4.do 2 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 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
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.
After lunch Elizabeth and I did the washing up.
Dad does the garden.
Let me do your hair.
VB
2 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
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?.
So tell me what this molecule does that makes it special.
Think twice before doing anything.
A lot of people got arrested for looting so they will think before they do it again.
After the meal I said I would go up to bed. I often did this because they would drink port wine and stay up very late.
The first thing is to get some more food. When we've done that we ought to start again.
Brian counted to twenty and lifted his binoculars. Elena did the same.
He turned towards the open front door but, as he did so, she pushed past him.
VB
3 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
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.
All she does is complain.
What I should do is go and see her.
The best that can be done is to make things as difficult as possible.
VB emphasis
4 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
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.
What did he do with the thirty pounds?.
The technology was good, but you couldn't do much with it.
VB
5 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
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.
Well, what are you going to do about it?.
Sexual harassment, that's against the law. Something should be done about it.
In an ordinary aircraft, if an engine packs in, there's not much the engineer can do about it until the plane is back on the ground.
VB
6 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
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.
It'll do you good to take a rest.
The publicity did her career no harm.
VB
7 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
You can use do to talk about the degree to which a person, action, or event affects or improves a particular situation.
The current reforms will do much to create these conditions.
They did everything they could to help us.
He said that the opposition had done everything possible to sabotage the elections.
Such incidents do nothing for live music's reputation.
I'd just tried to do what I could for Lou.
VB
8 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
You can talk about what someone or something does to a person to mean that they have a very harmful effect on them.
I saw what the liquor was doing to her.
You overlook the pressure you're under and what it does to you.
VB
9 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
If you ask someone what they do, you want to know what their job or profession is.
`What does your father do?'n`Well, he's a civil servant.'.
He knew what he wanted to do from the age of 14.
VB
10 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
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?.
`What are you doing for Christmas?' Ella asked. `We're going to Aunt Molly's.'.
Once the novelty of watching TV and videos all day has worn off, there is nothing to do.
VB
11 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
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.
Out-of-town superstores are doing well.
How did I do?
VB
12 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
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.
They do a good range of herbal tea.
VB
13 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
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.
His catamaran will do 37 knots.
VB
14 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
If you do a subject, author, or book, you study them at school or college. (SPOKEN)
I'd like to do maths at university.
`So you did `Macbeth' in the first year?'n`No, in the first year we did `Julius Caesar'.'
VB
15 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
If you do a particular person, accent, or role, you imitate that person or accent, or act that role.
Gina does accents extremely well.
VB
16 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
You can use do to say that you are able or unable to behave in a particular way. (INFORMAL)
`Can't you be nicer to your sister?'n`Nice? I don't do nice'.
VB
17 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
If someone does drugs, they take illegal drugs.
I don't do drugs.
I saw him doing ecstasy in the toilets.
VB
18 do WEAK STRONG; does WEAK STRONG; doing did done
If you say that something will do or will do 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.
We need a winma draw won't do at all.
`I don't know what you like to eat,' she said, smiling.n`Anything'll do me, Eva.'
VB
19 do WEAK STRONG
If you say that you could do with something, you mean that you need it or would benefit from it.
I could do with a cup of tea.
The range could do with being extended.
PHR: V inflects, PHR n/-ing
20 do WEAK STRONG
You can ask someone what they did with something as another way of asking them where they put it.
What did you do with that notebook?
PHR: V inflects, PHR n
21 do WEAK STRONG
If you ask what someone or something is doing in a particular place, you are asking why they are there.
`Dr Campbell,' he said, clearly surprised. `What are you doing here?'.
What was he doing in Hyde Park at that time of the morning?
PHR: PHR adv/prep
22 do WEAK STRONG
If you say that will do to a child, you are telling them to stop behaving in the way that they are.
CONVENTION
23 do WEAK STRONG
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.
Mr Butterfield denies having anything to do with the episode.
They were shouting at each other. It was something to do with money.
That's none of your business, it has nothing to do with you.
A lot of this has to do with power and greed.
PHR: have/be inflects, PHR n
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