do without (someone or something)
To manage or cope despite someone's or something's absence. The phrase can be used alone or followed by the absent person or thing. Since I forgot to pick up milk on the way home, I guess we're just going to have to do without for one night. I was running late this morning, so I had to do without coffee. I had to do without my lab partner for the experiment because she was home sick.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
do without
Manage in spite of being without something. For example, They will just have to do without a vacation this year, or There was no telephone in the cabin, but we soon learned to do without. [Early 1700s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
do without
v. To manage despite the absence of something: Since we're short of money for supplies, you'll have to do without. We had to do without a telephone on the island.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.