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- do justice to
do justice to
do justice to something
1. . Fig. to do something well; to represent or portray something accurately. Sally did justice to our side in the contract negotiations. This photograph doesn't do justice to the beauty of the mountains.
2. Fig. to eat or drink a great deal. Bill always does justice to the turkey on Thanksgiving. The party didn't do justice to the roast pig. There were nearly ten pounds left over.
do justice to somebody/something
also do somebody/something justice to treat or present someone or something fairly and accurately He supports his case with very technical information and it is impossible to do justice to it here. To do them justice, George and Nell did all they could to keep the puppet theater going.
do justice to
1. Treat fairly or adequately, with full appreciation, as in That review doesn't do the play justice. This expression was first recorded in John Dryden's preface to Troilus and Cressida (1679): "I cannot leave this subject before I do justice to that Divine Poet."
2. do oneself justice. Execute in accordance with one's abilities, as in She finally got a position in which she could do herself justice. [Second half of 1800s]
do justice to
To treat adequately, fairly, or with full appreciation: The subject is so complex that I cannot do justice to it in a brief survey.