don't buy green bananas
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
One should not make long-term plans, as one may not live or survive long enough to accomplish them.
Register: humorous
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
I don't buy green bananas anymore. I only buy one yellow banana, for I may not be around tomorrow.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “don't buy green bananas” mean?
One should not make long-term plans, as one may not live or survive long enough to accomplish them.
Is “don't buy green bananas” formal or informal?
don't buy green bananas is generally humorous.