do/serve time

do time

slang To serve a prison sentence. Did you hear that Rick's an ex-con? He did time back in the '70s. If you keep stealing things, you might ending up doing time one day.
See also: time

serve time

To spend time in jail as part of a prison sentence. The CEO is now serving time for his role in defrauding thousands of customers. No way am I getting involved with your scheme. I have no interest in serving time again.
See also: serve, time
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

do time

Sl. to serve a sentence in prison; to serve a specific amount of time in prison. Lefty had done time on a number of occasions. You'd better talk and talk fast if you don't want to do time.
See also: time

serve time

to spend a certain amount of time in jail. The criminal served ten years in jail. After the felon served his time, he was released from prison.
See also: serve, time
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

do time

Serve a prison sentence, as in Many of the gang members did time while they were still teenagers. This expression originated as underworld slang and is now standard usage. [c. 1860]
See also: time

serve time

Undergo a prison sentence; also, work at a particular task, especially an undesirable one. For example, We couldn't hire him when we learned that he had served time for robbery, or I applied for a transfer after serving time in that chaotic department. [Late 1800s]
See also: serve, time
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

do/serve ˈtime

(informal) be in prison: He had done time for robbing a bank. Two of the gang are serving time for murder.
See also: serve, time
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

do time

tv. to serve a sentence in prison; to serve a specific amount of time in prison. (see also hard time.) You’d better talk and talk fast if you don’t want to do time.
See also: time
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • do time
  • time
  • time out
  • con job
  • easy mark
  • in the act
  • up the river
  • cow (someone) into (something)
  • cow into
  • eat (away) at (someone's) conscience