make do with — to manage with something that is not quite what you wanted or is not enough
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to manage with something that is not quite what you wanted or is not enough
Pronunciation (IPA): /meɪk duː wɪð/
Example Sentences
- When the fancy restaurant ran out of wine glasses, they had to make do with coffee mugs for the champagne toast.
- During the camping trip, we had to make do with a smartphone flashlight when our lantern died.
- The students had to make do with cardboard boxes as desks when the furniture delivery was delayed.
make do with
VERB[/meɪk duː wɪð/]
to manage with something that is not quite what you wanted or is not enough
With no tent, the hikers had to make do with a tarp and some branches.
Sometimes you make do with a fake zoo!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The phrase 'make do with' combines two Old English verbs: 'make' derives from Old English 'macian' (to construct or fashion), and 'do' derives from Old English 'don' (to perform or execute). The phrasal construction developed by the 18th century to express managing or accomplishing something satisfactorily with available resources.
Breakdown
make (Old English 'macian': to construct) + do (Old English 'don': to perform) + with (preposition indicating means or instrument). The combination creates the idiomatic meaning 'to manage or succeed with what is available'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“When the fancy restaurant ran out of wine glasses, they had to make do with coffee mugs for the champagne toast.”
“During the camping trip, we had to make do with a smartphone flashlight when our lantern died.”
“The students had to make do with cardboard boxes as desks when the furniture delivery was delayed.”
“I forgot my umbrella, so I'll have to make do with this newspaper to stay dry.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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