do like that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "do like that" is not standard in written English and may be considered informal or colloquial.
It can be used in casual conversation to indicate that someone should perform an action in a specific manner. Example: "If you want to get it right, just do like that when you're assembling the furniture."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

We do like that.

The Guardian - Sport

And they really do like that.

The Guardian - Film

It's illegal to solicit for paid sex, even though you can hire your body out for all sorts of other things, and many people do like that.

The Guardian - Opinion

I do like that.

Forbes

Kate: Oh I do like that.

Huffington Post

You mentioned Hollywood rules that are set, but when you break them, sometimes people do like that.

Huffington Post

I love the way she dresses, and I wish I could carry off a short hair do like that.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

I did like that.

The New Yorker

Telcos dont like that idea.

Forbes

Cops don't like that.

The New Yorker

People don't like that.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "do like that" in informal conversations when you want to suggest imitating a specific action or style. For example: "If you want to draw realistically, do like that artist does."

Common error

Avoid using "do like that" in formal writing or professional presentations; opt for more sophisticated alternatives such as "act in that manner" or "behave in that way".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do like that" functions as a directive or suggestion, indicating a method or manner of performing an action. Ludwig shows examples ranging from casual imitation to providing specific instructions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "do like that" is an informal way to suggest imitating a specific action or style. While grammatically acceptable in casual contexts, Ludwig AI flags it as non-standard and suggests more formal alternatives like "do it that way" or "act in that manner" for professional writing. Its use is common in News & Media but less so in academic or business settings. Remember to consider your audience and context when deciding whether to use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

do it that way

Simplifies the phrase by removing "like", focusing on the action itself.

act in that manner

Replaces "do" with "act" and uses "manner" instead of "that", making it slightly more formal.

go about it that way

Uses "go about it" instead of "do", providing an alternative way to describe the action.

behave in that way

Substitutes "do" with "behave" and "like" with "way", resulting in a more proper tone.

do in that style

Replaces "like that" with "in that style", emphasizing a particular method.

proceed in that fashion

Changes "do" to "proceed" and "like that" to "in that fashion", creating a more sophisticated alternative.

handle it in that fashion

Replaces "do" with "handle it", making it more specific to problem-solving or task management.

perform in that style

Substitutes "do" with "perform", suggesting a more deliberate or artistic action.

carry out in that way

Changes "do" to "carry out", suggesting the execution of a plan or instruction.

operate in that manner

Replaces "do" with "operate", implying a functional or mechanical process.

FAQs

What does "do like that" mean?

The phrase "do like that" is an informal way of saying "do it that way" or "do it in that manner". It suggests following a specific example or method.

When is it appropriate to use "do like that"?

It's suitable in casual conversations or informal settings. In more formal contexts, consider using alternatives such as "act in that manner" or "behave in that way".

What can I say instead of "do like that"?

You can use alternatives like "do it that way", "act in that manner", or "behave in that way" depending on the context.

Is "do like that" grammatically correct?

While commonly used in spoken English, "do like that" is considered informal. In formal writing, it's better to use more grammatically standard phrases such as "do it that way".