doing time

USAGE SUMMARY

"doing time" is an idiomatic phrase that is commonly used in written English.
It essentially means to serve or be confined for punishment, as in a prison sentence. You can use it in any context where the idea of punishment is relevant. For example, "John was convicted of a minor crime and is currently doing time in the county jail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Because doing time is easier".

The New York Times

It was like doing time".

The New York Times

But his pushcart kept doing time.

The New York Times

Not doing time at the moment?

The New York Times - Books

They might pick differently if they plan on doing time.

The Economist

"It makes doing time that much more easier".

The New York Times

"I've been doing time here for 18 years," he said.

The Guardian

Except the part about doing time for embezzlement.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

I thought Feedster, Technorati, IceRocket, Bloglines, and Pubsub, among others, are doing time-based search?”.

TechCrunch

"And, what are we doing, time-travel math?

Vice

You are still doing time--just doing it on the other side of the bars.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "doing time" when you want to convey the experience of serving a prison sentence in a concise and idiomatic way. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "doing time" to refer to any other kind of waiting or serving period other than a prison sentence. For example, it would be incorrect to say someone is "doing time" waiting for a bus.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doing time" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It is used to describe the action of serving a prison sentence. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is used when the idea of punishment is relevant.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "doing time" is a very common and grammatically correct idiomatic phrase that describes serving a prison sentence. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, primarily news and media, but it's crucial to use it specifically in reference to incarceration. Alternatives include "serving a prison sentence" or "being incarcerated". The phrase maintains a neutral register and is widely understood, making it an effective way to communicate the state of imprisonment. Remember to avoid misapplication in contexts unrelated to prison sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serving jail time

Similar to the original, but specifies "jail" instead of the more general "time".

serving a prison sentence

Replaces the idiomatic phrase with a more literal description of the action.

doing a stretch

Uses slang to refer to serving a prison term.

incarcerated

Uses a single verb to convey the state of being imprisoned.

behind bars

Uses a prepositional phrase to indicate imprisonment.

confined to prison

Highlights the restriction of movement and freedom.

in custody

Indicates that someone is being held by law enforcement.

languishing in prison

Emphasizes the negative aspects of being imprisoned.

a guest of the state

Uses a euphemism to refer to imprisonment.

paying their debt to society

Focuses on the idea of punishment as restitution.

FAQs

How can I use "doing time" in a sentence?

You can use "doing time" to describe someone serving a prison sentence. For example, "He is "serving a prison sentence" /s/serving+a+prison+sentence for fraud" or "She's currently "incarcerated" /s/incarcerated and "behind bars" /s/behind+bars for her crimes".

What's a more formal way to say "doing time"?

A more formal alternative to "doing time" is to say someone is "serving a prison sentence" /s/serving+a+prison+sentence or "incarcerated" /s/incarcerated. These phrases are more direct and less idiomatic.

Is it correct to say someone is "doing time" even if they're in jail, not prison?

"Doing time" can refer to serving a sentence in either jail or prison. While prison typically refers to longer sentences and jail to shorter ones, the phrase is generally applicable to both.

What are some slang alternatives to "doing time"?

Some slang alternatives to "doing time" include "doing a stretch" /s/doing+a+stretch or "behind bars" /s/behind+bars. These are more informal ways of referring to imprisonment.