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• double-duty
  double-duty

  adjective

  designed to fill two functions.
• double duty
  double duty

  Fulfilling two functions at the same time, as in Our pickup truck does double duty, since it is used for the business and for family outings.

double-duty

American  

[duhb-uhl-doo-tee, -dyoo-] / ˈdʌb əlˈdu ti, -ˈdju- /

adjective

1. designed to fill two functions.

   double-duty tools.

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double duty Idioms  

1. Fulfilling two functions at the same time, as in Our pickup truck does double duty, since it is used for the business and for family outings.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

double-duty double duty

This means vessels are doing double-duty with increasing risk of breakdowns.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2026

McIlroy and Bridgeman finished their rounds on Thursday, while Penge and Aaron Rai had to pull double-duty on Friday.

From Barron's ● Feb. 21, 2026

After he had performed double-duty with both groups, Hoppus and DeLonge invited him to join the band permanently.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2023

Teachers, she said, had borne the brunt of strains on public services like health and social care, where shortfalls have forced teachers to do double-duty supporting vulnerable children.

From New York Times ● Mar. 15, 2023

In the corridor a few weak-kneed, pasty-faced students were making their way to and from the bathrooms, and a group of silent Helpers worked double-duty to keep the floors mopped.

From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart

Most people only have to do this double duty a few times a year, such as when the entire family gathers for holidays.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

The announcement comes ahead of Rodrigo’s “Saturday Night Live” appearance this weekend, where the singer is pulling double duty as host and musical guest.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026

There’s no reason carrots, squash, or zucchini can’t pull similar double duty.

From Salon ● Feb. 18, 2026

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins has taken on double duty as both the financial industry’s top regulator and the most prominent cheerleader for the U.S. public equity markets.

From Barron's ● Feb. 11, 2026

On the third day of Ophie working double duty, Penelope arrived in Mrs. Caruthers’s room to fetch Ophie a little earlier than she had before.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland