do-si-do

American  

[doh-see-doh] / ˈdoʊ siˈdoʊ /

noun

do-si-dos plural

1. a figure in square-dancing, in which two persons advance, pass around each other back to back, and return to their places.

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verb (used with object)

do-si-doed, do-si-doing

1. to dance this figure around (one's partner).

verb (used without object)

do-si-doed, do-si-doing

1. to execute a do-si-do.

do-si-do British  

/ ˌdəʊsɪˈdəʊ /

noun

1. a square-dance figure in which dancers pass each other with right shoulders close or touching and circle back to back

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1. a call instructing dancers to perform such a figure

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• do-si-dos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of do-si-do

see origin at dos-à-dos

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

do-si-do do-si-dos do-si-doed do-si-doing

The textured wall covering wasn’t a hit, but after bit of a do-si-do, they hit on cushioning for packages.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026

Nick’s energized romantic do-si-do destabilizes the group, and gives them something new to gossip about and compare their own lives with as they wobble through the ensuing year.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2025

We square dancers had to cancel our whole season — you can’t very well social-distance while doing the allemande and do-si-do.

From Washington Post ● May 7, 2020

I do-si-do with a man named Chris, who, as he spins me, says, “I need more resistance from you.”

From New York Times ● Jan. 2, 2018

I murmur while Simon and Martin do-si-do in their tuxes.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

There were balances, do-si-dos and pass-throughs, and swinging your partner, always, with the swinging varying in speed depending on your partner.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 7, 2015

As universities have do-si-doed between conferences chasing broadcast revenues, realignment has created a rivalry vacuum.

From New York Times ● Nov. 14, 2014

The high spot of the party came when Jimmy, Wife Rosalynn and Amy deftly do-si-doed with the Dixie Liners.

From Time Magazine Archive

They do-si-doed around the dress like an offering dance and cheered as it filled up with water and tipped down to pour into the waiting coconuts.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

It seems lately that country artists are do-si-doing with hip-hop: They’re willing to use the beats and production flourishes but maybe unwilling to give it a full embrace.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 14, 2021