- do
- 1. to copulate withMainly male usage, from his supposed initiative:Doing a filthy pleasure is, and short. (Ben Jonson)'Where you might meet anyone and do anything.' 'Or meet anything and do anyone.' (Bradbury, 1975)Both sexes do it:Always wanted to do it outside, you know, ever since I read Sons and Lovers, (ibid.)2. to kill or injureAlso as do for, do down, do in, do over, etc.:Some of our chaps say that they had done their prisoners in whilst taking them back. (F. Richards, 1933)... the thug swaggered off down the pavement, doubtless eager to tell his friends that he'd 'done' one of the visiting fans. (Paxman, 1998)To do yourself in is to commit suicide:He has written a letter to my parents. I might as well do myself in. (Townsend, 1982)3. (over) to cheat or robAlso as do the dirty or do down:Sometimes I'd go with a friend to France for the weekend, expeditions that were financed by him doing over his aunty's gas meter. (McNab, 1993)4. a battleIn standard usage, a party or function. Usually of a less successful and bloody encounter, such as the British Arrihem do.5. to charge with an offencePolice jargon:She's been done twice for drunk in charge. (Allbeury, 1976)A person charged, especially with a motoring offence, will refer to having been done.
How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. R. W. Holder. 2014.