How to Pronounce "you can't be half pregnant"
expression
YOO KANT BEE HAF PREHGG-nuhnt
YOO KAHNT BEE HAHF PREG-nuhnt
Definition
This expression means that something is absolute and cannot be partial—you are either one thing or another, with no in-between. It is often used to explain situations where a decision or state is either completely true or completely false.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈju/ /ˈkænt/ /ˈbi/, /bi/ /ˈhæf/ /ˈpɹɛɡnənt
British English
jˈuː/ /kɑːnt/ /bˈiː/ /hˈɑːf/ /pɹˈɛɡnənt
Simplified Pronunciation
US
YOO KANT BEE HAF PREHGG-nuhnt
UK
YOO KAHNT BEE HAHF PREG-nuhnt
Listen in Context
You can't be half pregnant with this rule—you either follow it completely or not at all.
When making this choice, remember that you can't be half pregnant.
They want to try both ways, but you can't be half pregnant.
Look, you can't be half pregnant—once you start, you have to commit.