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Given the sentence:

Now he'd done it. He hadn't even lasted two weeks. He'd be packing his bags in ten minutes. What would the Dursleys say when he turned up on the doorstep?

I guess that in this context he’d done it means “he’d been doomed.” Does do it has a meaning?

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General reference: That's done it – Andrew Leach Nov 20 '12 at 7:12

closed as general reference by Will Hunting, Andrew Leach, Matt Эллен, Noah, Zairja Nov 20 '12 at 14:07

This question is too basic; it can be definitively and permanently answered by a single link to a standard internet reference source designed specifically to find that type of information. See the FAQ for guidance on how to improve it.

1 Answer

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"Now you've (gone and) done it" is a standard idiom (it has many little variations). It means to make a serious mistake that has serious consequences that one cannot avoid being punished for. So Harry's "doomed" to be punished for his mistake. He thinks he's going to be kicked out of Hogwarts.

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Hard to find a definition on "now x've done it" – mplungjan Nov 20 '12 at 8:44
Yes, it is, but because of the contexts for the 4 examples I give, it's easy enough to create your own. – Bill Franke Nov 20 '12 at 9:34
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That is not what I meant. I wanted to flag this as a general reference, but it is not easy to find on the web although I know the idiom well – mplungjan Nov 20 '12 at 9:37
I see. You're right. I couldn't find one in the time I was willing to devote to searching for one. – Bill Franke Nov 20 '12 at 9:52

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