Saving money · Money and prices
make do
manage without more
To make do is to manage with what you already have.
This vs that
We'll make do with the old table.
We'll buy a new table.
Hear it in real life
Shall we buy a new table before the guests arrive?
No, we can make do with this one for now.
The washing machine is broken, so we'll have to make do with the laundrette this week.
Which sounds natural?
Psst — which one would you actually say?
This natural phrase shows that the available option is not ideal but is sufficient.
The mistake everyone makes
Not: We can make ‸ with this old table.
Say: We can make do with this old table.
The phrasal verb requires both 'make' and 'do'.
Say it together
Whole chunks natives use with it.
make do with ___
We'll have to make do with the old printer for now.
They made do with a small kitchen while the extension was being built.
Phrases to borrow
More for talking about saving money.
save up for ___
We’re saving up for a new sofa.
put money towards ___
I’m putting money towards a deposit.
Saving money words
Money and prices · Saving money: the words around “make do”.
More connectionsMore saving money words8
Compare it
Where this one sits next to the phrases it gets mixed up with.
Your turn: say it out loud
We'll make do with what we've got.
Say it out loud two or three times, until it feels like yours.
make do
manage without more
“The washing machine is broken, so we'll have to make do with the laundrette this week.”
heytardy