- To manage, cope, or function adequately using only the limited resources or options available, rather than what is truly needed or desired.
Explanation
Origin
- A simple and old construction, combining make (in the sense of achieve or cause to be) with do (in the sense of suffice, serve the purpose, or be adequate).
- Essentially meaning to make something be adequate or to cause something to suffice.
- The phrase has been in common usage for centuries, appearing in texts from the 16th century onwards.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Get by
- Manage
- Scrape by / Scrape through
- Roll with it / Roll with the punches (accepting difficulties)
- Hack it (manage, endure)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- (Not common, as the phrase itself is about managing, not strong emotion)
- Just deal with the shit we've got.
Milder/Formal:
- Manage with available resources.
- Cope with the limitations.
- Operate within constraints.
- Utilize what is at hand.
Situational Appropriateness
- Appropriate in almost all situations, both formal and informal.
- Conveys pragmatism and the ability to adapt to constraints.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Generally straightforward. Emphasizes adequacy and coping, not necessarily achieving the ideal outcome. It's about managing *despite* limitations.
Examples
- We ran out of sugar, so we'll have to make do with honey in our tea.
- The hotel room was tiny, but we only stayed one night, so we made do.
- With the budget cuts, the department has to make do with older equipment.
- If you don't have the exact tool, you'll have to make do with something similar.
Dialogue
Chef 1: We're out of fresh basil for the pasta special!
Chef 2: Damn. Okay, check if we have any dried basil. It's not the same, but we'll have to make do for tonight's service.
Chef 1: Found some. Alright, let's make do.
Social Media Examples
- Frugal Living Blog Post: Tips for Making Do: How to Stretch Your Budget When Times Are Tough. #frugalliving #budgeting
- Tweet: Camping trip reality: Forgot the coffee pot. Trying to make do with instant coffee and boiled water. It's... brown. 😅 #camping #fail #makedo
- Instagram Caption: Studio space is small, but I make do! Creativity doesn't need acres. ✨ #artistlife #smallstudio #creativity
Response Patterns
- Okay, let's see what we can manage with.
- It's not ideal, but we'll manage.
- Right, let's be resourceful.
- Acceptance of the situation and agreement to proceed with limitations.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After deciding to make do:
- Assessing the available resources.
- Figuring out the best way to use the limited resources effectively.
- Proceeding with the task or activity despite the limitations.
- Sometimes expressing mild dissatisfaction but prioritizing getting the job done.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a response to a situation where resources or options are limited.
Intonation
- Stress on both make and do.
- We'll just have to MAKE DO.
- Often said with a tone of practicality, resignation, or acceptance of limitations.
Generation Differences
- Used commonly across all generations. A fundamental concept often associated with practicality and resilience.
Regional Variations
- Common expression used in all major English-speaking regions.