# Origin of phrase "Don't go there" ?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-phrase-dont-go-there/62508
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 19, 2001, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-phrase-dont-go-there/62508 "2001-04-19T05:55:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2001, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-phrase-dont-go-there/62508/1 "2001-04-19T05:55:01Z")
I recall hearing this phrase being used as early as 1990 or '91…but who or what started it?
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### Author:  [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-phrase-dont-go-there/62508/2 "2001-04-19T15:10:03Z")
It looks like nobody wants to go there, but I am going to go there (out on a limb) and say Dana Owens (AKA Queen Latifa). If she didn’t come up with it, she sure did popularize it.
From [this site](http://www.theage.com.au/news/20000810/A59860-2000Aug9.html):
> [@](#):
>
> A survey of 250 marketing and media executives in PR-heavy Britain found that “thinking outside the box” - meaning being original - was the most hated catchphrase. Others considered particularly annoying included “ **don’t go there** ”, “window of opportunity”, “the bottom line is …” and “I know where you’re coming from.”
I don’t think I’ve ever heard it being used by an executive though!