The shop assistant has just brought you a third top, and you already know it’s not the right one. You can say that in one short sentence: It doesn’t suit me.
How to say “It doesn’t suit me”
It doesn’t suit me means the colour, cut or style doesn’t look good on you. The verb suit is about how something looks on a person, not about the size. There is no preposition after it: suit me, not suit to me.
- This jacket doesn’t suit me.The cut or colour looks wrong on me.
- The green dress suits you.It looks good on you.
- Your new haircut really suits you.It looks great on you.
Suit can also be a noun: a suit is a business outfit. When you mean “looks good on me” or “works for me”, you need the verb.
Suit, fit or match?
The Ukrainian «підходить» can translate as three different English verbs. Choose by what the problem is:
- suit — the style, colour or cut looks good (or bad) on someone. It is also used for times and plans: Does Friday suit you?
- fit — the size: the item sits on the body properly or not. These jeans don’t fit me.
- match — it goes with something else: a bag, shoes, the rest of the outfit. These shoes don’t match my bag.
- The jacket is nice, but it doesn’t fit me.Wrong size: too small or too big.
- Those shoes don’t match your dress.They don’t go well together.
- Blue suits you better than black.Blue looks better on you.
Related phrases
When the problem is not the clothes but the situation or your taste, English speakers often use these:
- It’s not my style.It isn’t what I usually wear or like.
- Friday doesn’t work for me.Friday isn’t convenient for me (time or plans).
- That’s not really my thing.I’m not into that.
If you’re in the fitting room, you may also need Can I try this on? and Do you have it in a smaller size?
Common mistakes
- Don’t add “to”: suit to me is a common mistake. Say suit me.
- Don’t translate word for word: It goes to me doesn’t mean “it suits me”.
- Remember the -s in the third person (Present Simple): It suits me, It doesn’t suit me, not It doesn’t suits me.
Check yourself
Translate into English, then reveal the answer:
1.These jeans are too small for me.
Answer
These jeans don’t fit me.
2.Those shoes don’t go with your bag.
Answer
Those shoes don’t match your bag.
3.Ask a friend if Thursday is good for them.
Answer
Does Thursday suit you?
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