Meaning & use

charity do

noun·AdvancedinformalBritish

Last updated

UK/ˈtʃærəti duː/
US/ˈtʃerəti duː/

Meaning

  1. nouncountableinformalBritish

    an informal social event, such as a party or dinner, organized to collect money for a charity.

    Grammar: Countable: a charity do, two charity dos. The plural is usually 'charity dos'.

    Patterns

    • a charity do
    • at a charity do
    • organize a charity do

    We're going to a charity do at the village hall on Saturday.

    She organized a charity do to raise money for the local hospital.

    The charity do was a great success and raised over a thousand pounds.

Word forms

pluralcharity dos

Common combinations

organize a charity do
They organized a charity do to help the homeless.
go to a charity do
I'm going to a charity do tonight.
hold a charity do
The school held a charity do in the gym.

Synonyms and how they differ

charity event
This is the standard, more formal term and is used in both British and American English; 'charity do' is informal and mainly British.
fundraiser
This can be any event to raise money, not necessarily for a charity; it is common in American English.

Word family

charity noun
An organization that helps people in need, or the act of giving help.
charitable adjective
Generous in giving help or money to those in need.

Commonly confused: charity do or charity?

charity do vs charity

A charity is an organization; a charity do is a social event to raise money for one.

Practice

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