That should do it

[Alejandra15]

Stephen: Oh, Ash – can you lend me 50 quid?
​

​

Ashlie: 50 quid, eh?
Stephen: Don’t worry, you’ll get it back!
Ashlie: That should do it.
Stephen: Thank you.
​

Could someone explain to me the meaning and correct usage of That should do it.??
Thanks beforehand

 

[elsita]

Stephen: Oh, Ash – can you lend me 50 quid?
​

​

Ashlie: 50 quid, eh?
Stephen: Don’t worry, you’ll get it back!
Ashlie: That should do it.
Stephen: Thank you.
​

Could someone explain to me the meaning and correct usage of That should do it.??
Thanks beforehand in advance

I imagine that Ashlie said that while giving Stephen the money - 'that should do it' means 'that should be enough', 'that will do'.
Hope that helps!

 

[axel9641]

It means that something (whatever "that" is referring to) is good enough. It may not be exactly what was wanted or expected but it will suffice.

and elsita ..... what's wrong with beforehand?? I thought it was the same as in advance

 

[elsita]

It means that something (whatever "that" is referring to) is good enough. It may not be exactly what was wanted or expected but it will suffice.

and elsita ..... what's wrong with beforehand?? I thought it was the same as in advance

They are indeed very similar!

In advance means doing something ahead of time - before it has happened, or before it is due.
e.g. To pay your rent in advance means to pay before the date it is due.
To send out invitations in advance means to send out invitations with lots of time to spare.

Beforehand refers more to something you do before something else. Earlier than a particular time.
e.g. I knew that they would not be able to go the wedding, as they had called beforehand to say their son was ill.

This is a subtle difference.. and there are sure to be lots of exceptions to that explanation!

But, you would definitely say 'thanks in advance'!

 

[axel9641]

So we could say that "Thanks in advance" is a "standard expression" and therefore we should always use it that way?

 

[elsita]

So we could say that "Thanks in advance" is a "standard expression" and therefore we should always use it that way?

That's right

 

[axel9641]

That's right

Thank you so much elsita for letting me learn from you today

 

[elsita]

A pleasure

 

[Alejandra15]

Thank you so much to you both, Axel and Elsita, but do you think you could give a few examples of situacions where you would normally use this expression?

 

[elsita]

Sure!
Say for example, you have no petrol (in the UK) or gas (in the US) in your car - you don't have very much money, so you will not fill it up. You need just enough petrol for one day. So you'd put in a small amout, and then say
'ok, that should do it!'.
That should be enough.
Hope that helps!

 

[axel9641]

If a plumber is fixing a leaking pipe , and he says "that should do it" , it means the work he has done should have fixed the problem.

that - the work he has done
should
do it - fix the problem.

Hope I helped!