do in

do in idiom
  1. Tire out, exhaust, as in Running errands all day did me in. [Colloquial; early 1900s] Also see done in.
  2. Kill, as in Mystery writers are always thinking of new ways to do their characters in. [Slang; early 1900s] Also see def. 4.
  3. Ruin utterly; also cheat or swindle. For example, The five-alarm fire did in the whole block, or His so-called friend really did him in. [First half of 1900s]
  4. do oneself in. Commit suicide, as in She was always threatening to do herself in. [Slang; first half of 1900s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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