do-it-yourself — involving or relating to the activity of decorating or repairing your home, or making things for your home yourself, rather than paying someone else to do it for you
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: involving or relating to the activity of decorating or repairing your home, or making things for your home yourself, rather than paying someone else to do it for you
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌduː ɪt jɚˈsɛlf/
Example Sentences
- My dad's do-it-yourself bookshelf collapsed right after he proudly showed it to mom.
- The do-it-yourself haircut tutorial seemed easy until I looked in the mirror.
- She saved hundreds of dollars with her do-it-yourself home renovation.
do-it-yourself
ADJECTIVE[/ˌduː ɪt jɚˈsɛlf/]
involving or relating to the activity of decorating or repairing your home, or making things for your home yourself, rather than paying someone else to do it for you
On Saturday morning, Dad built a do-it-yourself bookshelf in the garage.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
A modern English expression that emerged in the 1950s, originating from post-war reconstruction culture when people began repairing their homes without professional assistance. The imperative phrase 'do it yourself' gradually lexicalized into a single compound noun reflecting this growing DIY ethos.
Breakdown
do (perform/make) + it (the object/task) + yourself (by yourself/independently), where the three words of an imperative command fused into a hyphenated compound expressing self-directed action.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My dad's do-it-yourself bookshelf collapsed right after he proudly showed it to mom.”
“The do-it-yourself haircut tutorial seemed easy until I looked in the mirror.”
“She saved hundreds of dollars with her do-it-yourself home renovation.”
“The do-it-yourself movement has made home improvement more accessible to everyone.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.