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

do the dirties with someone • do the dirty on
someone
do the dirties with someone—(sl.) have sex with a person:
You just don’t understand that Sean and I are just friends. I
don’t plan on doing the dirties with him.
do the dirty on someone —(coll.) do smth. bad and unfair to
a person (also: do dirt to someone): The Germans have been
“doing the dirty” on us by donning khaki and kilts to approach
our trenches.
do the dishes • make the dishes
do the dishes —
1
. (U.S.) wash the plates, etc. after a meal:
Why am I always the one who has to do the dishes? 2. cook
meals: They also wanted to know how to do these dishes them-
selves. That’s what started her small cooking studio.
make the dishes — do the dishes 2: The women teach their
students how to make the dishes they have been eating for
generations.
do the room • make room
do the room —
1
. clean the room: At this studio there is a
femme de menage that does your room. 2. (also: do up the
room) decorate or furnish the room: The paper-hanger who
did this room, has done it very well.
make room —allow enough free space: She had moved both
cups off the tray to make room for her breakfast things.
do the trick • make the trick
do the trick —
1
. perform a clever or skilful action to entertain
people: When you do a trick, you know you’ve got it when
you do it in front of all those people. 2. accomplish one’s pur-
pose; achieve the desired result: One more turn of the driver
should do the trick.
make the trick —gain a point in a single round of a card-
game: The play is just like other trick-taking games — the
player who made the previous trick starts the next one.
do the washing • do the washing-up
do the washing —wash dirty clothes, sheets, etc.: Women do
the washing and ironing in about four-fifths of households.
do the washing-up —wash the plates, etc. after a meal: A few
tips for those who do the washing-up by hand: soak the dishes
before you wash them…