Can we just say "Watch." instead of "Watch where you are going."?
Example Context: Let's say somebody hit me on the sidewalk.
Note: I know that it can be rude to say these sentences. You don't need to tell me that. :)
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Sign up to join this communityCan we just say "Watch." instead of "Watch where you are going."?
Example Context: Let's say somebody hit me on the sidewalk.
Note: I know that it can be rude to say these sentences. You don't need to tell me that. :)
No, that's just a command to watch something. It could even be a warning of future consequences. But it's not the same as "watch where you're going." You can say
Watch it!
though. I know I'd say that, especially if I were peeved after the incident. Here are a couple of dictionary entries:
- watch it
informal
used to tell someone to be careful:
Watch it - you nearly knocked my head off with that plank!
(Cambridge Dictionary)- watch it
phrase
You say 'watch it' in order to warn someone to be careful, especially when you want to threaten them about what will happen if they are not careful.
"Now watch it, Patsy," the sergeant told her.
(Collins Dictionary)
"Watch" alone isn't used in English. You can use "Watch it", which practically means the same thing, as mentioned in another answer. "Watch out" could be used as a shorter version of "watch where you are going", and actually is less rude, since "watch out" has less of a negative connotation (at least to me) than "watch where you are going".