midterm, he was on thin ice with his math teacher. This metaphor is often rounded out as skate on thin ice, as in He knew he was skating on thin ice when he took his rent money with him to the racetrack. This idiom, which alludes to the danger that treading on thin ice will cause it to break, was first used figuratively by Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay Prudence (1841): "In skating over thin ice our safety is in our speed." Christine Ammer; The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms (2013)
If you say that someone is on thin ice or is skating on thin ice, you mean that they are doing something risky that may have serious or unpleasant consequences. Collins
be skating on thin ice
Engaged in some activity or behavior that is very risky, dangerous, or likely to cause a lot of trouble. In a precarious or risky situation. Farlex Dictionary of Idioms
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19I'll point out that this one's got threatening overtones, along the lines of "if you mess up, I'll punish you". Commented Jan 9, 2022 at 9:06
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3I take this to mean more “I warned you against this and you proceeded anyway, here’s your final warning to stop before I get angry”, which is not quite what the OP asked for IMO– JoshCommented Jan 9, 2022 at 16:47
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2Agree with the previous commenters; this only works well when the risk is obvious. E.g. "Should I ask the professor about another extension? Dunno, you're already skating on thin ice" does not imply that the answerer would become angry; the risk is with the professor.– MSaltersCommented Jan 10, 2022 at 12:34
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@MSalters How does "become angrier" figure into the question? All I see is "don't complain about the consequences." Commented Jan 10, 2022 at 12:37
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1Agreed with others - this is a veiled threat, not a well-meaning expression of concern.– J...Commented Jan 10, 2022 at 18:25
You can go, but know you go at your own peril.
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Please attribute your sources and give an explanation of how this answers the question. Commented Jan 16, 2022 at 20:10
This word has a lot of uses/definitions, but it can be used after giving up an argument and letting someone do what they want: whatever.
Whatever is a slang term meaning "whatever you say" , "I don't care what you say" or "what will be will be". The term is used either to dismiss a previous statement and express indifference or in affirmation of a previous statement as "whatever will be will be".[1] An interjection of "whatever" can be considered offensive and impolite or it can be considered affirming. In the late 20th century and early 21st century, the word became a sentence in its own right; in effect an interjection, often but not always, used as a passive-aggressive conversational blocking tool, leaving the responder without a convincing retort.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whatever_(slang)
Used after trying to explain something to someone, it effective means "whatever you want to do, it's not my fault."
It's not automatically understood to be that definition in all situations, so it needs context as to what it ultimately means.
It could depend on context, but "Forewarned is forearmed!" kind of fills the warning -> consequence sense.
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2Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please edit to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.– Community BotCommented Jan 9, 2022 at 7:43