verb moonshine—(U.S. coll.) make liquor, especially whisky, il- licitly: He acknowledged no occupation save that of a squirrel hunter, but he “moonshined ” occasionally by way of diver- sion. do a number • do one’s number do a number—1. (Underworld) give information to the po- lice: If Keiser’s doing a number , I’ve arranged for you to knock him off. 2. (euph., of an animal) urinate or defecate: That black puppy did a number on the carpet again. do one’s number—1. perform one’s act in a program of en- tertainment, etc.: When I got up to do my number my sound was terrible…. 2. (sl.) behave in a predictable or customary manner: Whenever I call, he does his number about being too busy to talk. do a number on someone • make one’s number with someone do a number on someone—(sl.) 1. deceive or treat a person unfairly: Caroline doesn’t like him. He really did a number on her at work. 2. speak or write of smb. with disdain; slander a person: They did a number on Ridpath. They printed dam- aging statements. 3. totally defeat a person or team: The Irish team are looking to do a number on England in Dublin to- morrow. make one’s number with someone—(sl.) socialize with a usu- ally superior person (in order to make oneself known, remem- bered, etc.): He was one of the boys on the campaign bus who made his number with would-be presidents. do a runner • do the running do a runner—(sl.) run away in order not to pay the bill, avoid punishment, etc.: If we put any pressure on Sorley he’ll get rid of the drugs and do a runner . do the running —(also: make the running ) show initiative; make sure that things get done: Men are no longer expected to do all the running at the beginning of a relationship. do a work • make a work do a work—engage in an activity; fulfill a task: You could give the composer complete freedom, saying you’d like him to do a work for you. make a work—(coll., also: make work) make a fuss; cause disturbance or trouble: People make a work if a minister preach the same sermon over again. do an abortion • have an abortion do an abortion—perform an abortion on a woman termi- nating her pregnancy: I became pregnant again and they were falling over themselves to do an abortion for me. have an abortion—(of a woman) end her pregnancy (usually deliberately): I had an abortion , without telling anyone; the father left me when I told him of the pregnancy. do away with something • make away with something do away with something—abolish smth.; put an end to smth.: I believe it is time to do away with some of the old laws. make away with something—1. succeed in stealing smth.: The police gave chase, but the thieves made away with the jewels. 2. deplete or waste smth.: This sort of life, as anybody may well think, soon made away with his little stock of money. 3. get rid of smth.: I shall make away with that old carpet on the stairs; it is time we had a new one. do best • do one’s best do best—1. be most prosperous; achieve the best results, etc.: Turnips do best in a cool, well-ventilated area such as a root cellar. 2. (followed by Infinitive) be well-advised to act in a particular way: If you want a full overview of this puzzling tale, you would do best to read two new books. do one’s best—(also: give of one’s best) do all one can; do smth. as well as one can: He wasn’t particularly angry. He was look- ing, or doing his best to look, grave. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase make the best of oneself—make oneself as attractive as possible: These letters were full of advice on how to make the best of oneself when just beginning one’s career. do business • do the business do business—1. conduct transactions: The principle on which we do business is P.O.D. Which literally means Pay on Delivery. 2. take up business as a subject of study: I did Busi - ness at college. I also did Accounting as a separate course. do the business —1. = do business 1: The way we do the busi - ness , and even the way we live our lives has altered. 2. (also: do the job) accomplish one’s purpose; achieve the desired re- sult: Two simple rules well observed will do the business . 3. (euph.) have sex with a person: So he went home with her: Do you think they did the business ? Note: Neither expression fully correlates in meaning with the phrase do one’s business—1. = do business: Every new employee goes to a Pragmatic Marketing class, because we want them to understand how we do our business here. 2. (euph., of an an- imal) urinate or defecate: You can’t teach it to eat from a certain bowl in a certain place, or to do its business in a litter box. do duty • do one’s duty do duty—1. serve as or pass for smth. else: The handsome building, could have done duty as a state capitol. 2. (euph.) defecate or urinate: The lamb stood in the middle of the field doing duties at an adjacent haystack. do one’s duty—1. do what one is obliged to do by law, one’s trade or conscience: “You’ve been very helpful, Aggie.” “I do my duty .” 2. = do duty 2: The child never defecates or urinates; he does his “duty .” 3. (euph.) is used of marital sex: Melinda could not stand the idea of the marriage bed and refused to do her duty as a wife. do faces • make faces do faces—1. sketch or model faces: I do faces better than anything else. It’s the bodies that don’t turn out so well. 2. apply cosmetics: Makeup artist Tom Savini, one of the best in this creepy business, will do faces . make faces—1. assume a silly, twisted expression on one’s face intended to cause laughter: The two children sat at the table making faces at each other. 2. express annoyance or dis- approval by one’s facial expression: The leader swung his chair round … presumably so he could make faces to the rest of the orchestra. 3. = do faces 1: When I started my training, I was delighted and excited to find that I could make faces as they actually are. See also: make a face / make face. do good • make good do good—1. be beneficial (usually with a quantifier): You could try taking a higher dose of Vitamin C; it might do some good . 2. help through charitable work: Sometimes I doubt if she will be as ready to begin doing good again. Cf.: do- gooder—(derog.) a well-meaning but unrealistic or ineffective philanthropist (who tries to “do good”): Amateur “do-gooders ” could slip up when certain medical attention was needed. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase do well—1. (Progressive Tense) make a good recovery (from illness, etc.): She has completed her treatments and is doing well . 2. become professionally or financially successful: These are things I did and I did well as a nurse and a nurse’s aide. – 99 – do good