do without (someone or something)
To manage or cope despite someone or something's absence. The phrase can be used alone or followed by the absent person or thing. Since I forgot to pick up milk on the way home, I guess we're just going to have to do without for one night. I was running late this morning, so I had to do without coffee.
do without
Manage in spite of being without something. For example, They will just have to do without a vacation this year, or There was no telephone in the cabin, but we soon learned to do without. [Early 1700s]
do without
v. To manage despite the absence of something: Since we're short of money for supplies, you'll have to do without. We had to do without a telephone on the island.