The correct spelling for the phrase "doing bidding" is /ˈduːɪŋ ˈbɪdɪŋ/. The word "doing" is spelled with the letters d-o-i-n-g, and is pronounced with the vowel sound /uː/ followed by the consonants /d/ and /ɪŋ/. The word "bidding" is spelled with the letters b-i-d-d-i-n-g, and is pronounced with the vowel sound /ɪ/ followed by the consonants /d/ and /ɪŋ/. Together, "doing bidding" means completing someone else's commands or requests.
The phrase "doing someone's bidding" is an idiom commonly used to describe the act of carrying out another person's wishes, commands, or instructions. It implies that an individual is willingly acting on behalf of someone else, usually because of a sense of loyalty, obedience, or subservience.
To elaborate, when one is "doing someone's bidding," they are essentially fulfilling tasks or demands as assigned, acting as a loyal and obedient servant or follower. This phrase often signifies a power dynamic in which one person holds authority or control over another, who willingly complies with their requests or orders.
The term "bidding" metaphorically conveys the idea of issuing commands or making requests as if placing bids in an auction, and "doing" refers to the act of performing or carrying out those directives. This phrase encompasses a wide range of situations where one person acts as the agent or executor of another person's desires or will.
The context in which this phrase is commonly used varies, from personal relationships where one partner consistently acquiesces to the other's wishes, to professional scenarios where an employee fulfills the tasks assigned by their superior. Generally, it implies a power imbalance, with the one doing the bidding assuming a role of submission or obedience.
The phrase "doing someone's bidding" has an interesting etymology.
The word "doing" comes from the Old English word "don", which means "to perform" or "to execute". It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "doną" and is related to the Old Norse word "duna" and the Dutch word "doen".
The word "bidding" comes from the verb "bid", which in Old English meant "to command" or "to order". Its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "biddan", meaning "to ask" or "to entreat". This word is also related to the Old High German word "bitten" and the Dutch word "bidden".
So, when we combine these two words, "doing bidding" essentially means "performing or executing someone's command or order". It implies carrying out someone's instructions or wishes.