do the necessary

[Unregistered]

Hello,


Does the expression "to do the necessary" (=to do what is needed) exist in English?

Thanks

 

[David L.]

Yes. It is colloquial, and is used to save spelling out details.
In his declining years, he became incontinent. Each time we would do the necessary - it nearly wore the washing machine out.

Here, 'necessary' is used to mean what is obvious - they undressed him, cleaned him, changed his clothes and washed them.