[Vocabulary] Difference

[tianhang]

Hi,there.
I need your help.You Please tell me the difference between the two phrases:"go without " and " do without",if there is any.
Best regards.

[chadley25]

There is not any real difference in meaning most of the time, but the two phrases aren't necessarily interchangeable, either. In my mind, go without is a bit more of an action verb, while do without is more stative in nature. To go without (something) means to lack having it, that is, to actively NOT possess it. To do without something usually means to not have something, but more along the lines of not being exposed to it, to not have to endure it. The difference is subtle.

For instance, you would say "A person can't go without water for a week, or he'd die." A native speaker would not use do without in this sentence. Similarly, the sentence, "I could really do without all this noise" cannot use go without.

Of course, in sentences such as "You can go without me," the meaning is altogether different.

File this one under "crazy English." :)

[tianhang]

谢谢你啊！
Thanks for your explanation.I have a better understanding now.

[Excalibur]

go without= suffer lack or deprivation : I like to give my children what they want, even if I have to go without.

That is, the parent may not buy new clothes for himself (even though he might need them - and so, go without) and instead, use the money to provide his children with a computer or something.

do without (usu. can do without)= manage without :
If snow cut you off from the grocery shops, you may have food but run out of fresh milk, so you will just have to do without it (drink tea and coffee black, and skip having cereal for breakfast). That is, manage without fresh milk.
Also:
• informal ='would prefer not to have' : I can do without your bad-tempered remarks first thing of a morning!

[tianhang]

谢谢！（xiexie）Thanks a lot.I understand the subtle difference between them now.