job (redirected from doing the job)

an inside job

a crime committed by someone against the organization that they work for. The computers were taken from a locked room, which makes it look like an inside job. (not used with the)

See also: inside

an uphill battle/fight/struggle

if something you are trying to do is an uphill struggle, it is very difficult, often because other people are causing problems for you. Environmentalists face an uphill struggle convincing people to use their cars less. We're trying to expand our business, but it's an uphill battle.

See also: battle, fight

a bang up job (American, informal)

a very successful piece of work. You've done a bang up job clearing out the garage.

See also: bang

be just the job (British & Australian, British, old-fashioned)

to be perfect for a particular purpose. He needed a car to pick her up in and Will's sports car seemed just the job.

See also: just

a blow job (taboo!)

the sexual activity of touching a man's penis with your mouth and tongue to give him pleasure. She gave him a blow job.

See also: blow

do a job on someone/something (mainly American, informal)

to hurt or damage someone or something. He really did a job on her, telling her how much he loved her and then leaving her. Someone sure did a job on this table - there are scratches all over it.

do the job (informal)

if something does the job, it is suitable for a particular purpose. Here, this knife should do the job. I needed to tie the two parts together and an old stocking did the job perfectly.

Don't give up the day job! (humorous)

something that you say to someone who is performing in order to tell them that you do not think they are very good at it. 'What did you think of my singing, then?' 'Er, don't give up the day job!'

See also: day, don't, give

fall down on the job

to fail to do something that you should do. The armed forces will take over if the local authorities fall down on the job.

See also: down, fall

give something up as a bad job

to stop doing something because you do not feel it is worth continuing. After three attempts to explain the joke I gave it up as a bad job.

See also: bad, give

a hatchet job (informal)

strong and unfair criticism of someone or something, especially on television or in a newspaper. She did a real hatchet job on his latest novel in one of the Sunday papers.

See also: hatchet

have the devil's own job doing something/to do something (old-fashioned)

to spend a long time trying to do something difficult. I had the devil's own job to find a parking space near here.

It's more than my job's worth. (British & Australian, informal)

something that you say in order to tell someone that you cannot do what they want you to do because you would lose your job if you did. I'm sorry, but it'd be more than my job's worth to take any money from you.

See also: it's, more, worth

a job lot (British & Australian)

a collection of objects that are bought or sold together as a group. I bought a job lot of furniture at an auction.

See also: lot

a Job's comforter (old-fashioned)

someone who tries to make you feel happier but makes you feel worse instead. She's a real Job's comforter. She keeps telling me I'm going to die soon anyway so I shouldn't worry about anything.

lie down on the job

to not work as hard at something as you should. The new Police Chief fired two officers he accused of lying down on the job.

See also: down, lie

make the best of something (British, American & Australian, British & Australian)

to try to think and act in a positive way when you have to accept a situation which you do not like but cannot change. The room they've given us is too small really, but we'll just have to make the best of it. It was a difficult speech to give, but I think she made the best of a bad job.

See also: best

the patience of Job/a saint

a lot of patience. You need the patience of a saint to be a teacher.

See also: patience

a put-up job (informal)

an attempt to trick or deceive someone. At the time he seemed honest enough, but later, after I'd given him the money, I realized it was a put-up job.

a snow job (American & Australian, informal)

an attempt to persuade or deceive someone by praising them or not telling the truth. Danny'll need to do a snow job on his Dad if he's going to borrow the car again.

See also: snow

a whale of a [job/party/story etc.] (American & Australian)

a very good job, party, story etc.. They've done a whale of a job renovating the building.

See also: party, story, whale

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do the job

to achieve the desired result. I needed to tie the two parts together and an old stocking did the job perfectly.

Usage notes: an object, tool, or other thing, but not a person, is what does the job

fall down on the job

to fail to do something that you were expected to do. Someone fell down on the job and didn't catch the obvious mistakes in the ad.

See also: down, fall

on the job

1. while working. Glass is always checking his workers to be sure they're wearing hard-hats on the job.

2. ready and able to work. Just put the CD into the slot, click "Install" and the program will install itself and then let your PC know it's on the job.