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

The eight men to do duty were all the men in my mess.

From A Trip to California in 1853 Recollections of a Gold Seeking Trip by Ox Train across the Plains and Mountains by an Old Illinois Pioneer by Bailey, Washington

It was February now, and they had come round prospecting—impressed doubtless by old associations—to see if the same nest could not be refitted, and thus do duty again.

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