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As John Lawler has explained, "don't you do that" adds emphasis to "don't do that".

That's what a mother would say to a child, a teacher to a naughty pupil, a wife to a reckless husband and, as Hot Licks points out, "dare" is implied most of the time.

"William James, don't you do that! Put the cat down immediately."

Whether "don't do that" sounds more or less bossy, largely depends on the intonation one uses. It can be a friendly and loving "don't do that...no....please...not here" or a real order "DON'T DO THAT !!!"

As John Lawler has explained, "don't you do that" adds emphasis to "don't do that".

That's what a mother would say to a child, a teacher to a naughty pupil, a wife to a reckless husband and, as Hot Licks points out, "dare" is implied most of the time.

"William James, don't you do that! Put the cat down immediately."

Whether "don't you do that" sounds more or less bossy, largely depends on the intonation one uses. It can be a friendly and loving "don't you do that...no....please...not here" or a real order "DON'T YOU DO THAT !!!"

As John Lawler has explained, "don't you do that" adds emphasis to "don't do that".

That's what a mother would say to a child, a teacher to a naughty child, a wife to a reckless husband and, as Hot Licks points out, "dare" is implied most of the time.

"William James, don't you do that! Put the cat down immediately."

Whether "don't do that" sounds more or less bossy, largely depends on the intonation one uses. It can be a friendly and loving "don't do that...no, please..." or a real order "DON'T DO THAT !!!"

As John Lawler has explained, "don't you do that" adds emphasis to "don't do that".

That's what a mother would say to a child, a teacher to a naughty pupil, a wife to a reckless husband and, as Hot Licks points out, "dare" is implied most of the time.

"William James, don't you do that! Put the cat down immediately."

Whether "don't do that" sounds more or less bossy, largely depends on the intonation one uses. It can be a friendly and loving "don't do that...no....please...not here" or a real order "DON'T DO THAT !!!"

As John Lawler has explained, "don't you do that" adds emphasis to "don't do that".

That's what a mother would say to a child, a teacher to a naughty child, a wife to a reckless husband and, as Hot Licks points out, "dare" is implied most of the time.

"William James, don't you do that! Put the cat down immediately."

Whether "don't do that" sounds more or less bossy, hardly depends on the intonation one uses. It can be a friendly and loving "don't do that...no, please..." or a real order "DON'T DO THAT !!!"

As John Lawler has explained, "don't you do that" adds emphasis to "don't do that".

That's what a mother would say to a child, a teacher to a naughty child, a wife to a reckless husband and, as Hot Licks points out, "dare" is implied most of the time.

"William James, don't you do that! Put the cat down immediately."

Whether "don't do that" sounds more or less bossy, largely depends on the intonation one uses. It can be a friendly and loving "don't do that...no, please..." or a real order "DON'T DO THAT !!!"