do the trick — to be effective; to achieve the desired result; to solve a problem
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to be effective; to achieve the desired result; to solve a problem
Pronunciation (IPA): /duː ðə trɪk/
Example Sentences
- My grandma's secret recipe for hiccups should do the trick - just hold your breath and hop on one foot!
- A cup of coffee and a good night's sleep will do the trick for your exam preparation.
- When my computer froze, turning it off and on again did the trick perfectly.
do the trick
NOUN[/duː ðə trɪk/]
to be effective; to achieve the desired result; to solve a problem

The magician's clever trick did the trick, making the audience believe that the coin had disappeared.

The magician did the trick, fooling the audience with a hidden mechanism while one careful observer discovered how it worked.

The magician's clever trick made the audience click their fingers, and his quick final move did the trick.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'trick' originally denoted a skill or technique, but from the 16th century onwards, it evolved to mean a method of solving a problem. The phrase 'do the trick' developed as an idiomatic expression, suggesting that something works effectively—as if a magician resolves a problem through sleight of hand.
Breakdown
do (to perform or execute) + the (definite article) + trick (a skillful technique or method to solve a problem). The phrase combines the verb 'do' with 'trick' in its figurative sense of an effective solution or stratagem.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandma's secret recipe for hiccups should do the trick - just hold your breath and hop on one foot!”
“A cup of coffee and a good night's sleep will do the trick for your exam preparation.”
“When my computer froze, turning it off and on again did the trick perfectly.”
“I told my cat a joke to cheer him up, but apparently catnip does the trick better than comedy.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.