Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
do-it-yourself

do-it-yourself

35 3.6
Made or fixed by yourself instead of a professional
  • adjective
  • /ˈduː ɪt jʊərˈsɛlf/
translation icon : de bricolaje
  • With the right tools and guidance, anyone can attempt do-it-yourself repairs around the house.
  • do-it-yourself approach
  • do-it-yourself (DIY)
  • do-it-yourself home

But it's very much a sort of do it yourself paint by numbers.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Yes, I do think that a lot of people are into "do it yourself" projects.

    Blog text (24)

  • But to keep overhead low, it's possible to do it yourself for much less.

    Academic text (2011)

  • We have a great, um, section of do-it-yourself.

    The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

  • A Google Internet search of "Pringles antenna" returns nearly 400 websites, many with do-it-yourself instructions, pictures, and even videos.

    Academic text (2002)

  • We've found some of the coolest, cutest, and most useful do-it-yourself ideas for iPad cases.

    Blog text (28)

  • Many people enjoy creating home decor projects as part of the do-it-yourself movement.

  • He decided to build his own furniture because he preferred a do-it-yourself approach.

Synonyms

handmade
vsdo-it-yourself
255 2.9

An item that a person makes with their hands instead of a machine, often with care

refers to doing tasks personally, not only the hand making method
homemade
vsdo-it-yourself
179 1.3

Made at home rather than bought from a store

is about doing projects yourself rather than only being made at home
hand-crafted
vsdo-it-yourself
4 3.9

Made by hand rather than by machine

focuses on doing things yourself rather than on craft technique
self-produced
vsdo-it-yourself
1 4.7

Made by a person without outside help

focuses specifically on personal building or repair activities rather than all creations
homebuilt
vsdo-it-yourself
4.1

Made at home by someone, not in a factory

is about doing building or repair work oneself rather than hiring a professional

Antonyms

professional
∞ 3.4

Relating to a job that needs special training and skill

How Skilled

handmade
255 2.9
do-it-yourself
35 3.6
amateur
175 3.5

Surface Forms

do-it-yourself positive
do it yourself positive

Morphology

do-it-yourself = do + it + yourself (transparent) = do + it + yourself

The meaning is a straightforward combination of 'do' + 'it' + 'yourself' meaning 'performed by oneself', which a learner knowing the components can readily infer.

Etymology

Do-it-yourself comes from the plain phrase do + it + yourself, which means 'do it by yourself'. A helpful image is someone with a toolbox fixing a shelf, because do-it-yourself describes things you make, fix, or build on your own instead of hiring a repair person.