do one's best

English

Verb

do one's best (third-person singular simple present does one's best, present participle doing one's best, simple past did one's best, past participle done one's best)

1. (idiomatic) To do as best one can.

   Synonyms: try one's best, do one's utmost, give it one's best shot

   • 1960 April, O. S. Nock, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 269:

     The engine was a diesel, No. D207, with a crew obviously out to do their best.

   • 1971 [1963 November 22], Lyndon Johnson, “The Beginning”, in The Vantage Point‎^[1], Holt, Reinhart & Winston, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 17:

     This is a sad time for all people. We have suffered a loss that cannot be weighed. For me, it is a deep personal tragedy. I know that the world shares the sorrow that Mrs. Kennedy and her family bear. I will do my best. That is all I can do. I ask for your help — and God's.

   • 2022 November 2, Paul Bigland, “New trains, old trains, and splendid scenery”, in RAIL, number 969, page 58:

     Other stops retain no-frills brick-built shelters, although local community rail groups do their best to improve the ambience with planting, posters and artwork.

Translations

to attempt as effectively as one is able

• Dutch: men's best doen
• German: sein Bestes geben
• Greek: βάζω τα δυνατά μου (el) (vázo ta dynatá mou)
• Polish: dawać z siebie wszystko impf, dać z siebie wszystko pf
• Unami: wishëksi

See also

• do one's worst

Further reading

• “do one’s best”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “do one’s best”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “do your best” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.
• “do try your best” (US) / “do try your best” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.