do one's duty



do one's duty

1. Do one's tasks or what is expected of one. For example, He was only doing his duty when he made the children finish their work. [Early 1500s]
2. Defecate or urinate, as in Please keep the dog outdoors until he does his duty. This euphemism for attending to such needs is heard less often today. [1930s]
See also: duty

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Keren-HappuchKER-ən HAP-ook (English)Biblical
Yngvar-Norwegian
Marguerite[.ma:gə'ri:t]
PipraPEE-prahEsperanto
Neve-Irish
NealNEELEnglish