ˌdo-it-yourˈself
[See do v. 11 and yourself pron. 3.]
The action or practice of doing work of any kind by oneself, esp. one's own household repairs and maintenance, usu. as opposed to employing someone else to do it. Also transf. and fig. Freq. attrib. or as adj. Abbreviated as D.I.Y. Hence ˌdo-it-himˈself, ˌdo-it-yourˈselfer, ˌdo-it-yourˈselfism, and various other nonce derivatives.
| [1616 T. Draxe Bibliotheca Scholastica 163/1 If a man will haue his businesse well done, he must doe it himselfe. 1693 W. Penn Some Fruits of Solitude (ed. 2) 66 Have but little to do, and do it thy self. a 1845 Barham Ingol. Leg. (1905) 288 If it's business of consequence, Do it yourself! 1925 D. Beard (title) Do it yourself. A book of the big outdoors. 1949 Here & Now (N.Z.) Oct. 17/3 Husbands who have been brought up in the do-it-all-myself tradition of the previous generation.] 1952 Time 30 June 45/3 Do-it-yourself has brought similar gains, and market shifts, to other industries. 1954 N.Y. Herald Tribune 21 Mar. iv. 17/5 There are other reasons, too, for the tidal wave of do-it-yourselfism. 1954 N.Y. Times 5 Sept. F1/7 To the do-it-yourselfer, plywood is as essential as paint, tools, plastics and ordinary lumber. 1955 Pract. Householder Dec. 203/1 A central pool such as a ‘D.I.Y. Club’ from which..tools can be hired is the obvious advantage. 1957 Times 12 Nov. (Canada Suppl.) p. xv/4 Canadian males are great devotees of do-it-yourself. 1957 Financial Times Ann. Rev. Brit. Industry 51/1 A country planning a nuclear power programme has a choice of two routes: do-it-yourself and the ready-made. 1958 Spectator 4 July 13/2 The builder is shoving up his do-it-himself boxes. 1959 Manch. Guardian 13 Aug. 5/4 The..do-it-yourself kit, complete with all necessary screws, bolts, nuts and instruction chart. 1959 V. Packard Status Seekers (1960) 76 Trimming hedges or repairing screen doors or other delights of the do-it-yourself. 1965 Spectator 5 Mar. 293/1 The whole of the artistic world has been debauched by the hogwash of the do-it-yourself vogue. 1966 Guardian 16 May 6/4 Do-it-yourselfers have been enthusiastic about..adhesive vinyl tiles. 1966 Listener 24 Nov. 781/2 This chamber-music is a universe away from the stuttering simplesse of do-it-yourself Hemingway. 1969 Daily Tel. 4 Oct. 11/1 For families or parties of young people especially, who don't mind a little do-it-yourselfing, this sort of holiday is usually memorable. 1970 F. McKenna Gloss. Railwaymen's Talk 34 Do-it-yourself kit, diesel-age term for steam locomotives. The arrival of the diesel locomotive..consigned the steam locomotive to the level of a do-it-yourself kit. 1970 Guardian 30 July 9/6 A DIY inflatable dome kit..for {pstlg}30. |