make do and mend

/ˈmeɪk ˈduː ən ˈmɛnd/

verb

To follow a philosophy, during World War II, of repairing clothes etc that would normally be discarded due to shortages and rationing.

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Meanings

verbmake do and mend (third-person singular simple present makes do and mends, present participle making do and mending, simple past and past participle made do and mended)

present singular third person makes do and mends · participle present making do and mending · participle past made do and mended · past made do and mended

  1. UKTo follow a philosophy, during World War II, of repairing clothes etc that would normally be discarded due to shortages and rationing.

    The 'make do and mend' campaign was the Board of Trade's central propaganda effort directed at housewives. It gave advice on preservation, renovation, and repair of clothing and other household goods.

    2000 Ina Zweiniger-Bargielowska - Austerity in Britain: Rationing, Controls, and Consumption, 1939-1955
  2. UKidiomaticGenerally, to repair and reuse.
  3. UKidiomaticTo make the best of a situation.

Origin

From the title of a booklet issued by the UK Ministry of Information.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

make do and mend. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20do%20and%20mend

MLA

“make do and mend.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20do%20and%20mend. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “make do and mend,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20do%20and%20mend.

Source: make do and mend on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.