make do

Meaning

To 'make do' means to manage, survive, or get by with the limited resources, money, or tools that you have, even if they are not perfect or sufficient. It carries a tone of practical resilience.

Examples

• We didn't have a proper hammer, so we had to make do with a heavy rock.

  We didn't have a proper hammer, so we had to make do with a heavy rock.

• Although the hotel room was tiny, we managed to make do for one night.

  Although the hotel room was tiny, we managed to make do for one night.

• If we run out of fresh milk, we'll just have to make do with powdered milk.

  If we run out of fresh milk, we'll just have to make do with powdered milk.

• Money was tight when I was a student, but I learned how to make do.

  Money was tight when I was a student, but I learned how to make do.

• There are no empty desks left, so you'll have to make do with this table for now.

  There are no empty desks left, so you'll have to make do with this table for now.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We will make do it with what we have.

  ✓ We will make do with what we have.

  Do not put 'it' or any other direct object between 'make' and 'do'. The phrase 'make do' functions as a single unit, usually followed by 'with'.

• ✗ I can't make doing with this old laptop anymore.

  ✓ I can't make do with this old laptop anymore.

  'Make do' is a fixed idiomatic phrase. You cannot change 'do' to 'doing' or 'done' in this context.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We don't have enough chairs, so some of us will have to ___.

  💡 manage with what is available

  Show answer

  make do

• They didn't have gluten-free pasta, so she had to ___ with a salad.

  💡 accept a less ideal option

  Show answer

  make do