do one's own time
English
editVerb
editdo one's own time (third-person singular simple present does one's own time, present participle doing one's own time, simple past did one's own time, past participle done one's own time)
- (informal, idiomatic) To serve a prison sentence without becoming involved in any illicit dealings or prison gangs.
- 2009, Caryl Chessman, Cell 2455, Death Row: A Condemned Man's Own Story:
- He did his own time, minded his own business.
- 2011, James A. Goble, My Own Worst Enemy, page 171:
- But typically, if an inmate just minded his own business and did his own time, he could usually stay out of serious trouble.
- 2020, Clark Howard, Hard City:
- Anyways, like I said, your dad went his own way, minded his own business, did his own time; all's he wanted to do was finish his stretch and get back home to you and your mother.