did (redirected from DO)

course of true love never did run smooth

Prov. People in love with each other often have to overcome difficulties in order to be together. (From Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream.) Jill: What am I going to do? My boyfriend's job is transferring him to Texas, and I have to stay here. Jane: The course of true love never did run smooth.

See also: course, love, never, run, smooth, true

did everything he could 'cept eat us

Rur. acted very hostilely. When it came time to pass sentence on the criminal, the judge did everything he could 'cept eat him.

See also: could, eat, everything

Have you heard? and Did you hear?

a question used to introduce a piece of news or gossip. Sally: Hi, Mary. Mary: Hi. Have you heard about Tom and Sue? Sally: No, what happened? Mary: I'll let one of them tell you. Sally: Oh, come on! Tell me! Bob: Hi, Tom. What's new? Tom: Did you hear that they're raising taxes again? Bob: That's not new.

See also: have

If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him.

Prov. People need a deity to worship. (This is an English translation of a quote from Voltaire. It is often parodied, using a person's name instead of God and implying that the person is somehow necessary.) The atheist tried to convince Jerry that God does not exist, and that people should not waste their time worshiping Him. "But you can't stop people from worshiping God," Jerry replied. "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him." The unscrupulous mayor was such a convenient scapegoat for the city's problems that if she had not existed, it would have been necessary to invent her.

See also: god, him, if, invent, necessary

The butler did it. 

1. Lit. The butler performed the crime. (A catchphrase.) I know who killed Lord Drax. The butler did it! I saw him!

2. Fig. It happened just the way it always happens. Of course, that's it. The butler did it. The butler always does it.

up and did something

Rur. did something suddenly. That summer, she up and died. He had lived here for twenty years, and then one day, he up and left for good.

See also: and, up