What's a do-over ? The NYT reviews Mrs Miers' appearance before the appointments committee and observes that a judicial candidate should be able to answer its questionnaire without a do-over. What is meant here?

"Start it over (again)" is to go back to the beginning. It can be intransitive too - "Agh! I forgot to adjust the widget before we tightened the clamp - we'll have to start over."

"Do (it) over (again)" is the same. A do-over is the noun derived from the phrasal verb.

Miers needed to fill in the questionnare over again (because her answers were 'insultingly incomplete' I think). It's a common desire to wish you could do a test over again.

A qualified candidate, however, wouldn't have needed a do-over.

Fred, do you (play) golf? A Mulligan is a fine example of a do-over.

Hey Fuse, no self respecting golfer takes a Mulligan

quote:

Originally posted by Koz:
Hey Fuse, no self respecting golfer takes a Mulligan

Absolutely. Certainly not. Just the odd "practice swing" in the rough which nobody saw move the ball a few yards and, of course, the odd air shot