Trouvez des professeurs en Anglais
Yusuke
What does "do a number on someone" mean?
and is it common?
2 sept. 2019 16:14
Réponses · 5
The meaning behind this idiom is vulgar, and often isn't explained. Indeed, it is hard to explain politely.
In elementary school, in the United States, when a student asks to leave the classroom to go to the bathroom, the teacher may want to know how long the student will be gone. There are two reasons to go to the bathroom. In the old days, the student would raise his hand with either one finger or two, to indicate the reason.
(This custom had already died out when I was in elementary school, but I think it was still customary in the 1930s).
Thus, in US English, "number one" and "number two" can be euphemisms for the two reasons to use the bathroom.
In the phrase, "to do a number on," "a number" is a humorous way of "number one or number two."
If I'm not clear enough, you can find straightforward definitions of "number one" and "number two" in the Cambridge Dictionary
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/
And that is all I am going to say.
2 septembre 2019
The online Collins dictionary is an excellent, free resource.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/do-a-number-on
do a number on (in American English)
US
Slang
to abuse or mistreat in some way, as by injuring, disparaging, cheating, or humiliating
2 septembre 2019
to deceive / to trick. It is heard sometimes.
2 septembre 2019
It means to hurt or to embarrass somebody. As far as I am aware, it isn’t a very common expression .
I hope it helps, :)
2 septembre 2019
Essentially, it means to do something mean to someone usually in retribution. Yes, it is fairly common.
2 septembre 2019
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Yusuke
Compétences linguistiques
Anglais, Japonais, Espagnol
Langue étudiée
Anglais, Espagnol
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