do it— 1. have a required effect: Again I did not go and pleaded the same reason. That apparently did it—she stopped asking me to lunch parties. 2. (euph.) have sex: At sixteen you’re horny enough to get an erection watching two parakeets do it, let alone humans. 3. (coll.) make a mess of things; […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Do history and Make history
do history—study history (as a major): She does history at Warwick University, and likes her ivory towers enough to consider postgraduate study. make history—do smth. which will be recorded in history: Wright made history with the first manned flight in a heavier-than-air craft.
Difference between Do good to someone and Do someone good
do good to someone—show kindness or concern by doing smth. beneficial to a person (usually in religious contexts): Love God in your heart and do good to all your friends and enemies. do someone good— 1. make smb. feel better; help or benefit a person: Make everyone who is not asleep get out at every […]
Difference between Do good and Make good
do good— 1. be beneficial (usually with a quantifier): You could try taking a higher dose of Vitamin C; it might do some good. 2. help through charitable work: Sometimes I doubt if she will be as ready to begin doing good again. Cf.: dogooder—(derog.) a well-meaning but unrealistic or ineffective philanthropist (who tries to […]
Difference between Do faces and Make faces
do faces— 1. sketch or model faces: I do faces better than anything else. It’s the bodies that don’t turn out so well. 2. apply cosmetics: Makeup artist Tom Savini, one of the best in this creepy business, will do faces. make faces— 1. assume a silly, twisted expression on one’s face intended to cause […]
Difference between Do duty and Do one’s duty
do duty— 1. serve as or pass for smth. else: The handsome building, could have done duty as a state capitol. 2. (euph.) defecate or urinate: The lamb stood in the middle of the field doing duties at an adjacent haystack. do one’s duty— 1. do what one is obliged to do by law, one’s […]
Difference between Do business and Do the business
do business— 1. conduct transactions: The principle on which we do business is P.O.D. Which literally means Pay on Delivery. 2. take up business as a subject of study: I did Business at college. I also did Accounting as a separate course. do the business— 1. = do business 1: The way we do the […]
Difference between Do best and Do one’s best
do best— 1. be most prosperous; achieve the best results, etc.: Turnips do best in a cool, well-ventilated area such as a root cellar. 2. (followed by Infinitive) be well-advised to act in a particular way: If you want a full overview of this puzzling tale, you would do best to read two new books. […]
Difference between Do away with and Make away with
do away with something—abolish smth.; put an end to smth.: I believe it is time to do away with some of the old laws. make away with something— 1. succeed in stealing smth.: The police gave chase, but the thieves made away with the jewels. 2. deplete or waste smth.: This sort of life, as […]
Do an abortion vs Have an abortion
do an abortion—perform an abortion on a woman terminating her pregnancy:
Difference between Do a work and Make a work
do a work—engage in an activity; fulfill a task: You could give the composer complete freedom, saying you’d like him to do a work for you. make a work—(coll., also: make work) make a fuss; cause disturbance or trouble: People make a work if a minister preach the same sermon over again.
Difference between Do a runner and Do the running
do a runner—(sl.) run away in order not to pay the bill, avoid punishment, etc.: If we put any pressure on Sorley he’ll get rid of the drugs and do a runner. do the running —(also: make the running ) show initiative; make sure that things get done: Men are no longer expected to do […]