do away with (someone, something, or oneself)
do away with (someone, something, or oneself)
1. To stop or eliminate something. The company had to do away with free lunches in order to save money. You can do away with your walking boot now—the X-rays show that your foot is completely healed.
2. To kill oneself, someone, or something. I did away with the informant, boss, don't worry—he'll never talk to the police again.
See also: away
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
do away with (oneself)
Euph. to commit suicide. The doctor was afraid that Betty would do away with herself. I wouldn't think of doing away with myself.
See also: away
do away with something
to get rid of something. This chemical will do away with the stain in your sink. The time has come to do away with that old building.
See also: away
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
do away with
1. Make an end of, eliminate. For example, The town fathers have decided to do away with the old lighting system.
2. Demolish, destroy, kill, as in The animal officer did away with the injured deer lying by the side of the road. In the 13th century both usages were simply put as do away, the with being added only in the late 1700s.
See also: away
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
do away with
1. To make an end of; eliminate.
2. To destroy; kill.
See also: away
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- do away with
- draw away
- drag away
- drag (someone or something) away
- draw away from (someone or something)
- drag (someone or something) away from (something)
- are we away
- Are we away?
- drift away
- drain away