favour (redirected from favours)

not do somebody any favours  (British, American & Australian) also not do somebody any favor (American)

to do something that is likely to have a bad effect on you or on another person (often reflexive) You're not well, and you're not doing yourself any favours by taking on extra work. (usually in continuous tenses; often + by + doing sth) The government isn't doing the families of the victims any favor by hiding the truth about what really happened.

See also: any

curry favour

to try to make someone like you or support you by doing things to please them (usually + with ) The government has promised lower taxes in an attempt to curry favour with the voters.

See also: curry

do yourself a favour  (British & Australian) also do yourself a favor (American & Australian)

something that you say when you are advising someone to do something which will have a good effect or will give them an advantage (often + and + do sth) You're looking really tired. Why don't you do yourself a favour and take a break?

Do me a favour!  (British & Australian informal) also Do me a favor! (American & Australian formal)

something that you say in order to tell someone that what they have just said is stupid 'Why don't you go out with Brian?' 'Oh, do me a favour! He's almost 50, and he still lives with his mother!'

do me/us a favour  (British & Australian informal) also do me/us a favor (American & Australian informal)

if you tell someone to do you a favour, you are telling them to stop doing something that is making you angry (often + and + do sth) Why don't you do us all a favor and keep your opinions to yourself!

See curry favour