Meaning

"I don't buy it" means "I don't believe it." You hear an explanation, an excuse or a claim, and it doesn't convince you. The picture comes from shopping: someone is trying to sell you a story, and you refuse to pay for it. The same picture gives you "Do you buy that?" and "Nobody's going to buy that excuse."

It is casual and direct. Among friends it's fine, even funny. Said to someone's face about their own excuse, it calls them a liar, so it can sting. At work, a softer version is "I'm not sure I believe that" or "I'm not convinced." Use "I don't buy it" about ads, rumors and third-party stories, and you'll rarely offend anyone.

In a conversation

OliviaKenji
  1. Olivia
  2. Kenji
  3. Olivia
  4. Kenji
  5. Olivia

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Check yourself

1Kenji says "I don't buy it" about the ad. What does he mean?
2Your manager explains why the project is late. Which reply is safest at work?

Practice · 3 min

Listen, then copy the rhythm. "Buy" carries the weight, and "it" is almost swallowed.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.