do for: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, primarily spoken
Quick answer
What does “do for” mean?
To cause the ruin, failure, or death of someone or something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To cause the ruin, failure, or death of someone or something; to destroy.
To defeat, eliminate, or incapacitate; to serve as a substitute or replacement for something; to make arrangements for something (British informal).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the 'ruin/kill' meaning. The additional informal British meaning 'to manage or arrange something' (e.g., 'What shall we do for food?') is not standard in American English, where 'take care of' or 'handle' would be used.
Connotations
In the 'ruin' sense, it carries a dramatic, often fatalistic or final connotation in both varieties. It can sound slightly old-fashioned or literary.
Frequency
More frequent in British English due to the additional 'arrange/manage' sense. The 'ruin/kill' sense is moderately low-frequency in both, found more in narrative or dramatic speech.
Grammar
How to Use “do for” in a Sentence
[subject] do for [object] (ruin)[subject] be done for (ruined)[subject] do for [object] (arrange - BrE)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “do for” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This cold weather will do for my geraniums.
- Who's doing for the decorations for the party?
- He's done for if the boss finds out.
American English
- That last hill nearly did for me on the run.
- The scandal finally did for the mayor's career.
- We're done for if the bank calls the loan.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The new regulations could do for our profit margin this quarter."
Academic
Rare; found in historical texts: "The harsh winter did for the remaining troops."
Everyday
"If the engine seizes, that'll do for the old car." / (BrE) "What shall we do for dinner tonight?"
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “do for”
- Using it to mean 'do something for someone' (e.g., *I did for him a favour).
- Using the British 'arrange' sense in American contexts.
- Confusing 'be done for' (ruined) with 'be done' (finished).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily informal and colloquial, especially in its core meaning of 'ruin' or 'kill'.
They are very similar synonyms meaning 'to ruin/kill'. 'Do in' can sound slightly more casual or violent, while 'do for' can sound slightly more dramatic or final.
Rarely. Its primary meanings are negative (ruin) or pragmatic (arrange). It is not used for positive outcomes like 'succeed for'.
It's a common passive construction meaning 'to be in a hopeless situation, ruined, or finished'. E.g., 'When the evidence came out, he knew he was done for.'
To cause the ruin, failure, or death of someone or something.
Do for: in British English it is pronounced /ˈduː fɔː(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈduː fɔːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “be done for”
- “that's done for him”
- “do for a quick bite”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a boxer delivering a final punch and his trainer yelling, "That's DONE FOR him!" The phrase implies an action that finishes something off.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLETION IS DEATH / ACTION IS FORCE (The action 'does' something with the result-oriented force of 'for' a final purpose).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'do for' used in a specifically British informal sense?