solid

Q: Is it correct to say "He did a solid to me"?

No — say "He did me a solid". The expression 'do someone a solid' follows the double-object pattern; it does not typically use the 'to' prepositional phrase.

n. countable

B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈsɑɫəd// UK //sˈɒlɪd// sol·id

Archaic General-service Informal Slang

n. a helpful act or a favor you do for someone. You usually use this when you ask a friend for help with something small.

n. a favor or helpful act performed for another person. Informal in register; frequently used in the construction 'do someone a solid'.

SIMPLE

Can you do me a solid and help me move this desk?

CONTEXTUAL

I decided to do him a solid and cover his shift so he could attend his sister's wedding.

COMPLEX

While the request seemed minor, performing that small solid for the manager early in his career eventually paved the way for a significant promotion years later.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Etymology 1

From Middle English solide, borrowed from Old French solide, from Latin solidus (“solid”), from Proto-Indo-European solh₂-i-dʰ-o-s (“entire”), suffixed form of root solh₂- (“integrate, whole”). Doublet of sol, sold, soldo, solidus, sou, and xu.

Etymology 2

From Middle English solid, from the adjective, Middle French solide, or Latin solidum. Doublet of solidum.

Usage

Commonly used in the idiomatic phrase 'do (someone) a solid'.

Pitfall

He did a solid to meHe did me a solidThe expression 'do someone a solid' follows the double-object pattern; it does not typically use the 'to' prepositional phrase.