I could always do with the money.
(お金が必要でね。)
BBCドラマ「シャーロック」エピソード2 "The Blind Banker" より。職探し中のワトスンは代診医の面接へ。あなたのようなちゃんとした経歴を持つ方に、こんな簡単な仕事はどうかしら、と言われ、こう答える。
- "can(could)+do with〜"という形で「〜が必要だ/〜があるとありがたい」という意味に。(to be helped by having (something)/to need or want something/to want or need someone or something; to benefit from someone or something/used to say that you need or would like to have something/want something very much)
- I could do with a cup of hot coffee right now!
- I could do with a little less criticism right now, if you don't mind!
- I could have done with some help this morning.
- She could do with a night's sleep.
- I could do with a nice cool drink right now.
- I could do with some help on this project.
- You look as if you could do with a haircut.
- Her hair could have done with a wash.
- I could do with a rest.
- withをwithoutにして(could do without〜)「〜が不要である、欲しくない、〜にイライラする」という意味で使う時もある。
- I can do without your complaints first thing in the morning.
- You can do without all that hassle.
- Those are the type of stupid remarks I can do without.