make do

[/meɪk duː/]

verb (phrasal)

contentar-se com o que se tem; improvisar

1. To manage with something that is not ideal or sufficient; to get by with available resources

We didn't have butter, so we had to make do with oil.

Não tínhamos manteiga, então tivemos que nos contentar com óleo.

2. To accept or use something as a substitute when what you really want is not available

The old chair will have to make do until we can afford a new one.

A cadeira velha terá que servir até conseguirmos comprar uma nova.

NYC Slang

make it work; wing it

Synonyms

Antonyms

Regional Variations

General Brazilian

se virar com; improvisar; contentar-se

Standard usage, commonly understood

Rio de Janeiro

se dar um jeito; se virar

Colloquial variant emphasizing resourcefulness

São Paulo

dar um jogo de cintura; improvisar

Common informal usage

Portugal

dar a volta; arranjar-se; improvisar

Standard Portuguese usage

make do and mend

make do with what you've got

have to make do

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