do me a favour

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Phrase

do me a favour

1. (literally) Used to ask someone for a favour (may be polite or sarcastic).

   Could you possibly do me a favour and pass me that newspaper?

   Do me a favour and shut up.

2. (UK, idiomatic) Expressing incredulity.

   You expect me to clean up all this mess for you? Do me a favour.

   • 2012, Keith Blackburn, Changes in a Landscape, page 134:

     Debbie remained seated. "Go to bed," she ordered.
     "With you here? Why what do you think I'll do, cut my throat with an electric razor? I know this dump's enough to drive anybody nuts but do me a favour."

Translations

used to ask someone for a favour

• Afrikaans: doen my 'n guns
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 幫我一個忙／帮我一个忙 (bāng wǒ yī gè máng)

• Finnish: tee minulle palvelus
• Polish: zrób mi przysługę
• Portuguese: faça-me o favor (de + infinitive)

expressing incredulity

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 拜託／拜托 (zh) (bàituō), 少來／少来 (zh) (shǎolái)

• Finnish: älä viitsi
• Portuguese: faça-me o favor, por favor (pt)