deed
Related to deed: deed of trust, mortgage deed, title deed
(one's) good deed for the day
Some especially good, kind, or generous thing one has done. Sometimes used ironically or sarcastically to suggest that a certain deed is not good or not as good as someone thinks. Wow, so you went all the way across town to deliver the missing wallet to its owner? That's your good deed for the day! It's like the guy thought he was doing his good deed for the day by pointing out my mistake to me.
See also: deed, good
(one's) good deed of the day
Some especially good, kind, or generous thing one has done. Sometimes used ironically or sarcastically to suggest that a certain deed is not good or not as good as someone thinks. Wow, so you went all the way across town to deliver the missing wallet to its owner? That's your good deed of the day! It's like the guy thought he was doing his good deed of the day by pointing out my mistake to me.
See also: deed, good, of
a good deed is never lost
proverb An especially good, kind, or generous act is never done in vain. I know you're not crazy about Bill, but try to be nice to him anyway—if nothing else, a good deed is never lost. Who knows, you guys could end up becoming friends!
See also: deed, good, lost, never
a man is judged by his deeds, not by his words
proverb Actions are more revealing of one's true character since it is easy to say things or make promises, but it takes effort to do things and follow through. He swept into office on the back of all the promises he made on the campaign trail, but a man is judged by his deeds, not by his words. You better start following through on your promises to donate to the school. After all, a man is judged by his deeds, not by his words.
See also: by, judge, man, not, word
a tree is known by its fruit(, a man by his deeds)
proverb A person's or group's character or worth is determined by others based on their actions or the results thereof. It's all well and good for these companies to claim that they're going to work towards protecting the environment, but a tree is known by its fruit. A: "He claimed he would do anything he could to help me, but he always came up with some excuse or another whenever I actually reached out for help." B: "Well, I guess you know what kind of a person he really is. A tree is known by its fruit, a man by his deeds."
See also: by, known, man, tree
deed to
1. verb To transfer legal ownership of something, often property, to someone else. A deed is a legal document that proves one's ownership of something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "deed" and "to." "Over" is sometimes used before "to." My grandfather deeded his house to me in his will. Do you really think she'll deed her whole collection over to me?
2. noun The legal ownership of something. In this usage, "deed to" is a set phrase. According to my grandfather's will, I now have the deed to his house.
See also: deed
do the deed
1. To perform or undertake any given action, usually implied to be unpleasant, unsavory, or illegal. I couldn't stand the idea of watching them put down my pet dog, so John went alone to do the deed. The mob boss waited to hear whether the assassin he'd hired had done the deed.
2. slang To have sex. Teenagers are under a huge amount of pressure from their peers to do the deed before they feel ready or really want to.
See also: deed
no good deed ever goes unpunished
Due to the cruelty, ignorance, or selfishness of the world or others, one's good deeds or good intentions will often result in more trouble than they are worth. An ironic and sardonic twist on the more standard moral that "no good deed goes unrewarded." Janet: "I decided to help George clean out his gutters, but now he's got me doing all sorts of repairs around the house!" Bill: "I guess no good deed ever goes unpunished, eh?"
See also: deed, ever, goes, good, no, unpunished
No good deed goes unpunished.
proverb Due to the cruelty, ignorance, or selfishness of the world or others, one's good deeds or good intentions will often result in more trouble than they are worth. An ironic and sardonic twist on the more standard moral that "no good deed goes unrewarded." Janet: "I decided to help George clean out his gutters, but now he's got me doing all sorts of repairs around the house!" Bill: "I guess no good deed goes unpunished, eh?"
See also: deed, goes, good, no
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
deed something (over) to someone
to grant something, such as land, to someone; to transfer legal title to something to someone. Grudgingly, he deeded the land over to Walter. He deeded the property to his niece.
See also: deed
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
your good deed for the ˈday
a helpful, kind thing that you do: Why don’t you do your good deed for the day and cook me dinner?See also: deed, good
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
no good deed goes unpunished
A kindness or other positive behavior often is rewarded with opprobrium or abuse. This new, equally sarcastic take on “the way to hell is paved with good intentions” dates from the late 1900s. William Lashner used it, “But that’s the way of it, Detective . . . No good deed goes unpunished.” And Sue Miller used it in The Lake Shore Limited (2010), where a girl who had a car accident said “I was visiting my . . . great-aunt. She’s in a nursing home” and the man who helped her says, “Well no good deed goes unpunished.”
See also: deed, goes, good, no, unpunished
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- (one's) good deed for the day
- (one's) good deed of the day
- be (just) good friends
- be good friends
- do no good
- be as good as new
- be in good condition
- (one) (has) never had it so good
- for good measure
- do (one) a/the world of good