do for

British  

verb

1. (tr) to convict of a crime or offence

   they did him for manslaughter

2. (intr) to cause the ruin, death, or defeat of

   the last punch did for him

3. (intr) to do housework for

4. to thrive or succeed

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do for Idioms  

1. 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]

2. 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]

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Example Sentences

The new law permanently provides full expensing, allowing businesses to immediately deduct the full cost of new investments, just as they do for labor or utility costs.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

It began, as so many things do for me these days, on Letterboxd.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

Defendants in the United States can be tried at both the state and federal level for the same crime, although the charges tend to differ -- as they do for Mangione.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

“The best thing we can do for our kids is to be very stable financially and have lots of emergency savings,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

There was nothing they could do for him or the others at the mountain now.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone