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Glite Dictionary
to do a number on

to do a number on

22 8.6
To harm someone or something very badly
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
: hacer estragos en
  • But boy, those winds really, really did a number on my corn, too.
  • really did a number on
  • sure did a number on
  • do a number on my stomach

I, I mean, I, they did a number on me.

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Examples

  • And man, did that do a number on them, you know?

  • These extremes can do a number on your skin, leaving your hands and face chapped and irritated.

    Blog text (10)

  • But not having a job at all that really does a number on so many people.

  • God, this place has really done a number on me.

    Let's Go to Prison (2006)

  • This guy has really been doing a number on me.

    The Cable Guy (1996)

  • Those books really did a number on my thoughts, ideas, and expectations about sex, love, and marriage.

    Blog text (13)

  • Even when you have work in your life, the uncertainty of first-time parenting can do a number on your confidence if you let it.

    Blog text (17)

  • As for gluten, it may be doing a number on your digestive system.

    Blog text (21)

  • NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The pressure and criticism following Superstorm Sandy apparently did a number on the Long Island Power Authority's chief operating officer.

    Blog text (29)

  • Cold temperatures and dry air can do a number on your skin, making it dry and irritated.

Synonyms

to damage
vsto do a number on
885 1.4

To harm something so it becomes less useful, valuable, or healthy

implies a stronger, more harmful effect than this general injury
to harm
vsto do a number on
738 1.0

To cause a bad effect on people or things

is used for a stronger or more damaging action than this broad effect
to injure
vsto do a number on
53 1.6

Cause harm to people or things, for example to a company's good name

is more forceful and has a stronger negative effect than this
to do (someone) in
vsto do a number on
  • Informal
8 8.3

Make someone very tired or unable to continue

is about causing strong harm not only defeating or exhausting someone
to do a job on
vsto do a number on
  • UK
3 7.7

Damage or spoil something badly

is mainly about causing a strong negative effect rather than minor spoilage
to do in
vsto do a number on
  • Offensive
3 7.4

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

is more about causing a strong negative effect rather than milder injury

Antonyms

to protect
∞ 1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

to heal
481 1.2

To become healthy again after an injury, illness, or emotional pain

How Harmed

to destroy
∞ 1.0
to cripple
72 6.3
to do a number on
  • Informal
22 8.6
to injure
53 1.6
to harm
738 1.0
to hurt
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

do + a + number + on

Although the verbs and prepositions ('do', 'on') are transparent, the sequence 'a number' does not by itself convey causing harm, and the overall sense 'cause serious damage or harm' is a language-specific idiom. The meaning is metaphorical and unpredictable from the literal constituents, so a B1 learner who only knows the words would not reliably infer it.

Etymology

Do a number on may come from the image of someone being hit or hurt so many times you could count each blow as a number. So the phrase came to mean 'to harm' or 'to badly damage' someone or something.