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The expression logically should be "feats of daring-do" because that's just what it means: deeds of extreme daring. But through a chain of misunderstandings explained in the Oxford English Dictionary, the standard form evolved with the unusual spelling "derring-do," and "daring-do" is an error.
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SOL returns 45 stories containing variants of 'daring-do' and 28 stories containing variants of 'derring-do'.
AJ
Or, possibly, some form of tree 'art' done with a fish (ref: Monty Python and the Holy Grail).
If it is an adventure story of the high seas it could be "Herring Do"
Or possibly Herring Doo-doos! Thankfully, seeing as they're still water contained, they're still better than the traditional seagull dos!
A gathering can be described as a "bit of a do"
So a party to honour Richard Wagner would be…
Der Ring do
:)
But through a chain of misunderstandings explained in the Oxford English Dictionary, the standard form evolved with the unusual spelling "derring-do," and "daring-do" is an error.
That is why the etymology of a word or phrase can be so important. Below is the origin of that saying.
Middle English dorring don daring to do, from dorring (gerund of dorren to dare) + don to do
One that always gets to me when I read it is when somebody calls something a "parting shot". It has become accepted, but it is actually incorrect in that the actual term was "Parthian shot". Named after the Parthians, who would advance towards an enemy on horseback, then turn and withdraw while facing backwards and continuing to shoot arrows at the advancing enemy as they fell back.
Feets of darring-do involve brave actions with your feet. Toe tally requires you count your toes. Big-foot probably does feets of darring-do since his feet are so big.
