do good to someone—show kindness or concern by doing smth. beneficial to a person (usually in religious contexts):
- Love God in your heart and do good to all your friends and enemies.
do someone good—
1. make smb. feel better; help or benefit a person:
- Make everyone who is not asleep get out at every rest area. The fresh air will do you good.
2. give a person pleasure or satisfaction:
- It did me good to watch him sit on the edge of my bunk and eat biscuits and butter.
3. (followed by Infinitive) one would be well-advised to act in a particular way:
- It will do you good to hear the truth occasionally. I doubt if you ever heard it at home.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase do someone a good turn—perform an act of kindness or help a person unselfishly:
- Why should you do me a good turn? I never did you one.
See also: do someone well / do well by someone.