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.

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."

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

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