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Don't let's" said Kathleen

Posted by R. Berg on October 23, 2003

In Reply to: Don't let's" said Kathleen posted by Miri Barak on October 23, 2003

: I would like to know the meaning of Don't let's.
: The context from The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit:
: Gerald the eldest tells his brother and sister to march and they reach a dark place with steps down:
: "There are steps down", said Jimmy.
: It is an ice-house", said Gerald.
: "Don't let's", said Kathleen.

: I have to explain that she is not very brave (as girls used to be depicted in books on those days.

:
: Maybe she means: let's not go any further?

: My Many thanks
: miri

That's what she means. "Don't let's" is a conventional colloquial form for "Let's not."

  • Thanks Miri Barak 23/October/03

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