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# doing time

verb phrase (do time, doing time, did time, done time)

«doing time» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

(euphemism, informal) serving a sentence in prison.

### In the lessons

Common in crime films, news, gossip; casual and a bit tough; hides «being in prison». All regions.

### Examples

- His brother is doing time for robbery.
- Gossip: «Did you know he's done time?»
- She did time for fraud but now runs a charity.
- In the film, the hero is doing time for a crime he didn't commit.
- «I'm not doing time for you!» shouted the thief.
- Doing time changed him.

### Note

It means «being in prison». Not about clocks or being busy. In maths problems, «doing 5 years» = a sentence of 5 years.