The idiom "do a number on someone or something" is believed to have its roots in American slang from the mid-20th century. The use of "number" in this expression likely refers to a performance or act, with "do a number" suggesting the idea of causing a significant impact or executing an action, often with negative consequences. Over time, this phrase evolved into an idiomatic expression used to describe situations where someone or something has been negatively affected or disrupted. It is commonly employed in everyday conversations, discussions about setbacks or difficulties, or when recounting experiences where someone or something has been significantly impacted, often negatively.

What is the origin of the idiom "do a number on someone or something" and when to use it?

d35c67ada202c78eb05cbe6b3ac3ddd263b867dd3382d41d283ab06ddfbda17e

to [do] a number on {sb/sth}

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZG8gYSBudW1iZXIgb24gc29tZWJvZHkgb3Igc29tZXRoaW5n&hash=d6afb1f1329e1cef1de2f4bab8c2c2d1200f865a&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZG8gYSBudW1iZXIgb24gc29tZWJvZHkgb3Igc29tZXRoaW5n&hash=42595e5bbe3173a0df270ada9edbe2a36f05f560&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

تعريف ومعنى "do a number on somebody or something "في اللغة الإنجليزية

Download Mobile App