do's and don't's
Rules and prohibitions
Rules or guidelines about what you should and shouldn't do in a particular situation: The article covered the do's and don'ts of job interviews.
The phrase appears with various apostrophe placements—do's and don'ts, dos and don'ts—all acceptable.
The asymmetry reflects that "do's" needs help to avoid looking like "dos" while "don'ts" is already clear.
- tipsExtras for servers
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
- taboosSocially proscribed practices
- unwritten rulesUnstated behavioral expectations
- ground rulesFundamental operating procedures
proper etiquette · common mistakes · manners · customs · recommendations · traditions · advice · word to the wise · beginner's guide · expectations · pitfalls · boundaries · rule of thumb · strategies · methods · protocol · conventions · techniques
do's and don't'sfree rein
Unrestricted freedom to act
anything goes · no rules · carte blanche · blank slate · lawlessness
do's and don't'sautonomy
Independent decision-making capacity
self-determination · wing it · play it by ear · intuition · self-governance
do's and don't'sgray area
Ambiguous, ill-defined situation
ambiguity · uncertainty · uncharted territory · improvisation · play it by ear
don't, does, done, undone, undoing, redone, redoing, overdone, overdoing