Cool MateDo the trick vs Succeed
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Do the trick
Top 2,000 (common)
Succeed
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most common: Succeed
| Do the trick | Succeed | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //duː ðə trɪk//🇺🇸 //du ðə trɪk// | 🇬🇧 /["/səkˈsiːd/","/səkˈsiːdz/","/səkˈsiːdɪd/","/səkˈsiːdɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səkˈsiːd/","/səkˈsiːdz/","/səkˈsiːdɪd/","/səkˈsiːdɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to work well or successfully | to do well or to reach a goal |
| Example | A little extra spice should really do the trick. | If you work hard, you will succeed in your goals. |
| 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 | admirably, beautifully, brilliantly, be likely to, be unlikely to, be determined to, against, at, in, admirably, beautifully, brilliantly, be likely to, be unlikely to, be determined to, against, at, in, appoint somebody to, elect somebody to, be tipped to, as, to, appoint somebody to, elect somebody to, be tipped to, as, to |
| Antonyms | fail, miss, ineffectual | fail, stop, flop |
| 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 | Confused with 'succeed in' vs 'succeed at', Using 'succeed' without an object or context, Incorrectly conjugating with 'succeeded' in future tense |
| Usage notes | Use in informal contexts to suggest a solution. Avoid in formal writing. | Use 'succeed' in general situations where someone achieves their aims. More common in neutral contexts than in formal discussions. Avoid using in overly casual settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Do the trick vs Succeed
What's the difference between Do the trick and Succeed?
Do the trick: to work well or successfully Succeed: to do well or to reach a goal
Which is more common: Do the trick and Succeed?
Succeed 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. Succeed: If you work hard, you will succeed in your goals.
Can I use Do the trick and Succeed interchangeably?
Not always. Do the trick and Succeed 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.