do one’s homework—
1. said of lessons to be done by a schoolchild at home:
- Your child will be more accepting of doing his homework when he knows that it must be done at a specific time.
2. do all the necessary research and preparation for smth.:
- Before heading out on her shopping spree she did her homework and compared suitable cars from all brands.
Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase learn one’s lesson—profit from experience, especially an unhappy one:
- Sure, he had trouble in the past, driving while intoxicated … but he’s apparently learned his lesson.
do one’s housework—do the work required to keep a house clean and in order:
- It wasn’t fit for one to do one’s housework in nothing but their pajamas.