Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English

Do Someone In

What does it mean?

Do someone in has two informal meanings in British English:

1. To murder someone (usually used jokingly or dramatically).

2. To exhaust someone completely - to make them extremely tired.

REAL WORDS.
REAL ENGLISH.
Native UK character with a collection of useful English phrases

Is it positive or negative?

Both meanings are negative - murder or exhaustion.

When do you use it?

Use the violent meaning in jokes or dramatic stories. Use the exhaustion meaning after intense physical activity, a long day, or a tiring experience.

Examples

Example 1 (Murder): "In the film, the detective suspects the butler tried to do the old man in."

Example 2 (Exhaustion): "That gym session really did me in - I can barely move."

NOW MAKE IT YOURS

Questions for you

What was the last activity that completely did you in

Do people in your country use dramatic phrases like this to describe being tired

Try saying your answer aloud, using the expression.

Practise it in a lesson

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