What it means
To chip in with your share of the effort, however small, so the load is spread fairly. It's the gentle, community-minded cousin of pull your weight, the sort of thing said about helping at the school fair or tidying the shared kitchen.
Usage examples
"Everyone did their bit for the street party, some baked, some hung bunting, and the whole road pitched in."
"If everyone does their bit, the whole hall will be cleared in ten minutes."
"She always does her bit for the village fete without being asked."
Where it comes from
Rests on bit meaning your small share or portion. The phrase took off in Britain during the First World War as a patriotic call to do your bit, to chip in whatever your part of the effort happened to be.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
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