The phrasal verb "do over" is predominantly used in informal speech. It generally means to perform a task or activity again from the beginning because the first attempt was unsatisfactory or unsuccessful. Commonly, you might hear it being used in day-to-day conversations, semi-formal communications, or casual settings such as at home, school, or in the workplace when discussing tasks, assignments, or projects that need to be repeated for improvement. For instance, if someone made a mistake on a report or failed an exam, they might say they need to "do it over." In terms of its usage pattern, it is often used with an object that specifies the task to be repeated, such as "do the assignment over." The phrasal verb "do over" may occasionally surface in more formal contexts but is typically replaced by more formal alternatives like "redo" or "repeat." As with many phrasal verbs, "do over" exemplifies the conversational flexibility characteristic of informal English.
B1
PreIntermediate
1. To perform a task or action again, often because it was not done correctly the first time.
If I make a mistake on the test, my teacher lets me do it over.
We need to do over the presentation to ensure it's perfect.
2. To refurbish or redecorate something.
We're planning to do over the living room this weekend.
After ten years, it was time to do over the kitchen.