can you not
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Used to politely or indirectly ask someone to stop doing something, conveying a hint of frustration or annoyance depending on the context.
Register: informal, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “can you not” mean?
Used to politely or indirectly ask someone to stop doing something, conveying a hint of frustration or annoyance depending on the context.
Is “can you not” formal or informal?
can you not is generally informal, slang.