English Reference
Idiom idiom

do numbers


To be popular, as measured by engagement or sales metrics.

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


SIMPLE

That new song is doing numbers on social media.

CONTEXTUAL

The influencer was surprised when her simple cooking video started doing numbers overnight.

COMPLEX

While the artist initially struggled to find an audience, their latest experimental album is doing numbers that exceed all industry expectations.


Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    crunch numbers

    To figure; to do the math.

  2. 02

    file off the serial numbers

    To alter identifiable details in a creative work in order to conceal its origin.

  3. 03

    make up the numbers

    To provide sufficient people to make an event worthwhile.

Last updated August 10, 2026