do duty

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Having reached Safeway with no fatalities, Stassin and I ordered our respective Loomos to trail us, so that they could do duty as shopping carts.

From The New Yorker • Nov. 19, 2018

Can Chang do duty on The Times' editorial pages?

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2017

Jones' Ospreys back-up Craig Mitchell, James and John Yapp are candidates to do duty on the tight-head of the scrum during the tournament.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2011

On the other hand, he carries his habit too far of making a particular phrase do duty as an index of a character.

From Dickens English Men of Letters by Ward, Adolphus William, Sir

An old nest is sometimes made to do duty over and over again during the season, but it is always overhauled and re-lined.

From In Touch with Nature Tales and Sketches from the Life by Stables, Gordon