Cool MateDo the trick vs Perform
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Do the trick
Top 2,000 (common)
Perform
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most common: Perform
| Do the trick | Perform | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //duː ðə trɪk//🇺🇸 //du ðə trɪk// | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈfɔːm/","/pəˈfɔːmz/","/pəˈfɔːmd/","/pəˈfɔːmɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pərˈfɔːrm/","/pərˈfɔːrmz/","/pərˈfɔːrmd/","/pərˈfɔːrmɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to work well or successfully | to do something, especially in front of others |
| Example | A little extra spice should really do the trick. | She will perform a song at the concert tonight. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | do the trick for, do the trick with, do the trick effectively, do the trick quickly, do the trick nicely | live, in public, publicly, first performed, rarely performed, see something performed, effectively, efficiently, properly, be able to, be unable to, be expected to, failure to perform something, admirably, beautifully, brilliantly, be able to, be unable to, be expected to |
| Antonyms | fail, miss, ineffectual | neglect, ignore, abort |
| Common mistakes | 'Do the tricks' — incorrect plural form used, Confusing 'do the trick' with 'make it work', 'Do the trick for' — missing 'for' in usage | Used incorrectly as 'performance' instead of 'perform', Confused with 'present', especially in a non-theatrical context, Using 'perform' without specifying what is being performed |
| Usage notes | Use in informal contexts to suggest a solution. Avoid in formal writing. | Used in contexts such as theater, music, and tasks. Common in both informal and formal settings. Avoid when not discussing an action or task. |
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Frequently asked questions: Do the trick vs Perform
What's the difference between Do the trick and Perform?
Do the trick: to work well or successfully Perform: to do something, especially in front of others
Which is more common: Do the trick and Perform?
Perform is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Do the trick: A little extra spice should really do the trick. Perform: She will perform a song at the concert tonight.
Can I use Do the trick and Perform interchangeably?
Not always. Do the trick and Perform are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.