do duty as

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

When the preparations for the metamorphosis are at hand, the stomachic pouch, having no longer to do duty as a digestive laboratory, serves the insect as a factory, or a warehouse for different purposes.

From The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles by Teixeira de Mattos, Alexander

The necessary changes in matters of history having been made, his volume might do duty as the biographical memoir of thousands of her contemporaries.

From Pot-Boilers by Bell, Clive

The portion allotted to Dave was removed, ostensibly to keep it warm for him, but reproduced to do duty as a second helping for Dolly.

From When Ghost Meets Ghost by De Morgan, William Frend

Now, I am willing to do duty as supercargo, even without pay, but I won't lend a hand in any transaction that I don't like the look of.

From A Modern Buccaneer by Boldrewood, Rolf