English Reference
Idiom idiom

do ill


To harm, to injure.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He would never do ill to anyone.

CONTEXTUAL

The old man lived quietly in the woods and never did ill to his neighbors.

COMPLEX

Despite the rumors spread by his rivals, the king insisted that he had done no ill to the people of his realm.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    be taken ill

    To become ill.

  2. 02

    bird of ill omen

    A person who brings bad news.

  3. 03

    house of ill fame

    A brothel

  4. 04

    I'll be

    Expressing surprise.

  5. 05

    I'll be a monkey's uncle

    Often preceded by well: expressing complete surprise or disbelief.

  6. 06

    I'll be bound

    An expression of surprise.

  7. 07

    I'll be damned

    An expression of surprise.

  8. 08

    I'll be danged

    An expression of surprise.

Last updated August 10, 2026