A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

do good • make good
do good —
1
. be beneficial (usually with a quantifier): You
could try taking a higher dose of Vitamin C; it might do some
good. 2. help through charitable work: Sometimes I doubt if
she will be as ready to begin doing good again. Cf.: do-
gooder—(derog.) a well-meaning but unrealistic or ineffective
philanthropist (who tries to “do good”): Amateur “do-gooders”
could slip up when certain medical attention was needed.
Note:
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase do well—
1
. (Progressive Tense) make a good recovery (from
illness, etc.): She has completed her treatments and is doing
well. 2. become professionally or financially successful: These
are things I did and I did well as a nurse and a nurse’s aide.
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do good

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3. (followed by Infinitive) be well-advised to act in a particular
way: The corporation will do well to accept the union’s de-
mands.
make good —
1
. = do well 2: Then she got a job in the hospital
and made good as a nurse. 2. reimburse or refund smth.: If
the article is defective, you should take it back and ask them
to make good.
do good to someone • do someone good
do good to someone —show kindness or concern by doing
smth. beneficial to a person (usually in religious contexts): Love
God in your heart and do good to all your friends and ene-
mies.
do someone good —
1
. make smb. feel better; help or benefit
a person: Make everyone who is not asleep get out at every
rest area. The fresh air will do you good. 2. give a person
pleasure or satisfaction: It did me good to watch him sit on
the edge of my bunk and eat biscuits and butter. 3. (followed
by Infinitive) one would be well-advised to act in a particular
way: It will do you good to hear the truth occasionally. I doubt
if you ever heard it at home.