do for

phrasal verb [transitive]
Word forms "do for":
present tense I/you/we/they do for he/she/it does for present participle doing for past tense did for past participle done for

1) do for someone

British informal to make it impossible for someone to succeed or to continue living

It was the flu that did for her in the end.

2) do for someone

British old-fashioned to regularly clean someone else's house and cook for them

Mrs Bradley used to come in twice a week to do for us.

3) be done for

a) informal if something is done for, it is in such bad condition or so badly damaged that it cannot be used

We're going to have to buy a new photocopier – this one's done for.

b) informal to be likely to be punished, hurt, or killed

If the guards see us, we're done for.

c) to be so tired that you cannot continue

I'm afraid Oates is pretty well done for – he can't walk any further.