Phrasal verb
do in
To do in someone or something means to kill, exhaust, or ruin them.
Meanings
To kill someone.
To make someone extremely tired or exhausted.
To damage or ruin something so it no longer works properly.
Definition
"Do in" is an informal phrasal verb with a few common meanings. It can mean to kill someone, to make someone extremely tired, or to damage or ruin something. The exact meaning usually becomes clear from the context.
Examples
- That heat really did me in yesterday.
- The long hike did her in, so she went to bed early.
- The spilled soda did in his laptop.
- In the movie, the villain tried to do in the hero.
- All the travel delays did them in by the time they arrived.
Common mistake
Learners often say "do in" without an object, but it is usually used transitively (e.g., "The heat did me in").