Make Do or Do Without
Make do or do without is a Southern and Appalachian saying meaning to get by with what you have, or go without if you can’t. It reflects a long-held tradition of thrift, resilience, and self-reliance.
synonyms: get by, manage, do the best you can, make ends meet
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Mama always said, "You can make do or do without." That’s how we got through every lean winter - fix it, mend it, or learn to live without it. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Mama always said, "You can make do or do without." That’s how we got through every lean winter - fix it, mend it, or learn to live without it. Pronunciation
[MAYK doo er dew wih-THOUT]
/ˈmeɪk duː ər duː wɪðˈaʊt/
/ˈmeɪk duː ər duː wɪðˈaʊt/
Meaning & Usage
- To manage with limited means (proverb)
Evelyn:
We didn’t have money for new shoes, so we patched the old ones.
We didn’t have money for new shoes, so we patched the old ones.
Will:
That’s how it was. You just made do or did without.
That’s how it was. You just made do or did without.variations: make do and do without, use it up wear it out make it do or do without
★ This saying’s not just advice - it’s a worldview. Folks who grew up poor, rural, or mountain tough lived by it long before it showed up on posters. ★
Origin and Etymology
The phrase make do or do without dates back to at least the early 1900s in American English, with strong roots in the rural South and Appalachian Mountains. It grew out of older proverbs about thrift and necessity, gaining popularity during the Great Depression and wartime rationing. A longer variant - "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" - was used in World War II campaigns promoting frugality, echoing the same mountain wisdom that had guided Southern families for generations.
Usage Notes
Still heard across the South and Appalachia, make do or do without captures the self-reliant, practical spirit of country life. It’s used when money’s tight, times are tough, or someone needs reminding that contentment doesn’t come from having everything you want.
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 18). Make Do or Do Without. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/make-do-or-do-without
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Make Do or Do Without." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/make-do-or-do-without.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Make Do or Do Without." HillbillySlang.com. October 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/make-do-or-do-without.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...