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Teo Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Don't be silly.

1. Don't be silly.

2. Don't be a silly.

#1 is correct. Is #2 also acceptable?
  

Top answer

Hi, #2 is very informal. It would often be said by or to children, sometimes by women, seldom by men. I think it's probably BrE rather than AmE.

— Clive

  • Hi, #2 is very informal.
  • It would often be said by or to children, sometimes by women, seldom by men.
  • I think it's probably BrE rather than AmE.
  • Best wishes, Clive
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4 Answers
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Hi,

#2 is very informal. It would often be said by or to children, sometimes by women, seldom by men.

I think it's probably BrE rather than AmE.

Best wishes, Clive
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CliveHi,

#2 is very informal. It would often be said by or to children, sometimes by women, seldom by men.

I think it's probably BrE rather than AmE.

Best wishes, Clive

I use BrE. I must never come across sentence 2. Maybe a native speaker of BrE can comment on the usage.
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It's followed by a noun. 'Don't be a silly boy!' 'Don't be a silly sausage'
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Hi,

OK. Perhaps it's not in usage without a following noun any more. It used to be.

However, I did find this definition.



8.
Informal. a silly or foolish person: Don't be such a silly.


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