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Glite Dictionary
to do the honors

to do the honors

27 7.1
Carry out a social duty like introducing guests or serving drinks
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : hacer los honores
  • And now my fellow Council member and one of Frontera's most respected businesswomen, Mrs. Mercedes Cruz, will do the honors for us.
  • let you do the honors
  • Please, do the honors
  • want to do the honors

OK, Ghost Space, will you do the honors?

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Examples

Synonyms

to officiate
vsto do the honors
  • Formal
15 6.6

To lead a ceremony, such as a wedding, as a person with authority

is an informal social action rather than an official ceremonial role
to solemnize
vsto do the honors
  • Formal
1 8.2

To mark an event with a formal, serious ceremony

is used for everyday social tasks like introducing or serving guests

Antonyms

to refuse
716 1.7

To say no to a request or offer

to neglect
256 3.8

Fail to care for someone or something you should look after

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

do + the + honor

The verb 'do' (perform) plus 'the honors' (a nominalized form of 'honour') yields a compositional sense of performing an honouring act, so a learner who knows the words can get a general sense of 'performing a polite/ceremonial duty'. However, the specific conventional uses (introducing guests, serving refreshments, etc.) are somewhat idiomatic and conventionalized, so the precise meanings and typical contexts are not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

Do the honors may come from old formal events where a guest or host was asked to carry out a polite, visible task like cutting a ribbon or pouring wine, creating a clear scene of someone taking the special role. Because honors meant respectful duties, to do the honors came to mean 'perform a social or ceremonial duty', such as introducing guests or serving food.