do in

verb

get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing (Freq. 1)

-

The mafia liquidated the informer

-

the double agent was neutralized

• Syn: ↑neutralize, ↑neutralise, ↑liquidate, ↑waste, ↑knock off

• Derivationally related forms: ↑liquidation (for: ↑liquidate), ↑liquidator (for: ↑liquidate)

• Hypernyms: ↑kill

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s somebody

-

They want to do in the prisoners

* * *

do in [phrasal verb]

do (someone) in informal

1 a : to kill (someone)

They threatened to do him in if he didn't pay the money he owed them.

He's been so depressed lately that his friends are afraid he might do himself in. [=he might kill himself]

: to cause the death of (someone)

He struggled with lung disease for many years, but it was a heart attack that finally did him in.

1 b : to cause the failure of (someone)

His inability to attract Southern voters is what finally did him in as a presidential candidate. [=he failed because he was unable to attract Southern voters]

a businessman who was done in by greed

2 : to make (someone) very tired

Working in the garden all day really did me in. = After working in the garden all day, I was/felt done in. [=exhausted]

— see also done in at ↑done, 2

• • •

Main Entry: ↑do