phrase
General Slang
do be
DOO-BEE · phrase · informal
Expresses a habitual, repeated action
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Definitions
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The 'habitual be': indicates something happens regularly or habitually, e.g. 'I do be' + verb.
“I do be waiting ages for that bus every morning.”
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do be In A Sentence
I do be waiting ages for that bus every morning.
Origin & Usage
Calque of the Irish habitual present tense ('bíonn') into Hiberno-English.
Variants
does be
People Also Ask
What does 'do be' mean?
It marks a habitual or repeated action. 'I do be waiting for that bus' means you wait for it regularly, not just once.
Where does the 'do be' construction come from?
It is a calque of the Irish habitual present tense (the verb 'bíonn'), carried into Hiberno-English.
How is 'do be' different from 'am' or 'is'?
Standard 'I am waiting' describes right now, while 'I do be waiting' stresses that it happens habitually or repeatedly.
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