do one's duty
Idioms-
Do one's tasks or what is expected of one. For example, He was only doing his duty when he made the children finish their work . [Early 1500s]
-
Defecate or urinate, as in Please keep the dog outdoors until he does his duty . This euphemism for attending to such needs is heard less often today. [1930s]
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.
"I felt it was my duty to come. I certainly felt it would be an unpleasant experience, but that's not a good enough reason not to do one's duty."
From BBC • Dec. 5, 2013
“Pencroff,” answered Smith, “it is necessary to do one’s duty to the end.”
From The Mysterious Island by White, Stephen W.
To do one's duty as a doctor, with one's sole aim the physical health of the patient, may mean to advise what runs counter to the present-day code of morals.
From The Nervous Housewife by Myerson, Abraham
I'm sorry, Sir Nigel, but—one must do one's duty, you know....
From The Riddle of the Frozen Flame by De Maris, Walter
To do one's duty in love and obedience, to do what is right—these are the ideas which remain with one.
From Amiel's Journal by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.
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.
