something that is not serious or of real value that is used to attract people's attention or interest temporarily, especially to make them buy something
They give away free gifts with children's meals as a sales/marketing gimmick.
gimmick
gim‧mick /ˈɡɪmɪk/ BrE AmE noun [countable] informal
a trick or something unusual that you do to make people notice someone or something – used to show disapproval ⇨ stunt:
advertising gimmicks
gimmick
gim·mick [gimmick gimmicks] [ˈɡɪmɪk] [ˈɡɪmɪk] noun (often disapproving)
an unusual trick or unnecessary device that is intended to attract attention or to persuade people to buy sth
• a promotional/publicity/sales gimmick
• We don't use gimmicks to sell our products.
Derived Word: gimmicky
Word Origin:
1920s (originally US): of unknown origin but possibly an approximate anagram of magic, the original sense being ‘a piece of magicians' apparatus’.
Example Bank:
• The promise of lower taxation may have been just an election gimmick to gain votes.
• a new gimmick to encourage people to go to the cinema
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
gimmick / ˈɡɪm.ɪk / noun [ C ] mainly disapproving
something that is not serious or of real value that is used to attract people's attention or interest temporarily, especially to make them buy something:
a publicity gimmick
They give away free gifts with children's meals as a sales/marketing gimmick.
gimmick
[gɪ̱mɪk]
gimmicks
N-COUNT (disapproval)
A gimmick is an unusual and unnecessary feature or action whose purpose is to attract attention or publicity.
It is just a public relations gimmick...
The exhibition is informative, up to date, and mercifully free of gimmicks.
gimmick
gim·mick /ˈgɪmɪk/ noun, pl -micks [count] often disapproving : a method or trick that is used to get people's attention or to sell something
• a marketing gimmick [=ploy]
• The proposal to cut taxes was just an election gimmick to win votes.
- gim·micky /ˈgɪmɪki/ adj [more ~; most ~]
• a flashy, gimmicky movie with no real substance
someone who spends money
Tourists are often big spenders
spender
spend‧er /ˈspendə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
someone who spends money ⇨ saver:
The new casino hopes to attract big spenders (=people who spend a lot of money).
spender
spend·er [spender spenders] [ˈspendə(r)] [ˈspendər] noun
a person who spends money in the particular way mentioned
• a big spender (= who spends a lot of money)
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
spender / ˈspen.də r / / -dɚ / noun [ C ]
someone who spends money:
Tourists are often big spenders (= they buy a lot of things) .
spender
[spe̱ndə(r)]
spenders
N-COUNT: usu adj N
If a person or organization is a big spender or a compulsive spender, for example, they spend a lot of money or are unable to stop themselves spending money.
The Swiss are Europe's biggest spenders on food...
Once the compulsive spender stops at the mall, she will be unable to control her spending.
spender
spend·er /ˈspɛndɚ/ noun, pl -ers [count] : a person who spends money
• The restaurant gives the big spenders [=people who spend lots of money] special treatment.
A person who is unwilling to spend money
My dad's such a cheapskate that he cuts his hair himself.
cheapskate
cheap‧skate /ˈtʃiːpskeɪt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1800-1900; Origin: cheap + skate 'worthless person' (19-20 centuries)]
informal someone who spends as little money as possible – used to show disapproval:
The cheapskate didn’t even pay for the cab.
cheapskate
cheap·skate f13 [cheapskate cheapskates] [ˈtʃiːpskeɪt] [ˈtʃiːpskeɪt] noun (informal, disapproving)
a person who does not like to spend money
• We really need a new heater, but the landlord's such a cheapskate we'll never get it.
Word Origin:
late 19th cent. (originally US): from cheap + skate ‘a worn-out horse’ or ‘a mean, contemptible, or dishonest person’, of unknown origin.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
cheapskate / ˈtʃiːp.skeɪt / noun [ C ] informal disapproving
a person who is unwilling to spend money:
My dad's such a cheapskate that he cuts his hair himself.
cheapskate
[tʃi͟ːpskeɪt]
cheapskates
N-COUNT (disapproval)
If you say that someone is a cheapskate, you think that they are mean and do not like spending money.
Tell your husband not to be a cheapskate.
...cheapskate employers.
Syn:
skinflint
cheapskate
cheap·skate /ˈʧiːpˌskeɪt/ noun, pl -skates [count] informal : a person who does not like to spend money
• He is a cheapskate [=miser, skinflint] who almost never gives tips.
Practical work, especially that which involves physical effort
The car parts themselves are not expensive, it's the labour that costs the money.
labor
American English for labour
labor
I. la‧bor AC /ˈleɪbə $ -ər/ BrE AmE
the American spelling of ↑labour
II. labour1 S2 W1 AC BrE AmE British English, labor American English noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑labour, ↑labourer; verb: ↑labour]
1. WORK [uncountable] work, especially physical work:
The garage charges £30 an hour for labour.
Many women do hard manual labour (=work with their hands).
Workers withdrew their labour (=protested by stopping work) for twenty-four hours. ⇨ ↑hard labour
2. WORKERS [uncountable] all the people who work for a company or in a country:
a shortage of skilled labor
We need to reduce our labour costs.
3. BABY [singular, uncountable] the process of giving birth to a baby
in labour
Meg was in labour for ten hours.
Diane went into labour at 2 o'clock.
a long/short/difficult labour
The labour pains were unbearable.
labour ward/room (=a room in a hospital where women give birth)
4. a labour of love something that is hard work but that you do because you want to
5. sb’s labours formal a period of hard work:
After several hours' gardening, we sat down to admire the results of our labours.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + labour
▪ skilled/unskilled labour Employers want to keep skilled labour because of the cost of training.
▪ cheap labour (=workers who have low wages) Women and children were used as cheap labour.
▪ casual labour (=workers who do jobs that are not permanent) The industry makes use of a large supply of casual labour.
▪ child labour The shoe company was accused of using child labour in its factory.
▪ slave labour Cotton was grown using slave labor.
■ labour + NOUN
▪ the labour force (=all the people who work in a country or for a company) We need an educated labour force.
▪ the labour supply (=all the people available to work) What was the effect of the war on the labour supply?
▪ the labour market (=the people looking for work and the jobs available) the percentage of women in the labour market
▪ a labour shortage Immigrants came into the country to fill the labour shortage.
▪ labour costs There was pressure to keep down labour costs.
III. labour2 AC BrE AmE British English, labor American English verb [intransitive]
[Word Family: noun: ↑labour, ↑labourer; verb: ↑labour]
1. to work hard:
They laboured all day in the mills.
labour over
I’ve been labouring over this report all morning.
labour to do something
Ray had little talent but labored to acquire the skills of a writer.
2. labour under a delusion/misconception/misapprehension etc to believe something that is not true:
She had laboured under the misconception that Bella liked her.
3. labour the point to describe or explain something in too much detail or when people have already understood it
4. [always + adverb/preposition] to move slowly and with difficulty:
I could see the bus labouring up the steep, windy road.
labor
labor AW [labor labors labored laboring] (especially US)
= labour
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
labour UK ( US labor ) / ˈleɪ.bə r / / -bɚ / noun (WORK)
C1 [ U ] practical work, especially that which involves physical effort:
The car parts themselves are not expensive, it's the labour that costs the money.
manual labour (= hard work using the hands)
C1 [ U ] workers, especially people who do practical work with their hands:
skilled/unskilled labour
labours ( US also labors ) [ plural ] literary all the effort and hard work that have been involved in doing a particular piece of work:
Are you tired after your labours?
West was paid very little for his labours.
Retirement is the time to enjoy the fruits of your labours.
labour UK ( US labor ) / ˈleɪ.bə r / / -bɚ / noun [ C or U ] (BIRTH)
C2 the last stage of pregnancy from the time when the muscles of the womb start to push the baby out of the body until the baby appears:
labour pains
She went into (= started) labour at twelve o'clock last night.
I was in labour for twelve hours with my first baby.
No two labours are ever the same.
labor
[le͟ɪbə(r)]
see labour
1la·bor US or Brit la·bour /ˈleɪbɚ/ noun, pl -bors
1 a : physical or mental effort : work
[noncount]
• A day's labor should get the job done.
• Getting the job done will require many hours of difficult labor.
• menial/manual labor
[count]
• He rested from his labors.
✦A labor of love is a task that you do for enjoyment rather than pay.
• Restoring the old car was a labor of love for him.
✦When you enjoy the fruits of your labor/labors, you enjoy the things that you have gained by working.
• She worked hard for many years, but now she has retired and is able to enjoy the fruits of her labor/labors.
b [noncount] : work for which someone is paid
• The cost of repairing the car includes parts and labor.
2 [noncount]
a : workers considered as a group
• an area in which there is a shortage of cheap labor
- often used before another noun
• a labor dispute
• The company sought to cut labor costs by increasing its efficiency.
• The company has a history of poor labor relations. [=the workers and the managers of the company have had many disputes]
• the labor force [=the total number of people available for working]
b : the organizations or officials that represent groups of workers
• The proposed new law is opposed by organized labor.
3 : the process by which a woman gives birth to a baby
[noncount]
• She went into labor this morning.
• She has been in labor for several hours.
• She began to have/experience labor pains this morning.
[singular]
• She had a difficult labor.
4 Labour [singular] Brit politics : the Labour Party of the United Kingdom or another part of the Commonwealth of Nations
• a proposal that is opposed by Labour
someone or something that is very easy for an enemy to shoot or attack
With their bullets all gone, the soldiers were sitting ducks for the enemy.
sitting duck
ˌsitting ˈduck BrE AmE (also ˌsitting ˈtarget) noun [countable]
someone who is easy to attack or easy to cheat:
Out in the open, the soldiers were sitting ducks for enemy fire.
sitting duck
ˌsitting ˈduck [sitting duck] (also ˌsitting ˈtarget) noun
a person or thing that is easy to attack
Example Bank:
• Its location makes the island a sitting duck for attackers.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
ˌ sitting ˈ duck
someone or something that is very easy for an enemy to shoot or attack:
With their bullets all gone, the soldiers were sitting ducks for the enemy.
sitting duck
sitting ducks
N-COUNT
If you say that someone is a sitting duck, you mean that they are easy to attack, cheat, or take advantage of. [INFORMAL]
Nancy knew she'd be a sitting duck when she raised the trap door.
sitting duck
sitting duck noun, pl ~ ducks [count] : a person or thing that is easy to hit, attack, trick, etc.
• The tourists were sitting ducks for local thieves.
Something that you want to happen very much but that is not very likely
It's always been my dream to have flying lessons.
noun
1 pictures or events which happen in your mind when you are asleep:
I had a dream about school last night.
word building
A bad or frightening dream is called a nightmare.
2 something nice that you hope for:
His dream was to give up his job and live in the country.
dream
I. dream1 S2 W2 /driːm/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Word Family: adjective: dream, ↑dreamless, ↑dreamy; noun: ↑dream, ↑dreamer; verb: ↑dream; adverb: ↑dreamily]
[Language: Old English; Origin: dream 'noise, great happiness']
1. WHILE SLEEPING a series of thoughts, images, and feelings that you experience when you are asleep ⇨ daydream:
I had lots of dreams last night.
dream about
a dream about drowning
in a dream
In my dream I flew to a forest of enormous trees.
2. WISH a wish to do, be, or have something – used especially when this seems unlikely:
Her dream is to make a movie.
dream of (doing) something
She had dreams of university.
fulfil/realize a dream
I fulfilled a childhood dream when I became champion.
I have just met the man of my dreams (=the perfect man)!
beyond your wildest dreams (=better than anything you imagined or hoped for)
3. dream house/home/job etc something that seems perfect to someone:
I’ve finally found my dream house.
Win a dream holiday for two in San Francisco!
4. in a dream having a state of mind in which you do not notice or pay attention to things around you:
Ruth went about her tasks in a dream.
5. be a dream come true if something is a dream come true, it happens after you have wanted it to happen for a long time:
Marriage to her is a dream come true.
6. like a dream extremely well or effectively:
The plan worked like a dream.
7. be/live in a dream world to have ideas or hopes that are not correct or likely to happen:
If you think that all homeless people have it as easy as me, then you are living in a dream world.
8. be a dream be perfect or very desirable:
Her latest boyfriend is an absolute dream.
Some performers are a dream to work with; others are not.
sb’s dream (=something someone would really like)
She’s every adolescent schoolboy’s dream.
9. in your dreams spoken used to say in a rude way that something is not likely to happen:
‘I’m going to ask her to go out with me.’ ‘In your dreams!’
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ verbs
▪ have a dream I had a dream about you last night.
■ adjectives
▪ a bad dream (=unpleasant or frightening) The movie gave the kids bad dreams.
▪ a strange/weird dream Sometimes I have a strange dream in which I try to speak but I can’t.
▪ a vivid dream (=very clear) In a vivid dream he saw a huge coloured bird flying above his head.
▪ a recurrent/recurring dream (=that you have many times) Having recurrent dreams is a very common experience.
■ phrases
▪ be/seem like a dream (=seem unreal) That summer was so wonderful it seemed like a dream.
▪ Sweet dreams! (=said to someone who is going to bed) Good night, Sam! Sweet dreams!
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ verbs
▪ have a dream/dreams I had dreams of becoming a doctor.
▪ achieve/fulfil/realize a dream (=do or get what you want) He had finally achieved his dream of winning an Olympic gold medal.
▪ pursue/follow a dream (=try to do or get what you want) She left her home town to pursue her dreams.
▪ dream a dream literary (=have a wish) We can dream great dreams for ourselves and others.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + dream
▪ big/great dreams (=a wish to achieve great things) She was a little girl with big dreams.
▪ an impossible dream (=about something that cannot happen) Having a number one record had seemed an impossible dream.
▪ a childhood dream (=that you had when you were a child) I had a childhood dream of becoming an astronaut.
▪ a lifelong dream (=that you have had all your life) His lifelong dream had been to write a novel.
▪ a distant dream (=that it will take a long time to achieve) Peace in this area may still be a distant dream.
■ phrases
▪ a dream comes true (=something you want happens) I’d always wanted to go to Africa and at last my dream came true.
▪ the man/woman/house etc of your dreams (=the perfect one for you) We can help you find the house of your dreams.
▪ not/never in your wildest dreams (=used to say that you had never expected something to happen) Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would win the competition.
▪ beyond your wildest dreams (=better or more than you ever hoped for) Suddenly he was wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ when you are sleeping
▪ dream the thoughts, images, and feelings that go through your mind while you are asleep: I had a strange dream last night -- you and I were in some sort of forest.
▪ nightmare a very unpleasant and frightening dream: She still has terrible nightmares about the accident.
▪ daydream a series of pleasant thoughts that go through your mind when you are awake, so that you do not notice what is happening around you: Neil was in a daydream, and didn’t hear the teacher call his name.
▪ reverie formal a state of imagining or thinking about pleasant things, that is like dreaming: The doorbell rang, shaking her from her reverie.
■ something that you want to do
▪ dream something very special that you want to do and that you think about a lot, especially something that is not very likely to happen: As a teenager, his dream was to become a professional footballer.
▪ ambition something that you want to achieve and that you work hard to achieve, especially in your work: My ambition had always been to start my own business.
▪ aspirations the important things that people want from their lives – used especially about the things a society or a large group of people wants: It’s important that young people think seriously about their career aspirations.
▪ fantasy something exciting that you imagine happening to you, which is extremely unlikely to happen and often involves sex: schoolboy fantasies
▪ pipe dream a dream that is impossible or is extremely unlikely to happen: Is world peace no more than a pipe dream?
dream
dream [dream dreams dreamed dreamt dreaming] noun, verb [driːm] [driːm]
noun
1. countable a series of images, events and feelings that happen in your mind while you are asleep
• I had a vivid dream about my old school.
• I thought someone came into the bedroom, but it was just a dream.
• ‘Goodnight. Sweet dreams.’
• Don't think about it. You'll only give yourself bad dreams.
compare nightmare
see also wet dream
2. countable a wish to have or be sth, especially one that seems difficult to achieve
• Her lifelong dream was to be a famous writer.
• He wanted to be rich but it was an impossible dream.
• If I win, it will be a dream come true.
• She tried to turn her dream of running her own business into reality.
• a dream car/house/job, etc.
• I've finally found the man of my dreams.
• a chance to fulfil a childhood dream
• It was the end of all my hopes and dreams.
see also pipe dream
3. singular a state of mind or a situation in which things do not seem real or part of normal life
• She walked around in a dream all day.
see also daydream
4. singular (informal) a beautiful or wonderful person or thing
• That meal was an absolute dream.
more at beyond your wildest dreams at wild adj.
Word Origin:
Middle English: of Germanic origin, related to Dutch droom and German Traum, and probably also to Old English drēam ‘joy, music’.
Thesaurus:
dream noun C
1.
• I had a vivid dream about my old school.
nightmare • • hallucination • |especially written vision •
a dream/nightmare about sth
have (a) dream/nightmare/hallucinations/vision
a dream/vision fades
2. C
• Her lifelong dream was to be a famous writer.
ambition • • hope • • aspiration • • fantasy • • expectation • |especially written wish • • desire •
have (a/an) dream/ambition/aspirations/hopes/fantasy/expectations/wish/desire
harbour a/an dream/ambition/hope/fantasy/wish/desire
fulfil your dreams/ambitions/hopes/aspirations/fantasies/expectations/wishes/desires
abandon/give up a/an dream/ambition/hope
3. C
• She wandered round the house in a dream.
daydream • • daze • • trance • • stupor • |formal literary reverie •
be in a dream/daydream/daze/trance/stupor/reverie
be lost in a dream/daydream/reverie
Example Bank:
• After Betty retired, she and her husband designed and built their dream house.
• After Betty retired, she designed and built her dream house.
• At last I feel I'm living the dream.
• At last his dreams were fulfilled.
• Born a poor boy in Kansas, he lived the American dream as a successful inventor.
• He had a prophetic dream about a train crash the night before the disaster.
• He left his job to pursue his dream of opening a restaurant.
• He never abandoned his dream of finding his real mother.
• He put all his efforts into making his dream of a united country come true.
• He spent his life chasing pipe dreams= fantasies that are unlikely to come true.
• Her biggest dream was to become a singer.
• His plans to travel the world now seemed like a distant dream.
• His waking dream was rudely interrupted by the telephone.
• I had a very disturbing dream last night.
• I hardly ever remember my dreams.
• I hope my dream about prison won't come true!
• I was awoken from my dream by a knock at the door.
• Images of the crash still haunted his dreams years later.
• In her dream, she was on board a ship heading for America.
• Peace no longer seemed an impossible dream.
• She confided in him all her hopes and dreams.
• She fell asleep and dreamed strange dreams.
• She found herself standing in front of the crowded hall and making her speech, as if in a dream.
• She had this romantic dream of living in a windmill.
• She is plagued by strange dreams.
• She opened her eyes and the dream faded.
• The government is living in a dream world if they think voters will agree to higher taxes.
• The injury shattered her dream of running in the Olympics.
• The victory keeps San Marino's dream of a World Cup place alive.
• Their cruise in the Bahamas was a dream come true.
• Their dream turned into a nightmare as the cruise ship began to sink.
• They achieved a success beyond their wildest dreams.
• a child frightened by a bad dream
• a recurrent dream about being late for an exam
• her lifelong dream of swimming with dolphins
• the girl of his dreams
• the great utopian dream that they have cherished for so long
• the house of her dreams
• their dream of a fairer world
• vivid dreams that regularly haunted him
• ‘Good night. Sweet dreams.’
• I've finally found the man of my dreams.
• If I win it will be a dream come true.
• If he thinks it's easy to get a job he's living in a dream world.
• This is a chance to fulfil a childhood dream.
• What would be your dream job?
Idioms: go like a dream ▪ in your dreams ▪ like a bad dream
Derived: dream on ▪ dream something away ▪ dream something up
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
dream / driːm / noun [ C ] (SLEEP)
A2 a series of events or images that happen in your mind when you are sleeping:
a good/bad dream
a recurring dream
I had a very odd dream about you last night.
[ + that ] Paul had a dream that he won the lottery.
dream / driːm / noun [ C ] (HOPE)
B1 something that you want to happen very much but that is not very likely:
It's always been my dream to have flying lessons.
Winning all that money was a dream come true .
of your dreams the best that you can imagine:
Win the house of your dreams in our fantastic competition!
dream
[dri͟ːm]
♦♦
dreams, dreaming, dreamed, dreamt
(American English uses the form dreamed as the past tense and past participle. British English uses either dreamed or dreamt.)
1) N-COUNT A dream is an imaginary series of events that you experience in your mind while you are asleep.
He had a dream about Claire...
I had a dream that I was in an old study, surrounded by leather books.
2) VERB When you dream, you experience imaginary events in your mind while you are asleep.
[V that] Ivor dreamed that he was on a bus...
[V about/of n] She dreamed about her baby. [Also V]
3) N-COUNT: usu with supp You can refer to a situation or event as a dream if you often think about it because you would like it to happen.
He had finally accomplished his dream of becoming a pilot...
My dream is to have a house in the country...
You can make that dream come true.
Syn:
ambition
4) VERB If you often think about something that you would very much like to happen or have, you can say that you dream of it.
[V of/about n/-ing] As a schoolgirl, she had dreamed of becoming an actress...
[V of/about n/-ing] For most of us, a brand new designer kitchen is something we can only dream about...
[V that] I dream that my son will attend college and find a good job.
5) ADJ: ADJ n You can use dream to describe something that you think is ideal or perfect, especially if it is something that you thought you would never be able to have or experience.
He had his dream house built on the banks of the river Bure.
...a dream holiday to Jamaica.
6) N-SING: poss N If you describe something as a particular person's dream, you think that it would be ideal for that person and that he or she would like it very much.
Greece is said to be a botanist's dream...
He's every girl's dream!
7) N-SING: a N If you say that something is a dream, you mean that it is wonderful. [INFORMAL]
8) N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp You can refer to a situation or event that does not seem real as a dream, especially if it is very strange or unpleasant.
When the right woman comes along, this bad dream will be over.
9) VERB: with neg (emphasis) If you say that you would not dream of doing something, you are emphasizing that you would never do it because you think it is wrong or is not possible or suitable for you.
[V of -ing/n] I wouldn't dream of making fun of you...
[V of -ing/n] My sons would never dream of expecting their clothes to be ironed.
10) VERB: with brd-neg (emphasis) If you say that you never dreamed that something would happen, you are emphasizing that you did not think that it would happen because it seemed very unlikely.
[V that] I never dreamed that I would be able to afford a home here...
[V of n] Who could ever dream of a disaster like this?...
I find life more charming and more astonishing than I'd ever dreamed.
11) → See also pipe dream, wet dream
12) PHRASE If you tell someone to dream on, you mean that something they are hoping for is unlikely to happen.
`Perhaps one day I may go on a relaxing holiday.' - `Yeah, dream on.'
13) PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR If you say that you are in a dream, you mean that you do not concentrate properly on what you are doing because you are thinking about other things.
All day long I moved in a dream, my body performing its duties automatically.
14) PHRASE: PHR after v If you say that someone does something like a dream, you think that they do it very well. If you say that something happens like a dream, you mean that it happens successfully without any problems.
She cooked like a dream...
His ship had sailed like a dream.
15) PHRASE: n PHR If you describe someone or something as the person or thing of your dreams, you mean that you consider them to be ideal or perfect.
This could be the man of my dreams.
16) PHRASE: with brd-neg, PHR with cl (emphasis) If you say that you could not imagine a particular thing in your wildest dreams, you are emphasizing that you think it is extremely strange or unlikely.
Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine there would be this kind of money in the game.
17) PHRASE: n PHR, PHR after v, v-link PHR (emphasis) If you describe something as being beyond your wildest dreams, you are emphasizing that it is better than you could have imagined or hoped for.
She had already achieved success beyond her wildest dreams.
1dream /ˈdriːm/ noun, pl dreams
1 [count] : a series of thoughts, visions, or feelings that happen during sleep
• He had a dream about climbing a mountain.
• You were in my dream last night.
• Scary movies always give me bad dreams. [=nightmares]
• “Good night, my love. Sweet dreams.” [=I hope you will sleep well and have pleasant dreams]
- see also wet dream
2 [count] : an idea or vision that is created in your imagination and that is not real
• She indulged in dreams [=fantasies] of living in a palace.
• I've found the man/woman of my dreams.
• They succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
• Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would be so much fun.
• If you think the work will be easy, you're living in a dream world.
3 a [count] : something that you have wanted very much to do, be, or have for a long time
• He has had a lifelong dream of becoming an actor.
• It's a dream of mine to own a house in the country.
• Tell me your hopes and dreams.
• She followed/fulfilled her dreams.
• Making it to the Olympics was a dream come true.
• Many believe that worldwide peace is an impossible dream.
- see also american dream, pipe dream
b [singular] : someone or something that has the qualities that a person wants most
• The meal was a garlic lover's dream.
• He's every woman's dream.
- usually used before another noun
• She's still trying to find her dream husband.
• Managing a professional baseball team is his dream job.
• They just moved into their dream home.
- see also dream team
4 [singular] informal : something that is beautiful, excellent, or pleasing
• It's a dream of a house.
• The new car is a dream to drive. = The new car drives like a dream.
• My new computer works like a dream. [=works very well]
5 [singular] : a state or condition in which you are not thinking about or aware of the real things that are around you
• He was walking around in a dream.
in your dreams informal
- used to say that you do not think something that another person wants or expects will ever happen
• “Maybe my parents will lend me the car tonight.” “In your dreams.”
An unpleasant emotion or thought that you have when you are frightened or worried by something dangerous, painful, or bad that is happening or might happen
I have a fear of heights.
noun
the feeling that you have when you think that something bad might happen:
I have a terrible fear of dogs.
He was shaking with fear.
My fears for his safety were unnecessary.
fear
I. fear1 S3 W1 /fɪə $ fɪr/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑fear, ↑fearfulness ≠ ↑fearlessness; adjective: ↑fearful ≠ ↑fearless, ↑fearsome; verb: ↑fear; adverb: ↑fearfully ≠ ↑fearlessly]
[Language: Old English; Origin: fær 'sudden danger']
1. [uncountable and countable] the feeling you get when you are afraid or worried that something bad is going to happen
fear of
a fear of flying
fear that
There are fears that share prices could decrease still further.
fear for
The girl’s parents expressed fears for her safety.
in fear
The children looked at her in fear.
without fear
People must be able to express their views without fear of criticism.
2. for fear (that), for fear of something because you are worried that you will make something happen:
She finally ran away for fear that he would kill her.
for fear of doing something
He got to the station early, for fear of missing her.
3. no fear! British English informal used humorously to say that you are definitely not going to do something:
‘Are you going to Bill’s party tonight?’ ‘No fear!’
4. [uncountable] the possibility or danger that something bad might happen:
There’s no fear of revolt now.
5. put the fear of God into somebody informal to make someone feel that they must do something, by making sure they know what will happen if they do not do it:
The Italian manager must have put the fear of God into his team.
6. without fear or favour British English formal in a fair way:
The law must be enforced without fear or favour.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ sb’s worst/greatest fear Her worst fear was never seeing her children again.
▪ an irrational fear (=one that is not reasonable) He grew up with an irrational fear of insects.
▪ a deep-seated fear (=very strong and difficult to change) He exploited people’s deep-seated fears about strangers.
▪ groundless (=without any reason) As it turned out, these fears were groundless.
■ verbs
▪ conquer/overcome your fear (=stop being afraid) She managed to conquer her fear of flying.
▪ shake/tremble with fear He was shaking with fear after being held at gunpoint.
▪ show fear She was determined not to show fear.
▪ be gripped by fear (=be very afraid) We were gripped by fear as the boat was tossed around by the waves.
▪ be paralysed with fear (=be so afraid that you cannot move) Bruce was paralysed with fear when he saw the snake.
▪ confirm sb’s fears (=show that what you were afraid of has actually happened) The look on Colin’s face confirmed all my worst fears.
▪ ease/allay/dispel sb’s fears (=help someone stop being afraid) Frank eased my fears about not being able to speak the local language.
■ phrases
▪ be in fear of/for your life (=be afraid that you may be killed) Celia was in fear of her life when she saw the truck coming toward her.
▪ be full of fear The residents are too full of fear to leave their houses.
▪ be/live in fear of something (=be always afraid of something) They were constantly in fear of an enemy attack.
▪ have no fear of something He had no fear of death.
▪ sb’s hopes and fears We each had different hopes and fears about the trip.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say that someone 'has fear'. Say that someone is frightened or is afraid.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ fear a feeling of being frightened: He was trembling with fear. | Fear of failure should not stop you trying.
▪ terror a feeling of great fear, because you think that something terrible is about to happen: She let out a scream of pure terror.
▪ fright a sudden feeling of fear, or a situation that makes you feel this: My body was shaking with fright. | You gave me a fright! | He’s had a bit of fright, that’s all.
▪ panic a sudden feeling of fear or nervousness that makes you unable to think clearly or behave sensibly: She was in such a panic that she hardly knew what she was doing! | There were scenes of sheer panic immediately following the bomb blast.
▪ alarm a feeling of fear or worry which shows in your voice or behaviour, because you think something bad might happen: When I mentioned her name, he looked up at me in alarm. | The streets were calm and there was no sign of alarm.
▪ foreboding /fɔːˈbəʊdɪŋ $ fɔːrˈboʊ-/ a feeling that something bad or unpleasant might happen although there is no obvious reason why it should: She felt the same sense of foreboding she had before her father died.
▪ phobia /ˈfəʊbiə $ ˈfoʊ-/ a permanent strong unreasonable fear of something: I had a phobia about going to the dentist.
fear
fear [fear fears feared fearing] noun, verb [fɪə(r)] [fɪr]
noun uncountable, countable
the bad feeling that you have when you are in danger, when sth bad might happen, or when a particular thing frightens you
• Her eyes showed no fear.
• The child was shaking with fear.
• ~ (of sb/sth) (a) fear of the dark/spiders/flying, etc.
• We lived in constant fear of losing our jobs.
• ~ (for sb/sth) her fears for her son's safety
• Alan spoke of his fears for the future.
• ~ (that…) the fear that he had cancer
• The doctor's report confirmed our worst fears.
more at fools rush in (where angels fear to tread) at fool n., strike fear etc. into sb/sb's heart at strike v.
Word Origin:
Old English fǣr ‘calamity, danger’, fǣran ‘frighten’, also ‘revere’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gevaar and German Gefahr ‘danger’.
Thesaurus:
fear noun U, C
• The child was shaking with fear.
fright • • dread • • terror • • alarm • • panic • • phobia •
Opp: hope
a fear/dread/terror of sth
in fear/fright/dread/terror/alarm/panic
be filled with fear/dread/terror/alarm/panic
Fear or fright? Fright is a reaction to sth that is happening or has just happened. Use fear to talk about things that always frighten you and things that may happen in the future.:
• She cried out in fear/fright.
• I have a fear of spiders.
¤ I have a fright of spiders.
Synonyms:
fear
terror • panic • alarm • fright
These are all words for the bad feeling you have when you are afraid.
fear • the bad feeling that you have when you are in danger, when sth bad might happen, or when a particular thing frightens you: ▪ (a) fear of flying ◊ ▪ She showed no fear.
terror • a feeling of extreme fear: ▪ Her eyes were wild with terror.
panic • a sudden feeling of great fear that cannot be controlled and prevents you from thinking clearly: ▪ I had a sudden moment of panic.
alarm • fear or worry that sb feels when sth dangerous or unpleasant might happen: ▪ The doctor said there was ▪ no cause for alarm ▪.
fright • a feeling of fear, usually sudden: ▪ She cried out in fright.
fear or fright?
Fright is a reaction to sth that has just happened or is happening now. Use fear, but not fright, to talk about things that always frighten you and things that may happen in the future: I have a fright of spiders. ◊ his fright of what might happen
a fear/terror of sth
in fear/terror/panic/alarm/fright
fear/terror/panic/alarm that…
to be filled with fear/terror/panic/alarm
a feeling of fear/terror/panic/alarm
Example Bank:
• Doctors have voiced fears that we may be facing an epidemic.
• Fears are growing of a new oil embargo.
• He lied out of fear.
• He ran away in fear.
• His face was white with fear.
• It was the first time she had experienced real fear.
• My biggest fear was that my children would get sick.
• My worst fears were confirmed.
• Nobody refused for fear of being fired.
• Nobody refused for fear of losing their job.
• Our fears proved unfounded.
• Public fears about the disease increased.
• She did not know why she should feel such fear.
• She managed to overcome her fear.
• She stared at him without fear.
• The boy showed no fear.
• The government is anxious to allay the public's fears.
• The men hesitated in fear of whatever was to come next.
• The men set off in fear and trepidation.
• The people live in fear of attack by the bandits.
• The pupils obeyed through fear of punishment.
• The sound of gunfire struck fear into the hearts of the villagers.
• They have a terrible fear of failure.
• This incident has fuelled fears of a full-scale war.
• This stoked fears of financial difficulties.
• When she heard the news, some of her fear subsided.
• his fear about what might happen
• my fear for her safety
• new fears over terrorism
• the constant fear of discovery
• the fear that her mother had instilled in her
• the girl's childhood fear of being eaten by monsters
• the most primal fear, that of death
• (a) fear of the dark/spiders/flying
• He spoke of his fears for the future.
• I had to run away for fear that he might one day kill me.
• The child was shaking with fear.
• The doctor's report confirmed our worst fears.
Idioms: for fear of of doing something ▪ for fear … ▪ in fear of your life ▪ no fear ▪ put the fear of God into somebody ▪ without fear or favour
Derived: fear for somebody
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
fear / fɪə r / / fɪr / noun [ C or U ]
B1 an unpleasant emotion or thought that you have when you are frightened or worried by something dangerous, painful, or bad that is happening or might happen:
Trembling with fear, she handed over the money to the gunman.
Even when the waves grew big, the boy showed no (signs of) fear.
I have a fear of heights.
The low profit figures simply confirmed my worst fears.
[ + that ] There are fears that the disease will spread to other countries.
be in fear of your life to be frightened that you might be killed:
Lakisha sat inside, in fear of her life, until the police came.
be no fear of sth informal to be no possibility that a particular thing will happen:
Malcolm knows the city well, so there's no fear of us getting lost (= we will not get lost) .
for fear that/of sth C2 because you are worried that a particular thing might happen:
They wouldn't let their cat outside for fear (that) it would get run over.
I didn't want to move for fear of wak ing her up.
Word partners for fear noun
cause / fuel / raise / spark fears • express / voice your fears • allay / calm / ease (sb's) fears • heighten fears • overcome a fear • fears are growing / mounting • sth holds no fear for sb • sb's biggest / greatest / worst fear • fear of sth
fear
[fɪ͟ə(r)]
♦
fears, fearing, feared
1) N-VAR: oft N of n/-ing Fear is the unpleasant feeling you have when you think that you are in danger.
I was sitting on the floor shivering with fear because a bullet had been fired through a window.
...boyhood memories of sickness and fear of the dark...
London Zoo is running hypnosis programmes to help people overcome their fear of spiders.
Syn:
terror, dread
2) VERB If you fear someone or something, you are frightened because you think that they will harm you.
[V n] It seems to me that if people fear you they respect you.
Syn:
be afraid of
3) N-VAR: with supp, oft N of n/-ing, N that A fear is a thought that something unpleasant might happen or might have happened.
These youngsters are motivated not by a desire to achieve, but by fear of failure...
Then one day his worst fears were confirmed...
His fears might be groundless.
...the fear that once a war began it would soon pass beyond the ability of either side to manage it.
4) VERB If you fear something unpleasant or undesirable, you are worried that it might happen or might have happened.
[V that] She had feared she was going down with pneumonia or bronchitis...
[V n] More than two million refugees have fled the area, fearing attack by loyalist forces.
5) N-VAR: oft N that, N of n/-ing If you say that there is a fear that something unpleasant or undesirable will happen, you mean that you think it is possible or likely.
There was no fear that anything would be misunderstood...
There is a fear that the freeze on bank accounts could prove a lasting deterrent to investors.
Syn:
risk, chance
6) VERB If you fear for someone or something, you are very worried because you think that they might be in danger.
[V for n] Carla fears for her son...
[V for n] He fled on Friday, saying he feared for his life.
7) N-VAR: N for n If you have fears for someone or something, you are very worried because you think that they might be in danger.
He also spoke of his fears for the future of his country's culture.
...fear for her own safety.
8) VERB If you fear to do something, you are afraid to do it or you do not wish to do it.
[V to-inf] She pursed her lips together, as though fearing to betray her news...
[V to-inf] Old people fear to leave their homes.
Syn:
be afraid
9) VERB You say that you fear that a situation is the case when the situation is unpleasant or undesirable, and when you want to express sympathy, sorrow, or regret about it. [FORMAL]
[V that] I fear that a land war now looks very probable...
[V so/not] `Is anything left at all?' - `I fear not.'
Syn:
regret
10) PHRASE: PHR n/-ing, usu v-link PHR, PHR after v If you are in fear of doing or experiencing something unpleasant or undesirable, you are very worried that you might have to do it or experience it.
The elderly live in fear of assault and murder.
11) PHRASE: PHR n/-ing, PHR with cl If you take a particular course of action for fear of something, you take the action in order to prevent that thing happening.
She was afraid to say anything to them for fear of hurting their feelings...
No one dared shoot for fear of hitting Pete.
12) PHRASE: usu PHR with cl You say `fear not' or `never fear' to someone when you are telling them not to worry or be frightened. [OLD-FASHIONED]
Fear not, Darlene will protect me...
You'll get the right training, never fear.
Syn:
don't worry
13) CONVENTION (emphasis) You use `no fear' to emphasize that you do not want to do something. [BRIT, INFORMAL]
When I asked him if he wanted to change his mind, William said `No fear.'
Syn:
not likely
14) PHRASE: V inflects If someone or something puts the fear of God into you, they frighten or worry you, often deliberately.
At some time or other Eve had obviously put the fear of God into her.
1fear /ˈfiɚ/ noun, pl fears
1 : an unpleasant emotion caused by being aware of danger : a feeling of being afraid
[noncount]
• He was trembling with fear.
• an old story that still has the power to inspire fear [=to make people feel afraid]
• unable to walk the streets without fear of being mugged
• They regarded their enemies with fear and hatred/loathing.
• I've been trying to overcome my fear of flying.
• He won't say anything for fear of losing his job. [=because he is afraid of losing his job]
• She lived in fear of being caught. = She lived in fear that she would be caught. [=she was always afraid that she would be caught]
• They lived in (constant) fear of air raids during the war.
• an accident that struck fear into the hearts of [=frightened] skiers everywhere
[count]
• The doctor's diagnosis confirmed our worst fears.
• The government is trying to allay/alleviate/ease fears of a recession.
• Employees expressed fears that the company would go out of business.
• He told us about all his hopes and fears.
• She has a morbid fear of cats.
✦If you are in fear of your life or (US) in fear for your life, you are afraid of being killed.
• She claimed that she shot the burglar because she was in fear for her life.
2 [noncount] : a feeling of respect and wonder for something very powerful
• fear of God
✦To put the fear of God into someone is to frighten someone very badly.
• The bad economic news has put the fear of God into investors.
no fear Brit informal
- used in speech to say that there is no reason to be afraid or worried
• “Are you going to tell her the truth?” “No fear [=never fear, fear not], mate: she won't hear a thing from me!” synonyms fear, dread, alarm, and fright mean painful emotion felt because of danger. fear is the most general word and suggests a continuing emotional state.
• people living in fear of violent crimes dread suggests a strong feeling of not wanting to accept or deal with something bad or unpleasant.
• the dread felt by people awaiting bad news alarm may suggest a strong emotion caused by an unexpected or immediate danger.
• They view the worsening food shortage with alarm. fright suggests a feeling caused by something unexpected and often suggests a brief emotion.
• The creaking door gave them a fright.
An act or the possibility of choosing
If the product doesn't work, you are given the choice of a refund or a replacement.
choice
noun
1 (plural choices) the act of between two or more people or things:
You made the right choice.
3 (no plural) the right or chance to choose:
We have no choice. We have to leave.
3 (plural choices) the things that you can choose from:
The cinema has a choice of six different films.
choice
I. choice1 S1 W1 /tʃɔɪs/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chois, from choisir 'to choose']
1. [uncountable and countable] if you have a choice, you can choose between several things ⇨ choose
choice between
Voters have a choice between three main political parties.
choice of
You have a choice of hotel or self-catering accommodation.
He has to make some important choices.
They gave us no choice in the matter.
2. [singular, uncountable] the range of people or things that you can choose from:
It was a small shop and there wasn’t much choice.
choice of
There is a choice of four different colours.
We offer a wide choice of wines and beers.
Consumers these days are spoilt for choice British English (=have a lot of things to choose from).
3. [countable] the person or thing that someone chooses
choice of
I don’t really like her choice of jewellery.
I think London was a good choice as a venue.
sb’s first/second choice
My first choice of college was Stanford.
4. by choice if you do something by choice, you do it because you want to do it and not because you are forced to do it:
She lives alone by choice.
5. the something of your choice the person or thing of your choice is the one that you would most like to choose:
My children cannot go to the school of their choice.
6. the something of choice the thing of choice is the one that people prefer to use:
It is the drug of choice for this type of illness.
⇨ HOBSON’S CHOICE
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have a choice Students have a choice between German and Spanish.
▪ make a choice (=choose something) One of our course advisors can help you to make your choice.
▪ give somebody a choice Her doctor gave her a choice: take medicine or lose weight.
▪ be faced with a choice He was faced with a difficult choice.
▪ have no choice (but to do something) The men had no choice but to obey.
▪ leave somebody with no choice I was left with no choice but to resign.
▪ exercise your choice formal (=make a choice - used especially when talking about someone using their right to choose) Everyone should have the right to exercise choice in matters of relationships.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + choice
▪ the right/wrong choice I think you’ve made the right choice.
▪ a difficult choice It was a very difficult choice for me.
▪ a stark choice (=a choice between two unpleasant things that you must make) We faced a stark choice: steal or starve.
▪ (a) free choice Students have an entirely free choice of what to study at university.
▪ an informed choice (=a choice based on knowledge of the facts about something) The patient should have enough information to make an informed choice.
▪ consumer choice (=the opportunity for people to choose between different products) I believe in free trade and consumer choice.
▪ parental choice The aim is to extend parental choice in education.
■ phrases
▪ freedom of choice Patients should have more freedom of choice.
▪ given the choice (=if you had a choice) Given the choice, I probably wouldn’t work.
▪ have no choice in the matter The village people had no choice in the matter.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ choice: choice of: The school seems OK, but there isn’t a great choice of courses. | have a choice (=be able to choose from several things): With her high grades and athletic skill, Celeste had her choice of colleges. | have no choice but to do something (=to be forced to do something because there is nothing else you can choose): Spooner says he had no choice but to file for bankruptcy. | wide choice (=a lot of things to choose from): There is a wide choice of hotels and hostels in the town.
▪ option one of the things that you can choose to do in a particular situation: He basically has two options: he can have the surgery, or he can give up playing football. | keep/leave your options open (=delay choosing so that you continue to have several things to choose from): I haven’t signed any contracts yet – I want to keep my options open.
▪ alternative one of two or more ways of doing something: Did you consider other alternatives before you moved in with Lucy? | alternative to: There is no practical alternative to our current policy. | have no alternative (=to not have a choice): He says he doesn’t want to see a doctor, but I’m afraid he has no alternative.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ choice something or someone that has been chosen: Maria was very pleased with her choice. | first/second/third choice (=the thing you wanted most, the thing you wanted most after that etc): Greece was our first choice for a vacation, but all the flights were full. | somebody’s choice of: I don’t like his choice of friends.
▪ selection a small group of the best things that have been chosen from a larger group: selection of: She showed me a selection of her drawings. | a selection of songs from ‘West Side Story’
choice
choice [choice choices choicer choicest] noun, adjective [tʃɔɪs] [tʃɔɪs]
noun
1. countable ~ (between A and B) an act of choosing between two or more possibilities; something that you can choose
• women forced to make a choice between family and career
• We are faced with a difficult choice.
• We aim to help students make more informed career choices.
• Resources are finite, and choices have to be made between competing priorities and needs.
• There is a wide range of choices open to you.
2. uncountable, singular the right to choose or the possibility of choosing
• If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow.
• He had no choice but to leave (= this was the only thing he could do).
• She's going to do it. She doesn't have much choice, really, does she?
• This government is committed to extending parental choice in education.
• After a delicious meal with free wine, the choice is yours: a quiet drink in the bar, the late night disco or a stroll along the beach beneath a starry sky.
• Sandy had to tell his tale in halting Italian. Since Franco spoke no English, he had no choice in the matter.
3. countable a person or thing that is chosen
• She's the obvious choice for the job.
• Hawaii remains a popular choice for winter vacation travel.
• This colour wasn't my first choice.
• She wouldn't be my choice as manager.
• I don't like his choice of friends (= the people he chooses as his friends).
4. singular, uncountable the number or range of different things from which to choose
• The menu has a good choice of desserts.
• There wasn't much choice of colour.
see also Hobson's choice, multiple-choice
more at you pays your money and you takes your choice at pay v., be spoilt for choice at spoilt
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French chois, from choisir ‘choose’, of Germanic origin and related to choose.
Thesaurus:
choice noun
1. C
• Many women make a choice between family and career.
selection • |informal pick •
make a choice/selection
have/take a/your choice/pick
get first choice/pick
2. U, C, usually sing.
• If I had the choice, I'd give up work tomorrow.
• He had no choice but to (= he had to) leave.
option • • alternative • • possibility •
a real/realistic/practical choice/option/alternative/possibility
a/an good/acceptable/reasonable choice/option/alternative
have no choice/option/alternative (but to do sth)
look at/limit the choices/options/alternatives/possibilities
Choice, option or alternative? Alternative is slightly more formal than option or choice, and is more frequently used to talk about choosing between two things rather than several.
3. C
• She is the first choice for the job.
preference • • selection • |BrE favourite • |AmE favorite • |especially AmE, informal pick •
sb's choice/favourite/pick for sth
sb's choice/selection/pick as sth
an obvious choice/selection/favourite
4. sing., U
• a good choice of desserts
range • • variety • • selection • • assortment • • array •
a wide choice/range/variety/selection/assortment/array
a/an good/interesting/limited choice/range/variety/selection
have/offer/provide (a/an) choice/range/variety/selection/array/assortment (of sth)
Synonyms:
choice
favourite • preference • selection • pick
These are all words for a person or thing that is chosen, or that is liked more than others.
choice • a person or thing that is chosen: ▪ She's the obvious choice for the job.
favourite/favorite • a person or thing that you like more than the others of the same type: ▪ Which one's your favourite?
preference • a thing that is liked better or best: ▪ Tastes and preferences vary from individual to individual.
favourite or preference?
Your favourites are the things you like best, and that you have, do, listen to, etc. often; your preferences are the things that you would rather have or do if you can choose.
selection • a number of people or things that have been chosen from a larger group: ▪ A selection of reader's comments are published below.
pick • (rather informal, especially NAmE) a person or thing that is chosen: ▪ She was his pick for best actress.
sb's choice/favourite/pick for sth
sb's choice/selection/pick as sth
an obvious choice/favourite/selection
a(n) excellent/good/popular/fine choice/selection
Synonyms:
option
choice • alternative • possibility
These are all words for sth that you choose to do in a particular situation.
option • something that you can choose to have or do; the freedom to choose what you do: ▪ As I see it, we have two options… ◊ ▪ Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year.
Option is also the word used in computing for one of the choices you can make when using a computer program: ▪ Choose the ‘Cut’ option from the Edit menu.
choice • the freedom to choose what you do; something that you can choose to have or do: ▪ If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow. ◊ ▪ There is a wide range of choices open to you.
alternative • something that you can choose to have or do out of two or more possibilities: ▪ You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly: those are the two alternatives.
option, choice or alternative?
Choice is slightly less formal than option and alternative is slightly more formal. Choice is most often used for ‘the freedom to choose’, although you can sometimes also use option (but not usually alternative): ▪ If I had the choice/option, I would… ◊ If I had the alternative, I would… ◊ ▪ parental choice in education ◊ parental option/alternative in education. Things that you can choose are options, choices or alternatives. However, alternative is more frequently used to talk about choosing between two things rather than several.
possibility • one of the different things that you can do in a particular situation: ▪ We need to explore a wide range of possibilities. ◊ ▪ The possibilities are endless.
Possibility can be used in a similar way to option, choice and alternative, but the emphasis here is less on the need to make a choice, and more on what is available.
with/without the option/choice/possibility of sth
a(n) good/acceptable/reasonable/possible option/choice/alternative
the only option/choice/alternative/possibility open to sb
to have a/an/the option/choice of doing sth
to have no option/choice/alternative but to do sth)
a number/range of options/choices/alternatives/possibilities
Example Bank:
• Bill is the obvious choice for captain of the team.
• Doctors have to make moral choices every day of their lives.
• Everyone in a democracy has the right to exercise choice.
• First prize will be a meal for two at a restaurant of your choice.
• He had no choice about that.
• I don't think much of her choice of outfit.
• I had no choice but to cancel my holiday.
• I now had a clear choice: either I accept their terms or I leave.
• I think she's a very good choice for captain.
• I wouldn't have come to this bar by choice!
• In the end, the choice was quite easy.
• It was a happy choice of venue
• Maria defended her choice of name for the child.
• Mary is a popular choice as chair of the committee.
• Much ill health is the result of poor diet and lifestyle choices.
• Our first choice for a holiday is the north of Scotland.
• Our first choice for a site was already taken.
• People were asked about their top choices for meeting locations.
• She faced the stark choice of backing the new plan or losing her job.
• She has a choice between three different universities.
• She questioned the choice of Murphy for this role.
• She was starting to regret her choice.
• Smoking may limit your choice of contraception.
• Students have a free choice from a range of subjects.
• The hotel is the preferred choice for business people.
• The shop has a very limited choice of ties.
• The way he behaved meant that we had no choice in the matter.
• These are personal choices that people must make for themselves.
• We gave her the choice, and she decided she'd like a bike for her birthday.
• We offer a choice of ten different destinations.
• When did you make a conscious choice to become an artist?
• You can have first choice of all the rooms.
• Your decision leaves me with no choice but to resign.
• Your needs should dictate your choice.
• a careful choice of words
• a limited range of choices available to buyers
• a range of available choices
• a test with multiple choice questions
• to extend parental choice as to which schools children should attend
• to make choices about their future
• I don't like his choice of friends.
• Many women are forced to make a choice between family and career.
• She wouldn't be my choice as manager.
• She's going to do it. She doesn't have much choice, really, does she?
• She's the obvious choice for the job.
• The choice is yours: a quiet drink in the bar, the late night disco or a stroll along the beach.
• There wasn't much choice of colour.
• This colour wasn't my first choice.
Idioms: by choice ▪ of choice ▪ of your choice
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
choice / tʃɔɪs / noun [ C or U ] (ACT)
B1 an act or the possibility of choosing:
If the product doesn't work, you are given the choice of a refund or a replacement.
It's a difficult choice to make .
It's your choice/The choice is yours (= only you can decide) .
It was a choice between pain now or pain later, so I chose pain later.
Now you know all the facts, you can make an informed choice.
I'd prefer not to work but I do n't have much choice (= this is not possible) .
He had no choice but to accept (= he had to accept) .
Is she single by choice?
Champagne is their drink of choice (= the one they most often drink) .
Word partners for choice (ACT)
have a choice • make a choice • give / offer sb a choice • be faced with a choice • an informed choice • a choice between [two things or people] • a choice of sth • by / from choice
Word partners for choice (VARIETY)
a bewildering / excellent / wide choice • offer a choice of sth • a choice of sth
Word partners for choice (PERSON/THING)
a good / obvious / popular / wise choice • an odd / unfortunate choice • sb's choice of sth • sb's first / second choice
choice / tʃɔɪs / noun [ S or U ] (VARIETY)
B1 the range of different things from which you can choose:
There wasn't much choice on the menu.
The evening menu offers a wide choice of dishes.
The dress is available in a choice of colours.
Word partners for choice (ACT)
have a choice • make a choice • give / offer sb a choice • be faced with a choice • an informed choice • a choice between [two things or people] • a choice of sth • by / from choice
Word partners for choice (VARIETY)
a bewildering / excellent / wide choice • offer a choice of sth • a choice of sth
Word partners for choice (PERSON/THING)
a good / obvious / popular / wise choice • an odd / unfortunate choice • sb's choice of sth • sb's first / second choice
choice / tʃɔɪs / noun [ C ] (PERSON/THING)
B1 a person or thing that has been chosen or that can be chosen:
Harvard was not his first choice.
He wouldn't be my choice as a friend.
This type of nursery care may well be the best choice for your child.
Word partners for choice (ACT)
have a choice • make a choice • give / offer sb a choice • be faced with a choice • an informed choice • a choice between [two things or people] • a choice of sth • by / from choice
Word partners for choice (VARIETY)
a bewildering / excellent / wide choice • offer a choice of sth • a choice of sth
Word partners for choice (PERSON/THING)
a good / obvious / popular / wise choice • an odd / unfortunate choice • sb's choice of sth • sb's first / second choice
choice
[tʃɔ͟ɪs]
♦♦
choices, choicer, choicest
1) N-COUNT If there is a choice of things, there are several of them and you can choose the one you want.
It's available in a choice of colours...
At lunchtime, there's a choice between the buffet or the set menu...
Club Sportif offer a wide choice of holidays.
Syn:
selection
2) N-COUNT: usu poss N Your choice is someone or something that you choose from a range of things.
Although he was only grumbling, his choice of words made Rodney angry.
Syn:
selection
3) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n Choice means of very high quality. [FORMAL]
...Fortnum and Mason's choicest chocolates.
Syn:
select
4) PHRASE: V inflects If you have no choice but to do something or have little choice but to do it, you cannot avoid doing it.
They had little choice but to agree to what he suggested.
5) PHRASE: n PHR The thing or person of your choice is the one that you choose.
...tickets to see the football team of your choice...
In many societies children still marry someone of their parents' choice.
1choice /ˈʧoɪs/ noun, pl choic·es
1 [count] : the act of choosing : the act of picking or deciding between two or more possibilities
• He knew he had to make a choice. [=choose one thing or another]
• He has some important choices to make.
• You made a good/bad choice.
• She was faced with a difficult choice.
• You can either accept the job or not. It's your choice.
• I read about the various options so that I could make an informed choice.
2 : the opportunity or power to choose between two or more possibilities : the opportunity or power to make a decision
[singular]
• Given the choice, I'd rather stay home tonight.
• He had no choice in the matter. = He did not have a choice in the matter.
• You leave me (with) no choice.
• They gave/offered me a choice between an automatic or standard transmission.
[noncount]
• A flexible health insurance plan gives patients more choice about doctors and coverage.
• He had little choice in the matter. = He did not have much choice in the matter.
- see also hobson's choice
3 a : a range of things that can be chosen
[singular]
- often + of
• The plan has a wide choice of options. [=there are many options that can be chosen]
• You have the choice of coffee or tea.
[noncount]
• The menu does not have much choice. [=selection]
• (chiefly Brit) Customers are spoiled for choice [=customers have a lot of choices] when buying a new car.
b [count] : one of the things that you can choose
• She wanted pizza, but that wasn't a choice. [=option]
• There is a wide range of choices.
• Other choices on the menu looked equally tempting.
- see also multiple-choice
4 [count] : the person or thing that someone chooses
• He is happy with his choice.
• She is my first choice for the job. [=she is the one I most want for the job]
• I don't like her choice of friends.
• Selling our car was the right choice.
by choice also out of choice
✦If you do something by choice or out of choice, you choose to do it.
• I live here by choice. [=I live here because I want to]
• No one forced them to do it. They acted out of choice.
of choice : favorite or most liked : chosen most often
• Wine was his beverage of choice.
of your choice
✦A person or thing of your choice is a person or thing that you have chosen.
• They said I could bring a guest of my choice to the party.
• The meal is served with a beverage of your choice.
The star that the Earth moves around, which provides light and heat for the Earth, or the light or heat that the Earth receives from this star:
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
sun
noun (no plural)
1 the sun
pronunciation
The word sun sounds just like son.
the big round object in the sky that gives us light in the day, and heat:
The sun is shining.
2 light and heat from the sun:
We sat in the sun all morning.
sun
I. sun1 S2 W1 /sʌn/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: sunne]
1. the sun/the Sun the large bright object in the sky that gives us light and heat, and around which the Earth moves ⇨ solar:
The sky was blue and the sun was shining.
2. [uncountable] the heat and light that come from the sun ⇨ sunny:
Too much sun is bad for you.
in the sun
We sat in the sun, eating ice cream.
the warmth of the afternoon sun
3. [countable] any star around which ↑planets move
4. everything/anything etc under the sun used to emphasize that you are talking about a large range of things:
You can buy jeans in every colour under the sun.
5. catch the sun British English, get some sun American English if someone catches or gets the sun, they become slightly red or brown because they have been outside in the sun
⇨ make hay while the sun shines at ↑hay(2)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ verbs
▪ the sun shines When I woke, the sun was shining.
▪ the sun beats down/blazes down (=shines with a lot of light and heat) The sun beats down on us as we work.
▪ the sun comes out (=appears when cloud moves away) The rain stopped and the sun came out.
▪ the sun rises/comes up (=appears at the beginning of the day) As the sun rises, the birds take flight.
▪ the sun sets/goes down (=disappears at the end of the day) It is a good place to sit and watch the sun go down.
▪ the sun sinks (=gradually disappears at the end of the day) The sun sank lower and the breeze grew cool.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + sun
▪ the hot/warm sun The hot sun beat down on the men working.
▪ the blazing/burning sun Tourists trudge around in the blazing sun.
▪ a bright sun It was a warm day with a bright sun overhead.
▪ the morning/afternoon/evening sun We ate breakfast outside in the gentle morning sun.
▪ the midday/noonday sun They all sought shade from the blazing midday sun.
▪ the rising/setting sun (=the sun as it appears/disappears) The fields were ablaze with light from the setting sun.
■ phrases
▪ the sun is high/low in the sky They walked until the sun was low in the sky.
■ nouns
▪ the sun’s rays This moisturiser will also protect skin from the sun’s rays.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ in the sky
▪ star a large ball of burning gas in space, which can be seen at night as a point of light in the sky: The dark night sky was clear and full of stars.
▪ planet one of the large objects that goes around the sun, for example the Earth, Saturn, Mercury, or Mars: The planet Uranus was discovered in 1781.
▪ sun the star that gives us light and heat, around which the planets move. There are also many millions of other suns in the universe: The sun came out from behind a cloud. | a dying sun
▪ moon the round object that moves around the Earth every 28 days, or a similar object that goes around another planet: The moon rose in the night sky. | Titan is one of the moons of Saturn.
▪ asteroid a mass of rock that moves around the sun. Most asteroids are found between Jupiter and Mars: the asteroid belt
▪ pulsar a type of star that is far away in space and produces ↑radiation and RADIO WAVES
▪ quasar an object like a star that is far away in space and shines extremely brightly
▪ supernova a very large exploding star
▪ constellation a group of stars that forms a particular pattern and has a name: The constellation of Orion is one of the most easily recognizable patterns of stars in the night sky.
▪ galaxy one of the large groups of stars that make up the universe: Astronomers have detected a galaxy 11 billion light years away.
▪ the universe all space, including all the stars and planets: How many planets in the universe have life?
II. sun2 BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle sunned, present participle sunning)
sun yourself to sit or lie outside when the sun is shining ⇨ sunbathe:
The beaches were full of families sunning themselves.
sun
sun [sun suns sunned sunning] noun, verb [sʌn] [sʌn]
noun
1. the sun, the Sun singular the star that shines in the sky during the day and gives the earth heat and light
• the sun's rays
• the rising/setting sun
• The sun was shining and birds were singing.
• The sun was just setting.
• A pale wintry sun shone through the clouds.
2. (usually the sun) singular, uncountable the light and heat from the sun
Syn: sunshine
• the warmth of the afternoon sun
• This room gets the sun in the mornings.
• We sat in the sun.
• The sun was blazing hot.
• Too much sun ages the skin.
• We did our best to keep out of the sun.
• They've booked a holiday in the sun (= in a place where it is warm and the sun shines a lot).
• Her face had obviously caught the sun (= become red or brown) on holiday.
• I was driving westwards and I had the sun in my eyes (= the sun was shining in my eyes).
see also sunny
3. countable (technical) any star around which planets move
more at make hay while the sun shines at hay, a place in the sun at place n.
Word Origin:
Old English sunne, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zon and German Sonne, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek hēlios and Latin sol.
Collocations:
The weather
Good weather
be bathed in/bask in/be blessed with/enjoy bright/brilliant/glorious sunshine
the sun shines/warms sth/beats down (on sth)
the sunshine breaks/streams through sth
fluffy/wispy clouds drift across the sky
a gentle/light/stiff/cool/warm/sea breeze blows in/comes in off the sea
the snow crunches beneath/under sb's feet/boots
Bad weather
thick/dark/storm clouds form/gather/roll in/cover the sky/block out the sun
the sky darkens/turns black
a fine mist hangs in the air
a dense/heavy/thick fog rolls in
the rain falls/comes down (in buckets/sheets)/pours down
snow falls/comes down/covers sth
the wind blows/whistles/howls/picks up/whips through sth/sweeps across sth
strong/gale-force winds blow/gust (up to 80 mph)
a storm is approaching/is moving inland/hits/strikes/rages
thunder rolls/rumbles/sounds
(forked/sheet) lightning strikes/hits/flashes
a (blinding/snow) blizzard hits/strikes/blows/rages
a tornado touches down/hits/strikes/destroys sth/rips through sth
forecast/expect/predict rain/snow/a category-four hurricane
(NAmE) pour (down)/ (BrE) pour (down) with rain
get caught in/seek shelter from/escape the rain
be covered/shrouded in mist/a blanket of fog
be in for/brave/shelter from a/the storm
hear rolling/distant thunder
be battered/buffeted by strong winds
(BrE) be blowing a gale
battle against/brave the elements
The weather improves
the sun breaks through the clouds
the sky clears/brightens (up)/lightens (up)
the clouds part/clear
the rain stops/lets up/holds off
the wind dies down
the storm passes
the mist/fog lifts/clears
Example Bank:
• Don't sit in the sun too long.
• He was enjoying the feel of the sun on his back.
• It was getting cooler as the sun sank below the horizon.
• Just then, a watery sun broke through the clouds.
• On children, use a cream with a high sun protection factor.
• The clouds darkened, obliterating the sun.
• The distant mountains glowed in the light of the setting sun.
• The evening sun slanted through the window.
• The helmets were glinting in the sun.
• The north side of the garden never gets any sun.
• The setting sun cast long shadows over the landscape.
• The sun caught her dazzling copper hair.
• The sun climbed higher in the sky.
• The sun glinted on the blades.
• The sun moved slowly westward.
• The sun reflected off the water.
• The sun rises in the east.
• The sun sets in the west.
• The sun struck the steep blue slates of the roof.
• The sun warmed his face.
• The sun was up now, and strong.
• The sun went in and it started to rain.
• The wintry sun was already low in the sky.
• There is nothing new under the sun.
• They call Norway the land of the midnight sun.
• This plant likes a dryish soil in full sun.
• Try to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.
• Venus orbits the Sun in just under one Earth year.
• We did our best to keep out of the sun.
• We had discussions about everything under the sun.
• We went out into the sun.
• We were lying by the pool, soaking up the afternoon sun.
• We've booked a holiday in the sun.
• You've caught the sun.
• an afternoon of lazing under the warm sun
• with the sun in her eyes
• wrinkles caused by sun damage
• Her face had obviously caught the sun.
• They're having a winter break in the sun.
• We sat in the warmth of the afternoon sun.
Idioms: under the sun ▪ with the sun
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
sun / sʌn / noun [ S or U ]
A1 the star that the Earth moves around, which provides light and heat for the Earth, or the light or heat that the Earth receives from this star:
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
The sun's rays are at their most powerful at midday.
I think I've had a bit too much sun today - I've got a headache.
Shall we go and sit out in the sun?
We thought we'd go out for a walk while the sun was shining .
© Cambridge University Press 2013
sun
[sʌ̱n]
♦♦
suns, sunning, sunned
1) N-SING: usu the N The sun is the ball of fire in the sky that the Earth goes round, and that gives us heat and light.
The sun was now high in the southern sky...
The sun came out, briefly.
...the sun's rays...
The sun was shining.
2) N-UNCOUNT: usu the N You refer to the light and heat that reach us from the sun as the sun.
Dena took them into the courtyard to sit in the sun...
They were trying to soak up some sun.
3) VERB: usu cont If you are sunning yourself, you are sitting or lying in a place where the sun is shining on you.
[V pron-refl] She was last seen sunning herself in a riverside park.
Syn:
sunbathing
4) N-COUNT A sun is any star which has planets going around it.
5) PHRASE: PHR after v Everything under the sun means a very great number of things. Anything under the sun means anything at all.
a place in the sun → see place
We sat there for hours talking about everything under the sun...
The fashion-conscious will go for anything under the sun!
1sun /ˈsʌn/ noun, pl suns
1 a the sun also the Sun : the star that the Earth moves around and that gives the Earth heat and light
• The rain has stopped and the sun is shining.
• The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
• the rising/setting sun
• the warmth of the sun's rays
b [count] : any star that has planets which move around it
• They dream of traveling to distant suns.
2 [noncount] : the heat or light produced by the sun : sunshine or sunlight
• The plant needs full sun. [=it should not be in the shade]
• Try to keep out of the sun.
• The cat lay basking in the sun.
• I couldn't see because the sun was in my eyes. [=the bright light of the sun was shining directly in my eyes]
• We went to the beach to get/catch some sun. [=to spend time in the sunlight]
in the sun
✦If someone or something has a day/moment/time, etc., in the sun, that person or thing is popular or gets a lot of attention during a period of time.
• Organic foods are having their moment in the sun.
• The singer is still waiting for his day in the sun.
make hay (while the sun shines)
- see hay
place in the sun : a very good, successful, or desirable position
• After years of struggling as an unknown actor, he has finally found his/a place in the sun.
under the sun : in the world - used to emphasize the large number of things that are being mentioned
• There is nothing under the sun [=nothing at all] that we cannot do.
• We talked about everything under the sun.
• She called me every name under the sun.
