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 Sun Feb 26, 2006 13:25 pm Done your part/bit |
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Hi Andreana,
I feel that the expression played your part is more natural rather than done your part. On the other hand done your bit is more common. If I may, I'll differentiate between play and do.
Play your part has a touch of the heroic about it. People who have made a significantly helpful contribution in a war/a crisis/a serious accident/a natural disaster are said to have played a part.
Do your bit is much more down to earth (earthy in fact). This is where you have helped in collecting money for a charity, supporting someone through a personal crisis, doing the washing up after a party and so on.
Alan
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Alan
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| Sun Feb 26, 2006 14:47 pm You have done your part vs. you have done your bit? |
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| Andreana wrote: | You have done your part.
You have done your bit.
What is the difference between both? |
On the other side of the ocean, do your part is probably more common and natural sounding. For us in the US, both mean the same thing. However, I think there might be a hierarchy of importance and impressiveness here:
play your part (more impressive)
do your part (somewhat neutral)
do your bit (less impressive)
If you give $20 to the Red Cross for disaster relief, you've done your bit. If you give $200 and spend your weekends in a Red Cross center helping the disaster vicitims, you've done your part. If you take six months off work and devote all your energy to helping with disaster relief, you've played a part (or role) in it.
In America we also have an expression do your shtick. It means to perform your little theatrical routine or gimmic. (Shtick comes from German and means piece.) |
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Jamie (K)
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| Wed Aug 22, 2007 17:08 pm You have done your part vs. you have done your bit? |
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Hi Jamie,
"Shtick" is probably Yiddish rather than German meaning "ploy" or "gimmick"?
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Torsten
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| Wed Aug 22, 2007 17:14 pm You have done your part vs. you have done your bit? |
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But it's also closely related to the German word 'St?ck', isn't it?
I think the word 'shtick' is typically used to refer to a particular gimmicky performance -- thus the similarity in meaning to 'play a part'.
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Yankee
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