do without

do without (third-person singular simple present does without, present participle doing without, simple past did without, past participle done without)

1. (usually transitive) To manage despite the lack of.
   • 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 23:

     He liked Tom all right... Sampson and Bullock he could do without, however. Especially Sampson, who was too much of a grammar-school-type swot ever to be quite the thing.

   If you are prepared to do without a break in the summer, we could have a really good skiing holiday in winter.

   During the Great Depression, she learned to do without.

   I could do without the sarcasm.

2. Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see do,‎ without.

Often used subjunctively with could, be able to, &c. as a litotes for to have no need whatsoever for, to dislike, &c.

• (manage despite the lack of): go without

• do without at OneLook Dictionary Search