The price is higher than I hoped, but fair do's, the quality is excellent.
Fair do's, I would have complained too.
Fair do's, you warned me that the road would be closed.
Fair do's to the referee, it was a difficult call.
She worked late all week, so fair do's to her.
Similar words
reasonable enough
fair play
no argument
that's fair
fair enough
point taken
Meanings
Accepting fairness
conversation
informal
A British informal way to accept that something is fair, reasonable, or deserved, or to ask for fair treatment.
Examples
Fair do's, you warned me that the road would be closed.
She worked late all week, so fair do's to her.
Fair do's to the referee, it was a difficult call.
The price is higher than I hoped, but fair do's, the quality is excellent.
Fair do's, I would have complained too.
Give him a chance, fair do's, he only started yesterday.
Similar words
fair enough
that's fair
reasonable enough
fair play
point taken
no argument
Etymology
The exact origin is uncertain. This apostrophe spelling is recorded from the nineteenth century, and the phrase is connected with fair shares or fair treatment.
FAQ
What does fair do's mean?
Fair do's is a British informal phrase meaning fair enough, reasonable, deserved, or a call for fair treatment.
Is fair do's British?
Yes. Fair do's is mainly British and informal, though it may be understood elsewhere through British media or conversation.
Is fair do's the same as fair dos?
Yes. Fair do's and fair dos are spelling variants of the same British informal expression.
How do you pronounce fair do's?
Fair do's is pronounced /ˌfɛə ˈduːz/, with the second word sounding like dooz.
Can fair do's be used in formal writing?
Usually no. Fair do's is informal and conversational, so formal writing normally uses fair enough, reasonable, or fair treatment.
Is fair does correct?
No. Fair does is normally a spelling error for fair do's or fair dos.
Where does fair do's come from?
The origin is not fully settled. Dictionary evidence records the apostrophe spelling in the nineteenth century and connects it with fair shares or fair treatment.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Newest
Top
Active
Pale Rabbit
Jul 10
I learnt this from British TV and for ages thought it was fair dues, like money owed
1
Reply
Contribution
Sincere Kudu
Jun 25
There is also the older fair shares idea hiding in it. If someone says come on, fair dos, they may not mean I agree, they may mean give me my proper turn or dont stitch me up.
3
Reply
Velvet Goose
Jun 29
This is the use I grew up with: fair dos, everyone gets a go
0
Contribution
Fresh Cardinal
Jun 22
The apostrophe spelling looks old-school to me. In texts and forum posts I see fair dos more often, probably because nobody wants to argue about whether do needs an apostrophe.
2
Reply
Contribution
Winter Lemming
Jun 16
You normally use this as a little stand-alone concession, not as an adjective. Fair dos, I was wrong sounds natural. That was a fair dos decision sounds like someone has glued the phrase into the sentence.
5
Reply
Stellar Marten
Jun 18
yeah, same with fair enough really. it answers something, it doesnt describe the thing