DIY
Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Everyday
| Stands for | Do it yourself |
|---|---|
| Categories | Writing & Everyday |
DIY stands for Do it yourself, an everyday abbreviation.
Describes building, repairing, decorating or making things oneself instead of hiring a professional or buying a finished product. The term covers home improvement, crafts and car maintenance, and also a broader self-reliant culture in music, fashion and publishing.
Example: We saved about $2,000 by doing a DIY bathroom remodel over three weekends.
Usage notes
The phrase became common in the 1950s amid the postwar home-improvement boom, when hardware makers and magazines targeted new homeowners, and big-box chains such as Home Depot (founded 1978) later built businesses around it. In punk and indie music, a DIY ethic means self-releasing records and booking one's own tours. It works as a noun ("my latest DIY"), an adjective and occasionally a verb.