do [2] (does 3rd person present) (doing present participle) (did past tense) (done past participle ) (OTHER VERB USES)
do is used in a large number of expressions which are explained under other words in the dictionary. For example, the expression `easier said than done' is explained at `easy'.
1 verb When you do something, you take some action or perform an activity or task. Do is often used instead of a more specific verb, to talk about a common action involving a particular thing. For example you can say `do your teeth' instead of `brush your teeth'.
I was trying to do some work... V n
After lunch Elizabeth and I did the washing up... V n
Dad does the garden... V n
2 verb Do can be used to stand for any verb group, or to refer back to another verb group, including one that was in a previous sentence.
What are you doing?... V n
Think twice before doing anything... V pron-indef
A lot of people got arrested for looting so they will think before they do it again... V it
I'm glad they gave me my money back, but I think they did this to shut me up... V this
The first thing is to get some more food. When we've done that we ought to start again... V that
Brian counted to twenty and lifted his binoculars. Elena did the same... V the same
He turned towards the open front door but, as he did so, she pushed past him. V so
3 verb You can use do in a clause at the beginning of a sentence after words like `what' and `all', to give special emphasis to the information that comes at the end of the sentence., (emphasis)
All she does is complain... V n
What I should do is go and see her... V n
4 verb If you do a particular thing with something, you use it in that particular way.
I was allowed to do whatever I wanted with my life... V n with n
The technology was good, but you couldn't do much with it. V amount with n
5 verb If you do something about a problem, you take action to try to solve it.
They refuse to do anything about the real cause of crime: poverty... V n about n
If an engine packs in, there's not much the engineer can do about it until the plane is back on the ground. V amount about n
6 verb If an action or event does a particular thing, such as harm or good, it has that result or effect.
A few bombs can do a lot of damage... V n
It'll do you good to take a rest... V n n
7 verb You can use do to talk about the degree to which a person, action, or event affects or improves a particular situation.
Such incidents do nothing for live music's reputation... V amount for n
I'd just tried to do what I could for Lou. V n for n
8 verb You can talk about what someone or something doesto a person to mean that they have a very harmful effect on them.
I saw what the liquor was doing to her... V to n
9 verb If you ask someone what they do, you want to know what their job or profession is.
What does your father do?... V n
10 verb If you are doing something, you are busy or active in some way, or have planned an activity for some time in the future.
Are you doing anything tomorrow night?... V n
There is nothing to do around here. V n
11 verb If you say that someone or something does well or badly, you are talking about how successful or unsuccessful they are.
Connie did well at school and graduated with honours... V adv
How did I do? V adv
12 verb If a person or organization does a particular service or product, they provide that service or sell that product.
(mainly BRIT)
They provide design services and do printing and packaging... V n
They do a good range of herbal tea. V n
13 verb You can use do when referring to the speed or rate that something or someone achieves or is able to achieve.
They were doing 70 miles an hour. V amount
14 verb If you do a subject, author, or book, you study them at school or college.
SPOKEN I'd like to do maths at university. V n
15 verb If you do a particular person, accent, or role, you imitate that person or accent, or act that role.
Gina does accents extremely well. V n
16 verb If someone does drugs, they take illegal drugs.
I don't do drugs. V n
17 verb If you say that something willdo or willdo you, you mean that there is enough of it or that it is of good enough quality to meet your requirements or to satisfy you.
Anything to create a scene and attract attention will do... V
`What would you like to eat?'—`Anything'll do me, Eva.' V n
18 If you say that you could do with something, you mean that you need it or would benefit from it.
could do with sth phrase V inflects, PHR n/-ing
I could do with a cup of tea..., The range could do with being extended.
19 You can ask someone what they did with something as another way of asking them where they put it.
what did you do with phrase V inflects, PHR n
What did you do with that notebook?
20 If you ask what someone or something is doing in a particular place, you are asking why they are there.
what is sb/sth doing here phrase PHR adv/prep
`Dr Campbell,' he said, clearly surprised. `What are you doing here?'
21 If you say that one thing has something to do with or is something to do with another thing, you mean that the two things are connected or that the first thing is about the second thing.
have/be to do with phrase have/be inflects, PHR n
Mr Butterfield denies having anything to do with the episode..., That's none of your business, it has nothing to do with you... do away with
1 phrasal verb To do away with something means to remove it completely or put an end to it.
The long-range goal must be to do away with nuclear weapons altogether. V P P n
2 phrasal verb If one person does away with another, the first murders the second. If you do away withyourself, you kill yourself.
INFORMAL ...a woman whose husband had made several attempts to do away with her. V P P n, Also V P P pron-refl do for phrasal verb If you say that you are done for, you mean that you are in a terrible and hopeless situation.
INFORMAL usu passive
We need his help or we're done for, dead and gone, lost. be V-ed P do in phrasal verb To do someone in means to kill them.
INFORMAL
(=bump off)
Whoever did him in removed a man who was brave as well as ruthless. V n P, Also V P n (not pron) do out phrasal verb If a room or building is done outin a particular way, it is decorated and furnished in that way.
(BRIT) usu passive
...a room newly done out in country-house style. be V-ed P prep/adv do out of phrasal verb If you do someone out of something, you unfairly cause them not to have or get a particular thing that they were expecting to have.
INFORMAL He complains that the others have done him out of his share. V n P P n do over phrasal verb If you do a task over, you perform it again from the beginning.
(AM)
(=do again)
If she had the chance to do it over, she would have hired a press secretary. V n P do up
1 phrasal verb If you do something up, you fasten it.
Mari did up the buttons... V P n (not pron)
Keep your scarf on, do your coat up. V n P
2 phrasal verb If you do up an old building, you decorate and repair it so that it is in a better condition.
(BRIT)
Nicholas has bought a barn in Provence and is spending August doing it up. V n P, Also V P n (not pron)
3 phrasal verb If you say that a person or room is done up in a particular way, you mean they are dressed or decorated in that way, often a way that is rather ridiculous or extreme.
usu passive
...Beatrice, usually done up like the fairy on the Christmas tree... be V-ed prep/adv do without
1 phrasal verb If you do without something you need, want, or usually have, you are able to survive, continue, or succeed although you do not have it.
We can't do without the help of your organisation... V P n
We've had a bit more money and that, and the baby doesn't do without. V P
2 phrasal verb If you say that you could do without something, you mean that you would prefer not to have it or it is of no benefit to you.
INFORMAL He could do without her rhetorical questions at five o'clock in the morning. V P n
