Rationing during and after World War II gave rise to the make do and mend ethos that saw many people exercise their ingenuity to feed and clothe themselves.

BBC: A walk of fame for George the robot

So it is alarming that the whole Afghan operation has a make-do-and-mend feel to it.

ECONOMIST: Anxious times for the under-manned Western forces

It has adopted a policy of make-do-and-mend rather than investing in new rails and signals.

ECONOMIST: Mending Britain��s rotten railways