[Grammar] I could do with a new girlfriend.

[beachboy]

https://www.theenglishenglishteacher.com/i-could-do-with/

Is it right to say "I could do with + somebody (I could do with a new girlfriend/a girl like that)" or "I could do with + place (I could do with a steak house)"?

 

[emsr2d2]

It can be used for anything for which you have a hankering/desire but not really an urgent need. For example:

I could do with a cup of tea.
I could do with a good night's sleep.

When used to speak about other people, it can be a suggestion based on your own opinion. For example:

She could do with a haircut.

 

[beachboy]

So, I could flirt with a strange girl on the subway by telling her "you could do with somebody like me", what do you think? Would it be politically and grammatically correct? Any chance of success?

 

[tedmc]

While your sentence is grammatically correct, I think it is a poor attempt at flirting.

 

[GoesStation]

So, I could flirt with a strange girl on the subway by telling her "you could do with somebody like me", what do you think? Would it be politically and grammatically correct? Any chance of success?

You might regret it if she's really strange. She might be mentally ill. (I think you mean a girl I don't know.)

 

[beachboy]

You might regret it if she's really strange. She might be mentally ill. (I think you mean a girl I don't know.)

Precisely!! A stranger!! Strange was my sentence. :roll:

 

[jutfrank]

As a general rule, don't use it with places.

I could do with a steakhouse. :cross:

That's not right, because it isn't the place you could do with. What you could do with is either the object or the experience.

I could with a steak.
I could do with going to a steakhouse.

 

[emsr2d2]

So, I could flirt with a [STRIKE]strange girl[/STRIKE] stranger on the subway by [STRIKE]telling her[/STRIKE] saying "You could do with somebody like me".

What do you think? I would find it arrogant and unacceptable.
Would it be politically and grammatically correct? Grammatically correct? Yes. Politically correct? Not really, no. Invading someone's space and flirting with them is pretty much frowned up by many people.
Any chance of success? Well, I suppose it depends on your target but you'd get a snort of laughter, a roll of the eyes and a "Please leave me alone" from me!

See my corrections (in red) and my comments (in blue) above.

 

[beachboy]

See my corrections (in red) and my comments (in blue) above.

Sure. That was a joke. I'm a polite old man, and I don't intend to be that rude.

 

[beachboy]

As a general rule, don't use it with places.

I could do with a steakhouse. :cross:

That's not right, because it isn't the place you could do with. What you could do with is either the object or the experience.

I could with a steak.
I could do with going to a steakhouse.

Not even "I could do with a penthouse in Ipanema"?

 

[Tarheel]

I wouldn't mind having more money. (A lot more.)

 

[Rover_KE]

Any students or learners reading this thread should be aware that the topic phrase is informal and should not be used frequently or in any formal context.

 

[GoesStation]

Any students or learners reading this thread should be aware that the topic phrase is informal and should not be used frequently or in any formal context.

And, while it's not unknown in American English, it sounds distinctly British (to me, at least).

 

[beachboy]

And, while it's not unknown in American English, it sounds distinctly British (to me, at least).

What's the corresponding informal expression in American English?

 

[Skrej]

It's common enough in AmE. Maybe it's regional, but I use the expression myself from time to time.


In fact, I sure could do with a cold one about now.

 

[Tarheel]

The phrase "would be good" is common enough. Example:

A beer would be good right now.

Or:

A muffin would br good right now.

 

[jutfrank]

I could do with a new girlfriend.

Make sure you do not let your current one hear you say that.

 

[beachboy]

I could do with a new girlfriend.

Make sure you do not let your current one hear you say that.

I speak while I'm sleeping. :-D

 

[jutfrank]

I speak while I'm sleeping. :-D

:lol:

 

[GoesStation]

What's the corresponding informal expression in American English?

I [sure] could use a new car.