do not disturb

Meaning

A request or sign used, typically on a hotel room door, to ask staff and others not to knock, enter, or interrupt. It is commonly used when sleeping, working, or requiring privacy.

Examples

• I hung the 'do not disturb' sign on the door handle so I could sleep in.

  I hung the 'do not disturb' sign on the door handle so I could sleep in.

• Please do not disturb me this afternoon while I am on a video call.

  Please do not disturb me this afternoon while I am on a video call.

• The maid didn't enter our room because the 'do not disturb' light was on.

  The maid didn't enter our room because the 'do not disturb' light was on.

• I set my phone to 'do not disturb' mode during the flight.

  I set my phone to 'do not disturb' mode during the flight.

• If you see the 'do not disturb' sign, just leave the fresh towels outside.

  If you see the 'do not disturb' sign, just leave the fresh towels outside.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please do not disturb to me.

  ✓ Please do not disturb me.

  'Disturb' is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'to' before the object.

• ✗ I put the 'no disturb' sign on my door.

  ✓ I put the 'do not disturb' sign on my door.

  The standard, set phrase used in hotels and on devices is 'do not disturb'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I don't want the cleaners to wake me up, so I will put up the ___ sign.

  💡 The sign you hang on a hotel door handle for privacy.

  Show answer

  do not disturb

• Remember to put your phone on ___ before the movie starts.

  💡 The setting that silences notifications.

  Show answer

  do not disturb