homework

do (one's) homework

1. Literally, to complete the school work that has been assigned by a teacher to be done at home. You can't watch any more television until you do your homework!
2. To be thoroughly prepared and informed about something or something, especially in advance of some process, action, or decision. Be sure you do your homework before heading into that meeting; there's a lot at stake, and no one's going to like it if you aren't up to speed. I always do my homework before I make big purchases.
See also: homework

the dog ate my homework

A hackneyed explanation for why one does not have their homework. A: "I can't tell my teacher that the dog ate my homework!" B: "Come on, a bad excuse is better than none."
See also: ate, dog, homework
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

(The) dog ate my homework

A poor excuse for something that someone has failed to do on time. (From an excuse a student might give for failing to turn in homework on time. Occurs in many variations.) The dog ate my homework, so I have nothing to turn in. (Used as an attributive.) Bob was late with his report and had nothing but his typical dog-ate-my-homework excuses.
See also: ate, dog, homework
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

do one's homework

Be well prepared, as in Steve had done his homework before the meeting and could answer all of the client's questions . This usage transfers a school assignment to a broader context. [c. 1930]
See also: homework
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

do your homework

If you do your homework, you prepare for something, especially by finding out information about it. Before you buy any shares, do your homework. Doing your homework before you make your request will help you to have a confident manner.
See also: homework
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

do your homework

examine thoroughly the details and background of a subject or topic, especially before giving your own views on it.
See also: homework
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

do your ˈhomework (on something)

find out the facts, details, etc. of a subject in preparation for a meeting, a speech, an article, etc: He had just not done his homework for the interview. He couldn’t answer our questions.
See also: homework
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

dog ate my homework, the

A ridiculous and obviously prevaricating excuse for failing to meet an obligation. It dates from the late 1900s and is so well known that a Boston Globe headline for a book review of The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr played on it, “The Internet Ate My Brain” (June 6, 2010). A Washington Examiner column by Timothy P. Carney about a bill provision allowing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to accept late applications for patent extensions called it “The Dog Ate My Homework Act” (March 20, 2010).
See also: ate, dog
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • literally
  • be lost in translation
  • casu consulto
  • (the) survival of the fittest
  • beat the (living) daylights out of (one)
  • beat the daylights out of
  • beat the hell out of
  • beat the hell out of (one)
  • beat/knock/kick the hell out of somebody/something
References in periodicals archive
While teachers at both levels note the value of homework for reinforcing classroom content, those in the earlier grades are more likely to assign homework mainly to foster skills such as responsibility, perseverance, and the ability to manage distractions.
In sum, the relationship between homework and academic achievement in the elementary-school years is not yet established, but eliminating homework at this level would do children and their families a huge disservice: we know that children's learning beliefs have a powerful impact on their academic outcomes, and that through homework, parents and teachers can have a profound influence on the development of positive beliefs.
THE CASE FOR (QUALITY) HOMEWORK: WHY IT IMPROVES LEARNING, AND HOW PARENTS CAN HELP
Across the UK, a whopping one million pieces of homework are handed in late every day - one in four - the primary reason being that students don't feel condent getting their work done.
Jon Barker, science teacher at Highams Park School in London, said: "Firey's data highlights an interesting pressure point with homework. It's clear there area range of reasons for homework not being completed, which we try to address through support sessions, homework clubs and by delivering traditional adage - come and see me if you are stuck."
Home-work in progress; WHILE REVISION IS VITAL FOR EXAM PREPARATION, IT SHOULDN'T BE ALL HARD GRAFT FOR TEENAGERS. LISA SALMON LOOKS AT HOW PLAYING GAMES COULD HELP..
We developed these items based on previous research on homework management strategies of elementary school students (e.g., Xu & Corno, 1998) and middle school students (e.g., Xu, 2008a; Xu & Corno, 2003).
We examined Pearson correlations between the PHMS and four external measures: homework self-regulation strategies, positive homework emotions, amount of homework completed, and math achievement.
Validity and reliability of the Parental Homework Management Scale
When parents demand more homework, teachers will provide resources, such as websites where students can practice specific skills.
HOMEWORK OVERHAUL: Along with reducing stress, districts seek to give more purposeful assignments based on students' needs and interests
Schools may be implementing new strategies to make homework attractive, but students are still feeling the "stress", which they say is being caused by excessive home learning.
Are students in Dubai burdened with too much homework?
Maier based her decision to ban homework on research of Richard Allington, a University of Tennessee professor of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education.
Marion County Public Schools Ban Homework
The policy makes homework seem like a rite of academic passage to younger students like Pearl Keenan.
No excuses needed
Some teachers know all this but feel compelled to keep assigning homework for tradition's sake, or because of pressure from administrators or, ironically, parents.
The case against homework: stuffed backpacks drive kids away from learning
Just because UK children get more homework does not mean that it correlates with good results.
CATHY OWEN MODERN FAMILY
I like homework more than the average girl, but I learn better when there's a teacher to answer questions when you have them.
Too much homework?
In the meantime, elementary school children continue to be given homework assignments.
A developmental edge
Indeed, the complexity of opinion documented in homework research demands both thoroughness and sophistication if this review is to provide a sound conceptual basis for future studies.
A review of homework literature as a precursor to practitioner-led doctoral research in a primary school