could do with

English

Verb

could do with (past participle could have done with)

1. To need something that would be beneficial.

   I could do with a torch, if you've got one.

   The fence could do with another coat of paint.

   Your son could do with a good talking to!

   That cutter is no good to me now. I could have done with it yesterday.

   • 2019 October 19, Robert Kitson, “England into World Cup semi-finals after bruising victory over Australia”, in The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media:

     Jones could still do with Jonny May, the scorer of the first two of England’s four tries, recovering swiftly from an apparent hamstring tweak but in Sinckler and his young flankers, Tom Curry and Sam Underhill, the coach has some steadily improving individuals.

Usage notes

• The negative forms are considered can do without, could do without, and could have done without, but in fact they occur in quite different semantic situations.

Translations

to need something that would be beneficial

• French: ne pas dire non (fr)
• Hungarian: ráférne, jól jönne neki, elkelne

See also

• could do without
• can do with, can do without
• could have done with, could have done without