not it

Chaser denial cry

Not it is a declaration used in informal games or situations where someone must perform an unwanted task.

The last person to call "not it" gets stuck with the job.

Children use it to assign who's "it" in tag; adults use it to avoid chores or obligations: Not it on cleaning the bathroom.

The phrase captures the logic of opting out before anyone else can.

Related

running · touch · freeze · hiding · home free · escape · dodge · safe · base · counting · seeking · children · recess · pointing · point the finger · blame · excluded · deny

Categories
Opposites
tagging game status

not itit

Neuter third-person pronoun

you're it · tagged · nominated · on the hook · the chosen one

responsibility/selection status

not itit

Neuter third-person pronoun

chosen · selected · picked · nominated · assigned

Family

not, it

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G