do for
Britishverb
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(tr) to convict of a crime or offence
they did him for manslaughter
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(intr) to cause the ruin, death, or defeat of
the last punch did for him
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(intr) to do housework for
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to thrive or succeed
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Bring about the death, defeat, or ruin of, as in He swore he'd do for him . This usage is often put in the passive voice (see done for ). [First half of 1700s]
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Care or provide for, take care of, as in They decided to hire a housekeeper to do for Grandmother . This usage today is more common in Britain than in America. [Early 1500s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Antonin Kinsky: Not much to do for half an hour.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
“That’s what we do for any new work or projects that modify the system.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
I asked the question that you’re asking, which is: “Why are states sticking with lethal injection? What does lethal injection do for us?”
From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026
Ask yourself what the money needs to do for you, said Eustache Clerveaux, a certified financial planner and partner at Fidare Wealth Solutions.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 3, 2026
What would I do for that medical card?
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
