fair do's

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/ˌfɛə ˈduːz/
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A British informal expression for accepting that something is fair or reasonable, giving credit, or asking for equal treatment.

Examples

  • 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.
  • She worked late all week, so fair do's to her.
  • Fair do's, you warned me that the road would be closed.
  • Fair do's, I would have complained too.

Similar words

no argument
fair enough
reasonable enough
point taken
fair play
that's fair

Meanings

Usage

Use fair do's only in informal British contexts, and keep the fixed phrase for acceptance or fair-treatment appeals rather than literal legal fairness.

Common mistakes

Fair does and fair doses are spelling errors, while fair dos is a common spelling variant rather than a different idiom.

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.

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Pale Rabbit
2 days ago
I learnt this from British TV and for ages thought it was fair dues, like money owed
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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.
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Velvet Goose
Jun 29
This is the use I grew up with: fair dos, everyone gets a go
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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.
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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.
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Stellar Marten
Jun 18
yeah, same with fair enough really. it answers something, it doesnt describe the thing
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