do in
Britishverb
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to murder or kill
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to exhaust
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Tire out, exhaust, as in Running errands all day did me in . [ Colloquial ; early 1900s] Also see done in .
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Kill, as in Mystery writers are always thinking of new ways to do their characters in . [ Slang ; early 1900s] Also see def. 4.
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Ruin utterly; also cheat or swindle. For example, The five-alarm fire did in the whole block , or His so-called friend really did him in . [First half of 1900s]
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do oneself in . Commit suicide, as in She was always threatening to do herself in . [ Slang ; first half of 1900s]
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.
Fire and the byproducts of its blaze appear as frequently in religious texts as they do in more colloquial language.
From Salon • May 19, 2026
"We know that we have a lot of work to do in order to deliver on the prosperity that the American people deserve."
From Barron's • May 13, 2026
"You know, hanging about upside down, you've nothing to do, in fact sleeping most of the time," he said.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
I struggle with some of the things that one should do in that industry to grow their project.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
“I have too much to do in Philadelphia to keep my eyes on you, Matilda,” she announced quietly, darting looks at passengers around us to make sure nobody was listening.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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.
