Heading
To do one proud, phr. (colloquial).—To flatter: e.g., Will you drink?' 'You do me proud.'
1836. W. G. Clark, Ollapodriana Papers. To this damsel I addressed myself, and solicited her hand in the dance. She assented; and with my brain reeling with fancies of wine and women, I really thought, for the moment, that 'she did me proud.'
1887. Sidney Luska, Land of Love, in 'Lippincott's Mag.,' p. 241. Ah? So? The frank confession does you proud.
To do out, verb. phr. (American thieves').—To plead guilty and exonerate an accomplice.
To do over, verb. phr. (common).—1. To knock down; to persuade; to cheat; to ruin.
1789. Geo. Parker, Life's Painter, p. 50. Who could, at any time, do him over, as they phrased it, for half-a-crown or half-a-guinea.
1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, p. 326 (ed. 1857). Well, said Sam, he's in a horrid state o' love; reg'larly comfoozled, and done over with it.
2. (thieves').—To search a victim's pockets without his knowing it. Cf., run the rule over.
3. (venery).—To seduce; also to copulate. For synonyms, see Dock and Ride respectively.
To do polly, verb. phr. (American prison).—To pick oakum in gaol.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or the Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
To do one's business, verb. phr. (common).—To kill. For synonyms, see Cook one's Goose. Cf., Business. Also (vulgar), to evacuate; and (venery), to serve a woman.
1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. VIII., ch. x. He concluded he had pretty well done their business, for both of them, as they ran off, cried out with bitter oaths, that they were dead men.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. xii. Then he took down his venerable and murderous duelling-pistols, with flint locks, that had done the business of many a pretty fellow in Dublin.
1856. C. Reade, Never Too Late, ch. xvi. She was stronger than he was for a moment or two, and that moment would have done his business. She meant killing.
To do the downy, verb. phr. (common).—To lie in bed. Downy flea pasture = a bed. Cf., Balmy.
1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen-String Jack, Act i., Sc. vi. Jer. The family's gone to downy nap this half-hour. Why don't the captain give the signal.
1853. C. Bede, Verdant Green, pt. ii., p. 59. This'll never do, Giglamps! Cutting chapel to do the downy.
To do the swag, verb. phr. (thieves').—To sell stolen property, Fr., laver la camelote or les fourgueroles. Cf., To do clobber.
To do the trick, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To accomplish one's object; specifically (venery), to do the 'act of kind' effectually, and (for woman), to get rid of one's maidenhead.
1864. Derby Day, p. 38. If the little 'un don't do the trick me an' him'll fall out.
1870-2. Gallery of Comicalities. Star of the stable! Ostler Dick, Still in your calling wide awake; I warrant you can do the trick—A cunning cove, and no mistake.
18(?). W. C. Russell, Representative Actors, p. 476. Edmund Kean then whispered in his son's ear 'Charlie, we are doing the trick.'
To do time, verb. phr. (thieves').—To serve a term of imprisonment.
