do not make a mountain out of a mole hill
Do not exaggerate a small problem
English · UK & Ireland 846
All languages English Tiếng Việt
Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
Expressions you’ll hear in Britain and Ireland — distinctly British usage first, then widespread staples.
do not meet troubles half-way
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
do not put all your eggs in one basket
Avoid risk by diversifying investments or activities
do not put new wine into old bottles
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
do not put the cart before the horse
Do things in the correct order
do not put too many irons in the fire
Avoid taking on too many tasks at once
do not rock the boat
Avoid causing trouble or controversy
do not shut the stable door after the horse has bolted
Do not take action after the problem has occurred
do not spend it all in one place
Be prudent with your money and avoid excessive spending
do not spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar
Do not risk everything for a small amount of money
do not sympathize with those who can not empathize
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
Do not teach your Grandmother to suck eggs
Do not try to teach someone more experienced than you
do not throw pearls to swine
Do not offer valuable things to those who will not appreciate them
do not throw the baby out with the bathwater
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
do not try to walk before you can crawl
Master the basics before attempting more complex tasks
do not upset the apple-cart
Avoid causing trouble or disrupting a stable situation
do not wash your dirty linen in public
Keep personal or private problems private
do numbers
to use mathematical calculations
do one's best
To perform to the highest level of one's ability
do one's business
to defecate or urinate
do one's damnedest
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
do one's darnedest
To try one's hardest or make a maximum effort
do one's homework
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
do one's own thing
Pursue one's own interests or activities
do one's own time
Serve one's prison sentence without expecting special treatment
do one's utmost
To make the greatest effort possible
do porridge
to serve a prison sentence
do right by
Treat someone fairly and kindly
do somebody wrong
treat someone unfairly or unjustly
do someone like that
treat someone with similar poor behavior
do someone one better
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
do someone proud
Make someone feel proud or honored
do someone's head in
to annoy or frustrate someone extremely
do the dash
to hurry or rush to do something
do the decent thing
Act with integrity and morality, especially in a difficult situation.
do the dirty on
to betray or deceive someone
do the honors
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
do the mahi
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
do the math
To calculate or consider the facts and numbers in a situation
do the most
to achieve the greatest amount possible
do the needful
To take necessary actions or do what is required
do the right thing
Act with integrity and morality, even if difficult
do the talking
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
do the trick
Solves a problem or achieves the desired effect
do the work
to perform a task or job
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you ( the Golden Rule)
Treat others with kindness and respect as you want them to treat you
do up
to decorate or renovate something
do well by doing good
Succeed financially by doing beneficial or charitable work
do well for oneself
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
do what
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
do with mirrors
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
doctors make the worst patients
People in a profession often make poor recipients of its services
does the Pope shit in the woods
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
does the Pope wear a funny hat
a humorous way to ask if something is obvious
dog and bone
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
dog and cat
people who do not get along
dog and pony show
An elaborate presentation or display that is overly showy or insincere
dog around
to waste time or be lazy
dog in the hunt
Having a personal stake or interest in a situation
dog my cats
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.