Learn English Phrasal Verbs:Do
Do phrasal verbs are a smaller, practical set: fastening or decorating (do up), managing without something, and getting rid of a rule or habit.
Not sure when the object goes in the middle? Read separable and inseparable phrasal verbs.
do up
repair and improve a building
They decided to do up their old house instead of buying a new one.
They decided to repair and improve their old house instead of buying a new one.
0 of 5 practices
do up
fasten
Please do up your seatbelt before the car starts moving.
Please fasten your seatbelt before the car starts moving.
0 of 5 practices
do up
dress smartly
She did herself up for the interview.
She dressed smartly for the interview.
0 of 5 practices
do without
manage without something
I think I can do without coffee for a day.
I think I can manage without coffee for a day.
0 of 5 practices
do away with
stop using something
The school is planning to do away with outdated teaching methods.
The school is planning to stop using outdated teaching methods.
0 of 5 practices
do over
do again
The teacher asked me to do the essay over because it was too short.
The teacher asked me to do the essay again because it was too short.
Do something again: do the essay over. This use is especially common in American English.
0 of 5 practices
do in
make someone very tired
That long meeting really did me in.
That long meeting really made me very tired.
0 of 5 practices
could do with
want or need something
I could do with a short break before the next class.
I would like a short break before the next class.
Use the whole expression could do with + something you want or need: I could do with a break.
0 of 5 practices
do down
criticise unfairly
Don’t do yourself down. The presentation was clear.
Don’t criticise yourself unfairly. The presentation was clear.
British English for criticising or belittling someone: do someone down. Do not do yourself down.
0 of 5 practices
do for
be enough for
This sandwich will do for lunch if we’re short on time.
This sandwich will be enough for lunch if we’re short on time.
Be suitable or sufficient: this sandwich will do for lunch. Other meanings of do for have different register and usage.
0 of 5 practices
10 meanings of 8 do phrasal verbs at a glance
Separable means the object can sit in the middle, and a pronoun has to. Inseparable means it never can. No object means the verb does not take one. Full explanation here.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| do up | repair and improve a building | Separable |
| do up | fasten | Separable |
| do up | dress smartly | Separable |
| do without | manage without something | Inseparable |
| do away with | stop using something | Inseparable |
| do over | do again | Separable |
| do in | make someone very tired | Separable, informal |
| could do with | want or need something | Inseparable, informal |
| do down | criticise unfairly | Separable, informal |
| do for | be enough for | Inseparable |
About this set
Do up a coat is not the same as put on a coat: you put the coat on first, then you do it up.
Do without and do away with are the pair to keep separate: one means manage without, the other means abolish.
Usage notes
- do up. Separable. Do up a coat means fasten it. Do up a flat means decorate or renovate it. The object tells you which one.
- do without. Inseparable. Do without sugar means manage if it is not there. It does not mean throw the sugar away.
- do away with. Do away with a rule means abolish it. In this statement the object follows with: do away with it. The expression also occurs in news and workplace contexts.
- do over. Mostly American English for do again. British speakers more often say do it again or start over.
Mistakes to avoid
Incorrect: Do up it before you go outside.
Correct: Do it up before you go outside.
Do up is separable, so a pronoun goes in the middle.
Incorrect: They did away the rule last year.
Correct: They did away with the rule last year.
Do away with has two particles and the with cannot be dropped.
Incorrect: I can do without of a car in this city.
Correct: I can do without a car in this city.
Do without takes its object directly, with no extra preposition.
Incorrect: Do not do down yourself, the presentation was clear.
Correct: Do not do yourself down, the presentation was clear.
Do down is separable and a reflexive pronoun has to sit in the middle.
Common questions
What is the difference between do without and do away with?
Do without means you still need the thing but it is not available, so you manage. Do away with means you remove the thing on purpose: a rule, a product, a habit.
Does do up always mean decorate?
No. Do up your coat is fasten. Do up the kitchen is renovate. If the object is clothing or a zip, it is fasten. If the object is a room or house, it is decorate or repair.