do someone like that: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘do someone like that’ mean?
The idiom "do someone like that" means to treat someone in a negative or unfair manner, often involving deception or harm. It suggests behaving unkindly or spitefully towards someone and implies a sense of betrayal or mistreatment.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "kick someone when they are down" means to take advantage of someone's vulnerable state or exploit their weakness for personal gain or to further harm them.
The idiom "jump down someone's throat" means to angrily and aggressively criticize or confront someone about something they have said or done.
The idiom "I'd like to see someone try" means expressing a strong desire to witness someone attempt something perceived as challenging or impossible. It implies doubt or skepticism about the person's ability to succeed.
The idiom "hurt someone's feelings" means to cause emotional pain or upset to someone by saying or doing something that offends or upsets them.
The idiom "hit someone when they are down" means to take advantage of or attack someone when they are already in a vulnerable or weakened state.
The idiom "hell mend someone" means that someone will have to suffer the consequences or outcomes of their actions, usually in a negative way.
The idiom "have someone's hide" means to punish or criticize someone severely. It expresses the idea of figuratively taking away or damaging someone's skin, as a form of retribution or discipline.
The idiom "have it coming" means to deserve or expect something, usually negative, as a consequence of one's actions or behavior.
The idiom "give someone what-for" means to scold or punish someone severely for their actions or behavior. It implies giving someone a strong reprimand or retribution for their wrongdoings.
Decoding the Intricate Dance: Unveiling Significance
The idiom "do somebody wrong" is related to the phrase "do someone like that." Although the two phrases are not identical, they share similarities in their use of the verb "do" to indicate an action or behavior towards another person. "Do somebody wrong" specifically conveys the idea of mistreating or harming someone, suggesting that the action being done is negative or harmful. In comparison, "do someone like that" lacks specificity in terms of the exact nature or intention of the action, making it more challenging to precisely define its meaning or implications. However, both idioms highlight the significance of how someone's actions or behavior can affect another individual.
The idiom "do down," on the other hand, differs from "do someone like that" in its use of the word "down" as an adverb indicating a negative or critical action. "Do down" is typically used to describe a situation where someone is being unfairly criticized, belittled, or undermined. In contrast, "do someone like that" does not provide clear insight into whether the action being done is positive or negative, making it difficult to connect the two idioms directly. However, the similarity lies in the fact that both phrases involve negative actions towards someone, whether it is intentionally harmful or unjustly critical. It is essential to consider the differences and similarities between these idioms to fully grasp their distinct meanings and connotations.
Example usage
Examples:
1. I can't believe she did me like that, spreading rumors about me to everyone.
2. He really did her like that, leaving her stranded at the airport without any explanation.
3. They did the whole team like that, stealing credit for all the hard work we put in.
Analysis:
The idiom "do someone like that" is used to express a feeling of surprise, disappointment, or betrayal in how someone behaves or treats another person.
Example 1 illustrates the idiom being used to convey the speaker's disbelief and frustration toward a person who spread rumors about them.
Example 2 demonstrates the idiom being employed to describe someone leaving another person stranded at the airport without any explanation, which invokes a sense of surprise and disappointment.
Example 3 showcases the idiom being utilized to express a collective sense of betrayal and unfairness, as the whole team had their credit stolen by someone else.
More "Informal" idioms
