What's the deal with "Doing" this, "Doing" that?

Semantics. Going to Berlin. Doing Berlin. Taking the train to Berlin. Training to Berlin. Whatever. You know what they mean.

Yes, it’s semantics but I agree with the OP. It just sounds weird.

LOL
Mack you are so correct. I won't go near the connotation. But doing a country or city goes with "train" as a verb, as in "We're going to train to Lyon." Would we say we're going to car to Lyon?
Or other new expressions such as "going forward" meaning from now on. "Entitled" is a new buzz word that I think came from attack politics, I no longer live in the US, so I'm not sure. An older American woman on a bus tour in Spain yelled at me that I thought I was entitled when I used the men's room, with the help of my husband, because the women's room line went out the door of the rest stop. I never quite understood what that was about. But, yeh, doing Paris, knocks the whole idea down to a nitty-gritty experience you have to force yourself to complete, like doing homework or housework.

What's with all the complaining on the forum lately? I thought this was the season to be jolly. 😊

Not without my furry costume, Carrie. LOL

Semantics.

Is there anything the forum won't complain about? I couldn't care less and I'm not going to get my undies bunched up because someone used the the word "doing" when referring to some particular city. It's easy to understand the context and what they meant.

I too think it’s semantics that are creeping in but less likely regionalisms that have spilled over. We’ve lived in 7 different states across the US and there are certain phrases I’ve never heard outside of a 50 mile radius of our location, definitely a regionalism. Want to “pull the door to” anyone?

Mack, I think the short-hand of "doing" has evolved. One could hear a family say something like "we are doing the family trip across the country," which, of course, means not only loading up ma, pa, the kiddies, the dog, etc. in the station wagon and heading West, but all the planning, going, sights, experiences, drama and memories that go with something like that. One might just say "we are doing the West," and conversation might go in the direction of "Oh, which states?" or "flying? driving? group tour?"

Then, one later might hear, "Joey is doing the summer camp bit." (I digress, but "bit" could also be a term you might question.)
But, in the case of Joey, it is going and experiencing, maybe the homesickness...and it is far more than a "biit." It will likely cause lifetime memories. The family also experiences the "doing" by getting Joey packed and ready, dropping him off at camp, retrieving, and listening to all the stories, as well as having some quiet while he is gone (or time to repaint his room). So one mom might say to another "we are doing summer camp," and the other mother clearly recognizes mom is not going, but all that mom will be going thru in the prep, etc. and the other mom will clearly recognize it is the 10-year old going, not the mom or the dad.....it is conversation "shorthand."

When a family says it is "doing the Disney bit," we all have visions of the excitement, the long lines, the smiles, the long lines, Mickey Mouse, the gift shop hauls (another term) and (did I mention?) the long lines. LOL. But, one mom (or dad) would quickly "get" what "doing" means, as many have "been there/done that." Ditto for "we are doing the beach."

So, to me "doing" or "did" when it relates to travel is the shorthand of saying we planned, went, experienced and hold memories of (fill in the blank) and in many cases "checking that one of our to-do list (or bucket list).".

Language evolves, and it will continue to........just as we all evolve as travelers.

To me, "did", in this context, implies participation with a level of curiosity and keenness of intellect exceeding that of my own - more often than not it applies to one my of much younger relatives traveling with me.

Semantics. Absolutely.
It is unquestionable when we did Rome we were there with a vengeance. We DID IT. Rick Steves maps in hand, we plowed the path from the Trevi Fountain to the Spanish Steps, charged over to the Coliseum before we did the Sistine Chapel.
There is an aggressive tone to using such an abrasive verb. It seems to leave civilized behavior in it's wake. Picky, sure..maybe that is the tone of this generation?
Bets said in a few words what I was trying to explain;
"But, yeh, doing Paris, knocks the whole idea down to a nitty-gritty experience you have to force yourself to complete, like doing homework or housework."

If I go shopping later today, will I be doing Wegmans?

When I first moved to the US I was confused when I'd hear people say they were going to "The Walmart" or "The Store" as if there was only one. Every place has their own curious sayings. What's worse - "doing Berlin" or "exploring Berlin" ? The latter makes me think of people in Safari gear trekking through wilderness.

so, like, whats' the matter with me going and!!!

Going? Like SAYING?

I agree with the OP.
It is an irritating way…to me…to describe something.
Add it to the Pet Peeve list in another thread here.

Though, I am the person who will correct incorrect grammar or “facts” in library books.
In very faint pencil , of course…….very faint.😉

Of course it's semantics. And I think OP is showing a generation gap, with a touch of grumpy old man "get off my lawn" thrown in. Doing is simply shorthand for visiting, exploring, experiencing, seeing..... It would not be my first choice of wording, because I think it's too general and vague. Perhaps attributable to the general shrinking of vocabulary in the digital age?

I am glad to see this thread. The term “doing” a place is a pet peeve of mine as well.

I first heard the term used 60 years ago, when I was 16. A snobby, pretentious acquaintance of my mother said she “would love to DO Europe” as though she were checking off a list, doing something to acquire status in her social circle. The word (and attitude it conveyed) annoyed me then, and it still does now. It seems to me to belittle all the wonderful and meaningful cultural and other opportunities available in foreign travel.

I believe the term originated with the expression “to do the town”, meaning to celebrate, splash out, go a little wild in bars and dance clubs. Equivalent to “painting the town red”. In that context, “doing the town” is fine. But to me, at least, the term is inappropriate for travel experiences, and sounds just as bad as it did in 1963.

But I am sure the people who use it here do not intend it to be dismissive or pretentious; they are just unaware how bad it sounds to some ears.

(Stepping down off my soapbox and returning to regular programming)

Don't get me started on "I am WANTING to visit/do/go/see..."

Oh, my, this thread gave me a good laugh for the day! Aren’t we privileged to be able to have such concerns?!
I have never imagined There is an aggressive tone to using such an abrasive verb. It seems to leave civilized behavior in it's [sic] wake. LOL!

CJean, it does ring a little of grumpy old man "get off my lawn" Generation gap? Hmm I’m 65; it doesn’t trouble me.

Maggie, you’re on point---you perfectly described this use of ‘doing’, and it really is more encompassing than I would’ve described. Right,‘doing’ is simply shorthand to conjure all aspects of an experience.

Perhaps, as CJean said, it’s evidence of shrinking vocabulary in the digital age. As everything and everyone move at a faster pace, we have less time for all the details—or at least there are times when we don’t have time or the inclination for all the details. So our evolving language provide more uses to words we have.

When I hear this use of ‘doing’, I take it as an enthusiastic approach to experiencing a location or event to the greatest extent possible. (“For our anniversary, we’re DOING Paris!”) But I suppose the delivery could also be a flat-- check box item: “Let’s see…we did the market, we did the museum…”

My main concern is to have the energy and funds to keep doing…

I don't think I've used the word "doing" in this way, but I wonder if it is related to having a list of places one wants to visit and when visited, you would tick it off and might say "done!". I suppose in such instances, one could be "doing" a place in the future, or "doing" it right now, etc.

Another thought: perhaps "doing" is a more generic verb in such cases rather than the more specific of visiting, touring, exploring, shopping. So "doing" is not specific except to convey that one will be engaged in some form of activity in said place? After all, if you will be spending time in Hamburg to tour, to visit relatives, and to attend a work conference, saying "doing" covers a wider range of activities or at least conveys more generality than saying "visiting"?

I'm with the OP on this one. When I read or hear someone say "I've done Paris(or anyplace else)", I just cringe. I go to a place, I visit a place, I see a place, and yes, I sometimes explore a place. I have never 'done' a place and will never 'do' a place.

It may be just semantics but it's still extremely annoying. And don't get me started on the language of the younger generations - a lot of which also makes me cringe. If using proper grammar when speaking or writing shows my age, then that's just fine. It shows I was brought up in an age when proper usage of language and grammar meant something. I know the world changes and we need to change along with it - but not in everything.

Let me know if you want to do lunch when you do Frankfurt.

I may be overly sensitive to this simply because our family has always tried to speak quasi proper English, German and French.
I should note that my sensitivity is amplified during this time of year and by some of the sites I visit due to my interest in hunting. Almost daily I see posts from other hunters showing off their "trophy" captioned with "got it done". I have the same aversion to the tone of that truism. The dead critter is proof enough without stating the obvious. As a sportsman, that finality does not summarize my takeaways from the experiences of hunting. There is more to the experience for me. "Sucess" is a subset of the overall experiences.
So, when I slide over into this forum and see that same basic message, did this, that or the other thing with that same pithy tonality, it makes me realize that some travelers also approach travels with very linear intent. All of that said, it's not my salad. Go ahead, do Dubai, Mumbai, Shanghai.... make sure you let us all know when you are done. ;-)

"Let me know if you want to do lunch when you do Frankfurt."
Ha, too funny. That will be next August. I booked tickets yesterday. It's a busy time to visit, but my wife is a musician. August is the only time when she does not have obligations.
Frankfurt is on the list of places we will "do". There, I said it and it feels very strange.
From there to Niedersachsen for a few days so that I can show here where I grew up. Then later in the trip to Berlin, Neukolln, for the same reason.
We are certainly excited for another visit.

...and what about "sliding into someone's DMs" that sounds fun.

We should ask Dr. Rick about this "Doing" nonsense.

Isn't "what's the deal" in the same category? 😁

All languages evolve. And to an extent, they also devolve. In high school a classmate asked our English teacher "Why do I have to speak a certaing way? Everybody knows what I mean". The answer was "Just because you were raised in a bad part of town, doesn't mean you have to sound like it." There are times, however, when, according to said English teacher, it is okay to use "informal" English. Then there is slang; which is something else altogether. Today, most of English I hear is a mixture of all three. As an English Minor there are phrases, and word usages that really grate my cheese. But as long as I understand you, I'll just go with the flow and remember it's after five o'clock somewhere.

The new methods of communication are somewhat restricted by common devices used, such as the smart phone, and the near instant gratification of social media. So, where as my wife and I would write long detailed letters after out trips to send to friends and family, and include a DVD, the younger folks, like my nephews, just post a one liner ..., such as "Did Florence, and it was the bomb." Filled with a few photos that have no context. These notifications, are just that, "notifications," and are not designed to entice an interest in an area with any thing specific or experiential. Boomers may in a way, be the last generation to write long form logs and journals.

“Doing” is unnecessary and weird in the context of a destination. It seems that once they’ve “done” a destination, that implies that every element there has been seen, experienced, and thoroughly understood. There’s no reason to return, because it’s been completed … done. That’s a shame, as most places will have new things, and people seldom have enough time to exhaust what a place has to offer.

By the same token, anyone who says they’ve “seen” Paris may have seen some things there, but certainly haven’t seen everything.

Regarding “train” as a verb, I agree with Bets. Seeing it used here frequently here, it’s always been annoying. Nobody “planes” across the Atlantic to an airport. Does anybody say they’re “caring” instead of “driving?” No … although perhaps they do care, while they’re behind the wheel. So they could be caring, but it’s not how they’re getting from A to B.

And the bit about being “entitled” when popping into a men’s room, that’s silly. An entitled person wouldn’t even use a WC - they’d just go over in the corner, or on a rug. Entitled people don’t need to conform to using any facilities. In that instance, “resourceful,” “creative,” maybe “lucky,” but “entitled”? That did not apply.

Been there, done that...

Get 'er done...

Anyone got any more or similar ... ?

Anyone got any more or similar ... ?

I worked hard today, I'm done in.

You're free to go, you've done your time.

When I first moved to the US I was confused when I'd hear people say they were going to "The Walmart" or "The Store" as if there was only one.

Ha ha, Mary, I will say that it always throws me when I hear someone say The Walmart. That seems more of a southern thing to me. I do say I’m going to the store, or the grocery store because it sounds weird to say I’m going to store. I guess I figure it’s not necessary to name a specific store.

To me, it’s a little strange to hear the British say they’re going to uni, as opposed to the university. Or they’re in hospital, instead of the hospital as we would say here.

But I like the differences. I think regional dialects are fascinating, and always interesting to hear about and to hear in general.

I think this is more a thread dealing with American English than my native British English, but "train" as a verb isn't something I'd ever say. In British English you'd "take the train" or "go on the train" to your destination. "Detrain" is a fairly esoteric verb to describe getting off or leaving a train that may be used over here.

To "do" a city is something particular to American English too I think. It makes me think of the way some North Americans describe travelling with very packed itineraries, seemingly only visiting destinations for the purpose of having been there, rather than experiencing it.

“ All languages evolve. And to an extent, they also devolve. In high school a classmate asked our English teacher "Why do I have to speak a certaing way? Everybody knows what I mean".

But I do not see this as a case of evolution of the language. As I noted, I heard someone say she wanted to “do” Europe 60 years ago. And it sounded as bad to me then as it does now.

And according to my husband’s “Shorter Oxford English Dictionary” (3d edition) the verb “do” was used in the context of tourism as early as 1830 (see page 544).

One problem I have with the term, in addition to the context in which I heard it used by a pretentious snob when I was 16, is that it is so vague and non-specific. When one has “done” Paris, what does that mean? It suggests a completed act, as though they “did” everything there was to “do” there, at least in their (possibly limited) imagination. Why not talk about how wonderful it was—-the art, the food, the experience of going up the Eiffel Tower, or whatever? Or maybe they had a bad experience—please mention that too.

The “short form” OED devotes almost two columns to this verb. In most cases it is used as a transitive verb in connection with an activity (to do yoga) or as an affirmative declaration (like the marriage “I do”). But they do not discuss how it can be used with a place as the object. (They do mention that when used with a person as the object, the slang meaning of “do” is copulation).

So perhaps we can agree to disagree. I do not like the term, and prefer to see someone say “I visited (saw, enjoyed, explored, went to, etc.) Paris than to say “I did Paris”. I do not think that typing on one’s phone is any excuse for choosing the shortcut word “do”: rather it suggests the Instagram culture of instant gratification.

(Once again stepping back off the soapbox.)

There is “ Debbie does Dallas”! This came from a movie that is a bit naughty.

" Doing " a destination strikes me as the colloquial antecedent of the equally nauseating post visit , " Been there , done that "

Regarding “The Walmart” (which originally would’ve been The Wal-mart, right?), how about somebody in a restaurant ordering “the chicken?” Gee, if there was just the one, I guess that’s now sold out, so no one else will be having chicken tonight.

The same isn’t true if someone asks for “the check.” There will be plenty of those to go around.

i feel the same way about the word/verb "hydrate". When did it replace the word drink? Or thirsty? When did it become a verb?
This is a word that is not in my vocabulary, because it sounds pretentious, plus people use it in such odd ways. "Remember to hydrate" "I forgot to hydrate today and now I feel awful" "How do you make sure that you hydrate enough?"

I will add “to dialogue”.
A person at work whom I never liked much was always saying they needed “to dialogue” with you.
I never really wanted to “talk” to them much less “to dialogue” with them.

Oh, one more….when waitstaff or store employees say they will just “grab” something for you; or say “Can I grab you a menu, a drink, or ….”
No, but you can bring it for me.

Add me to the getting-old-and -grumpy group now please.

To me, it’s a little strange to hear the British say they’re going to uni, as opposed to the university. Or they’re in hospital, instead of the hospital as we would say here.

Taking Mardee's point a bit further, another difference in lingo is that Americans go to College. In the UK College is either sixth form college, or is a lesser, inferior, form of further education than university- originally for those not bright enough to go to university, or who can't afford it; as College is usually something you can do from your home and often part time.

And we don't tend to abbreviate our university names so much- like CWU for instance.

In the UK you usually detrain in an emergency situation. For instance, at Hexham 2 weeks ago, we officially detrained at Hexham after a fatality on the line (and the guard was a bit bemused when I asked him if we were 'terminating short'- which is my lingo).

But hey, whatever we did that morning, I got my delay repay claim through late last night for that incident, and I have got 4 free return tickets to anywhere on the Northern network for that incident (having applied for 2)- one for every hour trains were stopped, so am not complaining. I don't mind detraining for that deal! I thought I was being cheeky, as I was split ticketing on a £4 fare.

The hydrate thing stems from clever marketing by CamelBak. They introduced their product to mountain bikers with the slogan, Hydrate or Die. We all got on board with the hydration bags since they carried more water than bottles and we adopted Hydrate or Die as a mantra. The bags gradually found their way into all forms of outdoor activities (backpacking, running, hiking etc.) and presumably lead to the increasingly common use of that word, hydrate.

Have you picked your proteins out for today? That's another word that seems to be over-used. I'm concerned that our grand-daughter has no clue that she is eating beef, chicken, turkey, whatever. Her mother keeps harping at her to eat her protein.

I'm planning to "do" some protein in Germany and will conduct a very thorough comparison between haxe prepared in Bavaria to those prepared in Berlin, when we "do" Bavaria and Berlin.

Someone needs to get ( or is it DO ) a life

Sometimes I say it. My bad.

People who insist they are ‘doing this’ or ‘doing that’, well, they can just, erm, ‘do one’.

As a former linguist, I've resisted commenting on this thread, but I must say my favorite post is from Diane:

There is “ Debbie does Dallas”! This came from a movie that is a bit naughty.

Jane: I’m afraid that’s my reaction when I hear or read that someone did a city or country. Shane on me!

Yep, "Debbie Does Dallas" comes to mind for me too. Must be our age?

English is wonderful. It's malleable and great at taking on loan words. There's no authoritarian academy to regulate it and the inherently totalitarian grammarians are kept in check.

An enjoyable piece of working with historic texts is getting to see how the language changes and evolves. How Norman French words became English or how Algonquin words entered everyday English use. Seeing how the use of “u” & “v” evolved and how "vv” became “w” or that in printing “þ” became “y” but pronounced with the “th” sound. 

What's fun too is reading various remonstrances of modern usage of language from the very people who have had a hand in changing the language in their own time. I can't help to wonder how many here would have been upset at Bill Shakespeare's forging of the language if editing his portfolio. 

Yes Mrs. Jo! It’s definitely our age and not that we’ve seen the movie!😂

"Doing" places reminds me of the McIlhennys in the movie Summertime - they "do" Europe from soup to nuts on a whirlwind tour, in sharp contrast to Jane Hudson's much different adventure. The McIlhennys are definitely ticking boxes - been there, done that.

Good call , Debbie ! The scene starts at about 5:00 . Here is the film , one of the most beautiful of all - https://youtu.be/caiqG4eAkWE?si=2YtFQqECGlliTG4l

@steven - wow, thanks for the link. I did not know the film is on YouTube. And Mrs. McIlhenny actually says, "we're doing all of Italy." Haha.

It actually goes back much further than may be appreciated. Newspapers in the 1850s, 1860s, and 1870s --both England and America -- are filled with examples of people "Doing the Grand Tour"; "Doing Niagara Falls"; "Doing the Catskills," etc. Grand Canyon didn't become a national park until 1919, but people were "Doing the Grand Canyon and other Arizona features" as early as 1895, according to the Los Angeles Herald. We've been stuck with the nomenclature for a long, long time!

Amused that instead of being able to blame the younger generation for this disliked word choice, the blame actually rests with our ancestors.

Semantics.

Yep. Language is a fluid living breathing lovely mess. You can't get more highbrow than Finnegan's Wake, which is beautifully colloquial/casual in most of its prose.

Thank you, HIstory Traveller, for that historical context. Yes, Gail, it is humourous, isn't it?

As a former linguist, I've resisted commenting on this thread, but I must say my favorite post is from Diane:
There is “ Debbie does Dallas”! This came from a movie that is a bit naughty

Yep, "Debbie Does Dallas" comes to mind for me too. Must be our age

Actually, not that I’ve seen that film, but what Debbie is “doing” is the city’s football team, not the city itself.

And thanks to steven for the Summertine film link … “We’re doing all of Italy,” said at about 6:38 into the footage.

It might be semantics, but I think it’s dismissive and mildly disrespectful.

I don’t think it’s on purpose, but that’s how it plays. Very cringey.

By the same token, people “seeing” one place or another likely aren’t seeing everything there, so it’s an inaccurate, though often used phrase. Seeing some of the location, or doing something there (perhaps doing some sightseeing), might be a more accurate thing to say.

If you’ll excuse me now, I’ve gotta run … I’m doing laundry.

Cyn, LOL!

...gotta run … I’m doing laundry.

Aah, the mundanity of life.

In the last couple of days I have read 2 forum posts which used 'doing' as discussed here. One was in an excellent trip report. I don't remember the other post off the top of my head.

I didn't feel disrespected, it did not diminish the quality of the post, and I did not think any less of the writers of the great posts. I'm sorry that others are so distracted by this 'assault' on the English language.

I don’t see anyone here suggesting that the term “doing”:Paris, London, Greece, etc. is in any way disrespectful to the person reading the comment. Rather, it is dismissive or belittling to the place itself.

Are you saying the trip report actually read “we did (name a place)”? Or did they say, “ in (name a city) we did (name an activity)”? Those are very different. Can you post a link to the trip report?

I have been quiet on this point til now, but must admit that my background in criminal justice makes me cringe when I hear the expression. As applied to a person ( victim), the word do has a very dark meaning. I know a city or place is not a person, but it still sounds terrible to my ear. Just saying.

I find it a little ironic that the imprecise colloquialism "what's the deal" is used to complain about "do" as imprecise colloquialism.

Doing + dishes, laundry, weeding= doing a necessary chore
Doing + Paris = doing a necessary chore, getting through an experience, or looking forward to visiting a city!

We know that "do" and "get" are vague shortcuts that replace more precise or expressive words.

Thank you Sasha. That frames it perfectly.

Hank, thank you for picking up on that. I'm surprised that easter egg was not picked up much sooner. It has been sitting there front and center.

I am not surprised by the dismissive "semantics" and "get over it" comments. We all see things from our own place of perspective. We all have the luxury of choosing our words and framing our thoughts and opinions to reflect this.
I am extremely encouraged to find others who regard our ability to travel freely as a privilege and not a checklist chore.