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to do

to do

∞ 8.2
Spend time in prison as punishment
  • verb
  • /du/
  • Informal
translation icon : cumplir condena
  • It's just a bad habit now since I did it when I was younger.

Examples

  • I can't change the way things are done around here.

    Love Don’t Fade Away (2023)

  • There was some damage done to the plant, but it was slight.

    The China Syndrome (1979)

  • But unless my brother says he did it, they won't let him out.

    Joey & Rex Save the Church (2022)

  • Yes, that's easier said than done.

    All of Us Strangers (2023)

  • What South Africans have done could not have been done without a sense of nationalism.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Thus, the teachers didn't want to do it, and they can say no, but we can't.

    Academic text (2015)

  • After his conviction, he had to do two years in prison before being released.

  • She was sentenced to do time in a juvenile detention center for her involvement in the crime.

  • He hopes to do his time quietly and eventually start anew.

Synonyms

to serve
vsto do
306 7.5

To spend time in prison as a punishment

is the informal everyday term not the formal word
to serve time
vsto do
35 6.7

To spend time in prison as punishment for a crime

is the informal slang for that action
to pay one's debt to society
vsto do
5 7.1

To serve the punishment for a crime, often by going to prison

is the informal expression focusing only on spending prison time

Idioms

nothing to do with
976 2.3

Not involved with a person or thing

how do you do
  • Formal
86 6.1

A formal greeting used when meeting someone for the first time that does not need an answer

to do the trick
  • Informal
80 3.7

To get the result you want

a lot to do with
53 3.4

Be closely connected to something or happen because of it

as you do
  • UK
50 7.4

Saying this shows someone has the same habit or choice

to do someone any favors
  • Informal
48 5.1

Give someone help that does more harm than good

to do what it takes
18 4.8

Take any action needed to reach a goal, even when it is difficult

to do the deed
  • NSFW
7 7.8

To have sex, often used in a polite way to mean to get married

to do one's utmost
5 3.2

To try as hard as possible

till death do us part
  • Formal
5 7.5

A promise to stay married for the rest of both people's lives

do or die
  • Informal
4 6.7

A situation when you must succeed because failure is not allowed

how do you like them apples
  • Informal
1 9.9

People say it to boast about something they or someone else did

to do a cannonball
  • Informal
1 3.5

Jump into water while pulling your knees to your chest to make a big splash

to do one's damnedest
  • NSFW
1 8.6

To try very hard to do something

to do one's duty
  • Formal
1 3.2

Act responsibly because your role or job needs it

to do well by doing good
1 6.5

To succeed by helping others and acting fairly

to do by halves
  • UK
8.5

Work without full effort and leave tasks half finished

to do it mañana
  • Informal
9.9

To wait until tomorrow to do something instead of doing it now

do not grow on trees
  • Informal
8.1

Not easy to find or get

do not pass go
  • Informal
9.1

To refuse someone any further chance and make them leave immediately

to do someone a lemon
  • UK
9.9

Trick someone so they end up worse off

to do one's own time
  • Jargon
8.8

Serve a prison sentence without involving other people

do with mirrors
9.9

Use tricks to hide the truth

actions do the talking
  • Informal
5.5

What someone does shows who they really are more than what they say

to make do and mend
  • Archaic
7.6

Use what you have and fix things instead of buying new ones

silence do the talking
  • Informal
8.0

Not speaking to show your feelings or thoughts

what do you think, eh?
  • New Zealand
9.8

To ask someone if they agree or what they think

what do you want, blood?
  • Informal
9.9

A question said to show someone is asking for too much

when in Rome, do as the Romans do
  • Informal
7.6

Follow how people behave where you are

Phrasal Verbs

to do with
  • UK
∞ 4.2

To need or want something because it would help now

to do it
  • NSFW
999 9.8

To have sex with someone

to do nothing
888 1.5

Spend time without any activity

to have to do with
709 2.7

To be about something or connected to it

to do well
520 1.2

Be successful or have good results in something

to do business
  • NSFW
217 8.9

To pee or poo, often said about animals and young children

to do well
136 2.6

Act in a wise way that helps you

to do drugs
  • NSFW
100 7.5

Take illegal or recreational drugs to change how you feel

to do away with
88 3.7

Remove something so it is no longer used

to do by
82 6.7

Treat someone in a certain way

to do good
82 2.4

To help someone by making them healthier or happier

to do the math
  • US
71 4.4

Calculate the numbers to see if something is worth it

to do better than that
58 3.0

Show a higher level of skill or quality than before

to do the dishes
52 1.0

To wash plates, cups, and other things used for eating after a meal

to make do
49 3.7

Use what you have even if it is not enough

to do right by
40 5.4

Treat someone fairly and give them support

to do the honors
27 7.1

Carry out a social duty like introducing guests or serving drinks

to do a number on
  • Informal
22 8.6

To harm someone or something very badly

to do one's own thing
  • Jargon
15 4.2

Act on your own without following what other people want

to do justice
14 4.1

Show a person or thing so people can see its true value

to do justice to
12 4.1

To show something as well as it really is

to do out of
  • UK
11 8.4

Cheat someone so they lose money or other things they should have

to do the crime
10 5.4

To break the law

to do up
  • UK
10 3.7

Wrap and decorate something like a present to make it look attractive

to do in
  • Offensive
9 8.3

To kill or seriously hurt someone to remove a threat

to do (someone) in
  • Informal
8 8.3

Make someone very tired or unable to continue

to do you wrong
8 5.9

To treat someone unfairly or break their trust

to do up
  • UK
7 3.9

Make yourself look attractive by dressing and doing your hair or makeup

to do well for oneself
5 3.7

To become successful and earn enough money

to do a 180
  • Informal
4 6.8

To completely change your opinion or decision

to do the nasty
  • NSFW
4 9.5

To have sex with someone

to do a job on
  • UK
3 7.7

Damage or spoil something badly

to do an about-face
  • Informal
3 6.6

To suddenly change your opinion or plan to the opposite

to do in
  • Offensive
3 7.4

To damage something so it stops working or make a person very tired

to do down
  • Offensive
3 8.6

To say bad things about someone to make them look worse

to do cartwheel
1 3.5

To turn your body sideways in a full circle touching the ground with hands and feet to show joy

to do me a favour
  • UK
1 3.0

Ask someone politely to help you with something

to do out
  • UK
1 5.8

To clean and tidy a room to make it ready to use

to do ill
  • Offensive
1 7.5

To harm someone or cause them trouble

to do one's best
1 2.5

To try as hard as you can to do something well

to do well by
1 5.0

Treat someone with respect and kindness

to do it tough
  • Australian
1 8.5

To live through hard times and keep going

to do someone like that
  • Informal
1 8.4

Treat someone unfairly or hurt them, often when they trust you

to do someone's head in
  • UK
1 9.8

To make someone feel very annoyed or upset

to do the numbers
1 4.8

To calculate the money and costs to see if something is affordable

to do a little trolling
  • Slang
8.7

To annoy people online a little on purpose to make them react for fun

to do the dash
  • UK
9.3

To run away quickly to avoid being caught

to do on acid
  • NSFW
9.9

To create or perform something while taking LSD so it looks strange and colorful

to do someone a frighten
  • Irish
9.9

To suddenly scare someone and make them jump

to do you for
  • Informal
9.9

Ask someone how you can help them in a playful way

Compounds

can-do
134 4.2

Being positive and willing to try difficult tasks

to-do
  • Jargon
63 3.6

A note about a task to do later

do-it-yourself
35 3.6

Made or fixed by yourself instead of a professional

well-to-do
22 4.2

People who have plenty of money and live comfortably

do-nothing
9 7.5

Not willing or able to take action

do-nothing
  • Offensive
9 7.0

A person who avoids work and makes little effort

ne'er-do-well
  • Offensive
5 9.9

A person who is lazy, irresponsible, and does not try to succeed

can-do attitude
4 3.7

A positive, confident way of dealing with tasks and problems

derring-do
  • Archaic
4 9.9

Brave acts that show courage and a love of adventure

tae kwon do
3 4.8

A Korean martial art with fast high kicks and hand strikes

do-si-do
  • Jargon
3 9.9

Two people walk around each other back to back then return to their places

do-or-die
  • Informal
2 7.2

Willing to do anything to succeed when the situation is urgent

do-or-die moment
  • Informal
1 6.0

A time when someone must succeed or they will fail under great pressure

make-do
1 5.7

A temporary thing used instead of what you need

honey do list
  • Informal
1 8.6

A list of small jobs one partner asks the other to do at home

dog do
  • NSFW
8.0

Poop a dog leaves on the ground

doggy do
  • NSFW
8.8

Poop left by a dog on the ground that people must pick up

do-little approach
8.2

A way of acting that uses little effort

do-little attitude
8.2

A habit of not trying hard and avoiding work

fair do
  • UK
9.9

It is right to give someone credit for what they did

leaving do
  • UK
9.5

A party to say goodbye to someone leaving a job or group

how-do-you-do
  • Formal
8.2

A polite, formal greeting used when meeting someone for the first time

how-do-you-do
  • Archaic
9.3

An awkward or difficult situation that causes trouble

how-d'ye-do
  • Archaic
9.9

An awkward problem that causes a fuss

Sao Bernardo do Campo
6.6

A city near São Paulo in southeastern Brazil with many factories

How Long

to do
  • Informal
∞ 8.2
to serve time
35 6.7

Surface Forms

do infinitive
doing present participle
does third person singular
did past
done past participle

Etymology

Do for prison time comes from the same old root dōn meaning 'to act' or 'to serve'; people say someone 'does' years of a sentence as if they 'do' that time. A helpful way to remember is to think 'to do time' means to 'serve' a fixed period.