I don’t think, phr. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

I don’t think phr.

an ironic phr. used at the end of a declaratory statement as a means of negating whatever has just been said, e.g. She’s a real sweetie. I don’t think!

1831		‘Gallery of 140 Comicalities’ Bell’s Life in London 24 June 2/2: A nice gentlemanly sort of a pal, I don’t think.
1840		Flash Mirror 16: Now you’re a nice man, I don’t think,. my tulip.
1845		D. Corcoran Pickings from N.O. Picayune (1847) 116: Well, this is a pretty place I dont think.
1857		T. Hughes Tom Brown’s School-Days (1896) 197: Nicely brought-up young man, ain’t he, I don’t think.
c.1865		‘Artemus Ward’ ‘He Found He Would’ 🌐 We were in Peru several years ago, and it was a nice place we don’t think.
1876		G. Lander Little Gerty II i: This is a foine occipation for a dacint Christian — I don’t think.
1884		Sporting Times 27 Dec. 3/1: i shal steer kleer of this ere dish i dont think.
1898		W. Pett Ridge Mord Em’ly 3: Nice menners, I don’t think.
1904		Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 1 June 3/3: Yes, nice sort of counsellor for girls and mothers is Dorothy Dix, I don't think! She’s about the hottest bluest writer in America.
1906		‘Hugh McHugh’ Skidoo! 74: Then myself replied to myself with a sigh of exhaustion, ‘I don’t think!’.
1907		David & Powell [perf. Marie Lloyd] And the Parrot Said 🎵 ‘Oh why has he left me? is it because I / Am too innocent, too young and too shy?’ / And the parrot said, ‘I don't think!’.
1910		Sun. Times (Perth) 10 Apr. 2nd sect. 10/3: The stable were laid a fair amount to nothing by a certain trusting punter, and the latter will perform the same service for the same stable at some future period — we don’t think.
1911		E.B. Morris Freshman in College Comedies 9: Jerome. You’re a nice man. I don’t think.
1919		‘Sax Rohmer’ Dope 130: ‘No smokee opium,’ murmured Sin Sin Wa complacently. ‘Smokee Woodbine.’ ‘Ho, ho!’ laughed the other constable. ‘I don’t think.’.
1922		Joyce Ulysses 354: French letter still in my pocketbook. Cause of half the trouble. But might happen sometime, I don’t think.
1934		E. Raymond Child of Norman’s End (1967) 439: MacSoloman’s his name, I don’t think.
1935		Ted Yates This Is New York 29 Mar. [synd. col.] [They] are not used to such a ‘break’ in the newspaper columns. I don’t think.
1941		A. Gurney Bluey & Curley 28 Oct. [synd. cartoon] Them dago tanks are beaut — I don’t think.
1945		(con. 1944) R. Westerby Mad in Pursuit 261: Give London my love – I don’t think!
1958		J. Arden Live Like Pigs XII: True choice at Northampton got you a dandy job, I don’t think.
1984		‘Derek Raymond’ He Died with His Eyes Open 72: ‘I’ve enjoyed our little talk.’ ‘Likewise’, he said moving away. ‘I don’t think.’.
1993		I. Welsh Trainspotting 277: Frank Begbie, every woman’s dream, I don’t think, has been getting well slagged by me and Ali.
2005		P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 143: [...] which is all very fascinating . . . I don’t think.
2024		J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 788: [Q]uite the everyday rural picture - I don’t think!