travelling

travel

I. trav‧el¹ S2 W2 /ˈtrævəl/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle travelled, present participle travelling British English, traveled, traveling American English)
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: travaillier; ⇨ ↑travail]
1. JOURNEY
a) [intransitive] to go from one place to another, or to several places, especially ones that are far away:
Someday I’d like to travel abroad.
travel to/across/through/around etc
We’re planning to travel across America this summer.
travel widely/extensively
He has travelled extensively in China.
travel by train/car/air etc
We travelled by train across Eastern Europe.
He’d travelled far, but he’d travelled light (=without taking many possessions).
b) travel the world/country to go to most parts of the world or of a particular country
2. DISTANCE [intransitive and transitive] to go a particular distance or at a particular speed
travel at
The train was travelling at 100 mph.
They travelled 200 miles on the first day.
3. well-travelled
a) (also widely-travelled) having travelled to many different countries:
a well-travelled businesswoman
b) having been travelled on by many people:
a well-travelled road
4. NEWS [intransitive] to be passed quickly from one person or place to another:
News travels fast.
5. travel well to remain in good condition or be equally successful when taken to another country:
Exporters have to find wines that travel well.
Many British television programmes don’t travel well.
6. EYES [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] written if your eyes travel over something, you look at different parts of it:
His gaze travelled over her face.
7. LIGHT/SOUND [intransitive] to move at a particular speed or in a particular direction:
Light travels faster than sound.
8. SPORT [intransitive] to take more than three steps while you are holding the ball in ↑basketball
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ travel abroad Only the affluent could afford to take vacations or to travel abroad.
▪ travel widely/extensively He travelled extensively in Europe studying geology.
▪ travel light (=not take many things with you) The idea was to travel light, so Travis allowed her to pack only one change of clothing.
■ phrases
▪ travel by train/car/air etc Emily hated travelling by train.
▪ travel the world/country They travelled the world together.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to travel
▪ travel to go from one place to another, especially places that are far apart: We travelled to Russia by train. | I love to travel.
▪ go to go somewhere – often used instead of travel: We’re going to Greece for our holidays this year. | He’s gone to London on business. | It’s quicker to go by plane.
▪ commute to travel to work or school: She commutes to work by bicycle.
▪ cross to travel across a very large area, for example a desert or ocean: The slaves crossed the Atlantic in the holds of the ships.
▪ tour to travel in order to visit many different places, especially as part of a holiday: They’re touring Europe by coach.
▪ go trekking to do a long and difficult walk in a place far from towns and cities: They went trekking in the mountains. | She’s been trekking in Nepal a couple of times.
▪ go backpacking to travel to a lot of different places, carrying your clothes with you in your ↑rucksack: He went backpacking in Australia.
▪ roam especially written to travel or move around an area with no clear purpose or direction, usually for a long time: When he was young, he roamed from one country to another. | The tribes used to roam around freely, without any fixed territory.
▪ journey literary to travel, especially a long distance: He journeyed on horseback through Palestine.
■ people who travel
▪ traveller British English, traveler American English someone who is travelling a long distance: Weary travellers waited at the airport. | My aunt was a great traveller. (=she travelled a lot).
▪ tourist someone who is travelling somewhere for a holiday: During the summer, over a million tourists visit the island each year.
▪ passenger someone who is travelling in a vehicle, plane, ship etc but not driving it or working on it: The driver and two passengers were killed in the crash.
▪ commuter someone who travels to work every day: commuters on the train to London
▪ backpacker someone who travels to a lot of different places, carrying their clothes etc in a ↑rucksack: The hostels are great for backpackers.
▪ explorer someone who travels to places that people have not visited before: Potatoes were brought to England by explorers such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh.

take

I. take¹ S1 W1 /teɪk/ BrE AmE verb (past tense took /tʊk/, past participle taken) /ˈteɪkən/
[Word Family: noun: ↑takings, ↑undertaking, ↑take, ↑taker; verb: ↑take, ↑overtake, ↑undertake]
[Date: 1000-1100; Language: Old Norse; Origin: taka]
1. MOVE [transitive] to move or go with someone or something from one place to another OPP bring
take somebody/something to/into etc something
Barney took us to the airport.
Would you mind taking Susie home?
When he refused to give his name, he was taken into custody.
My job has taken me all over the world.
take somebody/something with you
His wife went to Australia, taking the children with her.
take somebody something
I have to take Steve the money tonight.
take somebody to do something
He took me to meet his parents.
2. ACTION [transitive] used with a noun instead of using a verb to describe an action. For example, if you take a walk, you walk somewhere:
Would you like to take a look?
Mike’s just taking a shower.
Sara took a deep breath.
I waved, but he didn’t take any notice (=pretended not to notice). British English
Please take a seat (=sit down).
take a picture/photograph/photo
Would you mind taking a photo of us together?
3. REMOVE [transitive] to remove something from a place
take something off/from etc something
Take your feet off the seats.
Someone’s taken a pen from my desk.
Police say money and jewellery were taken in the raid. ⇨ TAKE AWAY
4. TIME/MONEY/EFFORT ETC [intransitive and transitive] if something takes a particular amount of time, money, effort etc, that amount of time etc is needed for it to happen or succeed:
How long is this going to take?
Organizing a successful street party takes a lot of energy.
take (somebody) something (to do something)
Repairs take time to carry out.
It took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust to the dark.
take (somebody) ages/forever informal:
It took me ages to find a present for Dad.
take some doing British English informal (=need a lot of time or effort)
Catching up four goals will take some doing.
take courage/guts
It takes courage to admit you are wrong.
have what it takes informal (=to have the qualities that are needed for success)
Neil’s got what it takes to be a great footballer.
5. ACCEPT [transitive] to accept or choose something that is offered, suggested, or given to you:
Will you take the job?
Do you take American Express?
If you take my advice, you’ll see a doctor.
Our helpline takes 3.5 million calls (=telephone calls) a year.
Some doctors are unwilling to take new patients without a referral.
Liz found his criticisms hard to take.
I just can’t take any more (=can’t deal with a bad situation any longer).
Staff have agreed to take a 2% pay cut.
take a hammering/beating (=be forced to accept defeat or a bad situation)
Small businesses took a hammering in the last recession.
I take your point/point taken (=used to say that you accept someone’s opinion)
take sb’s word for it/take it from somebody (=accept that what someone says is true)
That’s the truth – take it from me.
take the credit/blame/responsibility
He’s the kind of man who makes things happen but lets others take the credit.
take it as read/given (=↑assume that something is correct or certain, because you are sure that this is the case)
It isn’t official yet, but you can take it as read that you’ve got the contract.
6. HOLD SOMETHING [transitive] to get hold of something in your hands:
Let me take your coat.
Can you take this package while I get my wallet?
take somebody/something in/by something
I just wanted to take him in my arms.
7. TRAVEL [transitive] to use a particular form of transport or a particular road in order to go somewhere:
Let’s take a cab.
I took the first plane out.
Take the M6 to Junction 19.
8. STUDY [transitive] to study a particular subject in school or college for an examination:
Are you taking French next year?
9. TEST [transitive] to do an examination or test SYN sit British English:
Applicants are asked to take a written test.
10. SUITABLE [transitive not in progressive or passive] to be the correct or suitable size, type etc for a particular person or thing:
a car that takes low sulphur fuel
What size shoe do you take?
The elevator takes a maximum of 32 people.
11. COLLECT [transitive] to collect or gather something for a particular purpose:
Investigators will take samples of the wreckage to identify the cause.
take something from something
The police took a statement from both witnesses.
12. CONSIDER [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to react to someone or something or consider them in a particular way
take somebody/something seriously/badly/personally etc
I was joking, but he took me seriously.
Ben took the news very badly.
She does not take kindly to criticism (=reacts badly to criticism).
take something as something
I’ll take that remark as a compliment.
take something as evidence/proof (of something)
The presence of dust clouds has been taken as evidence of recent star formation.
take somebody/something to be something
I took her to be his daughter.
take somebody/something for something
Of course I won’t tell anyone! What do you take me for? (=what sort of person do you think I am?)
I take it (=I ↑assume) you’ve heard that Rick’s resigned.
13. FEELINGS [transitive usually + adverb] to have or experience a particular feeling
take delight/pleasure/pride etc in (doing) something
You should take pride in your work.
At first, he took no interest in the baby.
take pity on somebody
She stood feeling lost until an elderly man took pity on her.
take offence (=feel offended)
Don’t take offence. Roger says things like that to everybody.
take comfort from/in (doing) something
Investors can take comfort from the fact that the World Bank is underwriting the shares.
14. CONTROL [transitive] to get possession or control of something:
Enemy forces have taken the airport.
Both boys were taken prisoner.
take control/charge/power
The communists took power in 1948.
Youngsters need to take control of their own lives.
take the lead (=in a race, competition etc)
15. MEDICINE/DRUGS [transitive] to swallow, breathe in, ↑inject etc a drug or medicine:
The doctor will ask whether you are taking any medication.
Take two tablets before bedtime.
take drugs (=take illegal drugs)
Most teenagers start taking drugs through boredom.
She took an overdose after a row with her boyfriend.
16. do you take sugar/milk? spoken British English used to ask someone whether they like to have sugar or milk in a drink such as tea or coffee
17. LEVEL [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to make someone or something go to a higher level or position
take something to/into something
The latest raise takes his salary into six figures.
Even if you have the talent to take you to the top, there’s no guarantee you’ll get there.
If you want to take it further, you should consult an attorney.
18. MEASURE [transitive] to measure the amount, level, rate etc of something:
Take the patient’s pulse first.
19. NUMBERS [transitive] to make a number smaller by a particular amount SYN subtract
take something away/take something (away) from something
‘Take four from nine and what do you get?’ ‘Five.’
Ten take away nine equals one.
20. MONEY [transitive] British English if a shop, business etc takes a particular amount of money, it receives that amount of money from its customers SYN take in American English:
The stall took £25 on Saturday.
21. somebody can take it or leave it
a) to neither like nor dislike something:
To some people, smoking is addictive. Others can take it or leave it.
b) used to say that you do not care whether someone accepts your offer or not
22. take somebody/something (for example) used to give an example of something you have just been talking about:
People love British cars. Take the Mini. In Japan, it still sells more than all the other British cars put together.
23. TEACH [transitive] British English to teach a particular group of students in a school or college
take somebody for something
Who takes you for English?
24. WRITE [transitive] to write down information:
Let me take your email address.
Sue offered to take notes.
25. take somebody out of themselves British English to make someone forget their problems and feel more confident:
Alf said joining the club would take me out of myself.
26. take a lot out of you/take it out of you to make you very tired:
Looking after a baby really takes it out of you.
27. take it upon/on yourself to do something formal to decide to do something without getting someone’s permission or approval first:
Reg took it upon himself to hand the press a list of names.
28. take something to bits/pieces British English to separate something into its different parts:
how to take an engine to bits
29. be taken with/by something to be attracted by a particular idea, plan, or person:
I’m quite taken by the idea of Christmas in Berlin.
30. be taken ill/sick formal to suddenly become ill
31. SEX [transitive] literary if a man takes someone, he has sex with them
32. take a bend/fence/corner etc to try to get over or around something in a particular way:
He took the bend at over 60 and lost control.
33. HAVE AN EFFECT [intransitive] if a treatment, ↑dye, drug etc takes, it begins to work successfully
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ take to move or go with someone or something from one place to another: Don’t forget to take your keys. | Shall I take you home? | I took Alice a cup of tea.
▪ bring to take someone or something to the place where you are now: We’ve brought someone to see you! | Will you bring your photos with you when you come?
▪ transport to take large quantities of goods from one place to another in a plane, train, ship etc: The plane is used for transporting military equipment. | The coal was transported by rail.
▪ deliver to take goods, letters, newspapers etc to someone’s home or office: Unfortunately, the package was delivered to the wrong address.
▪ fly to take someone or something somewhere by plane: The bread is specially flown in from Paris.
▪ ship to take goods from one place to another – this can be by ship, truck, plane, or train: Half the whisky is shipped to Japan and the US.
▪ carry to take people or goods somewhere – used especially when saying how many people or things, or what kind: The new plane can carry up to 600 passengers. | The ship was carrying a full cargo of oil.
▪ lead to take someone to a place by going in front of them: He led Julia through the house to his study. | Roland led the way back to the car in silence.
▪ guide to take someone to a place and show them the way: Emily guided him through a side gate into a large garden.
▪ escort to take someone to a place and protect or guard them: The prisoner was escorted into the room by two police officers. | The singer was escorted by her assistant and her bodyguard.
▪ usher to politely lead someone somewhere and show them where to go, especially because it is your job to do this: We were ushered into the lift by a man in uniform.
be taken aback phrasal verb
to be very surprised about something:
Emma was somewhat taken aback by his directness.
take after somebody phrasal verb [not in progressive]
to look or behave like an older relative:
Jenni really takes after her mother.
take somebody/something apart phrasal verb
1. to separate something into all its different parts OPP put together:
Tom was always taking things apart in the garage.
2. to search a place very thoroughly:
The police took the house apart looking for clues.
3. to beat someone very easily in a game, sport, fight etc
4. to show that someone is wrong or something is not true:
Tariq takes several gay myths apart in his book.
take against somebody/something phrasal verb British English
to begin to dislike someone or something, especially without a good reason:
Voters took against the relationship between the government and the unions in the 1970s.
take somebody/something ↔ away phrasal verb
1. to remove someone or something, or make something disappear:
She whisked the tray off the table and took it away.
He was taken away to begin a prison sentence.
This should take some of the pain away.
2. to take away British English if you buy food to take away, you buy cooked food from a restaurant and take it outside to eat it somewhere else ⇨ takeaway:
Fish and chips to take away, please.
3. take your breath away to be very beautiful, exciting, or surprising
take away from something phrasal verb
to spoil the good effect or success that something has:
The disagreement between the two men should not take away from their accomplishments.
take somebody/something ↔ back phrasal verb
1. take something ↔ back to admit that you were wrong to say something:
You’d better take back that remark!
2. take something ↔ back to take something you have bought back to a shop because it is not suitable:
If the shirt doesn’t fit, take it back.
3. to make you remember a time in the past:
Having the grandchildren around takes me back to the days when my own children were small.
take something ↔ down phrasal verb
1. to move something that is fixed in a high position to a lower position:
She made us take down all the posters.
2. to write down information:
Can I just take some details down?
3. to pull a piece of clothing such as trousers part of the way down your legs
take somebody/something ↔ in phrasal verb
1. be taken in to be completely deceived by someone who lies to you:
Don’t be taken in by products claiming to help you lose weight in a week.
2. take somebody ↔ in to let someone stay in your house because they have nowhere else to stay:
Brett’s always taking in stray animals.
3. take something ↔ in to understand and remember new facts and information SYN absorb:
He watches the older kids, just taking it all in.
His eyes quickly took in the elegance of her dress.
4. take something ↔ in American English to collect or earn a particular amount of money SYN take British English
5. to visit a place while you are in the area:
They continued a few miles further to take in Hinton House.
6. American English old-fashioned if you take in a show, play etc, you go to see it
7. take somebody ↔ in British English old-fashioned if the police take someone in, they take them to a police station to ask them questions about a crime:
All five teenagers were arrested and taken in for questioning.
8. take something ↔ in to make a piece of clothing fit you by making it narrower OPP let out
take off phrasal verb
1. REMOVE take something ↔ off to remove a piece of clothing OPP put on:
He sat on the bed to take his boots off.
Charlie was taking off his shirt when the phone rang.
2. AIRCRAFT if an aircraft takes off, it rises into the air from the ground SYN lift off ⇨ takeoff:
I felt quite excited as the plane took off from Heathrow.
3. SUCCESS to suddenly start being successful:
Mimi became jealous when Jack’s career started taking off.
4. HOLIDAY take something off (something) to have a holiday from work on a particular day, or for a particular length of time
take time off (work/school)
I rang my boss and arranged to take some time off.
take a day/the afternoon etc off
Dad took the day off to come with me.
5. COPY SOMEBODY take somebody ↔ off British English informal to copy the way someone speaks or behaves, in order to entertain people
take somebody/something ↔ on phrasal verb
1. take somebody ↔ on to start to employ someone ⇨ hire:
We’re taking on 50 new staff this year.
2. take something ↔ on to agree to do some work or be responsible for something:
Don’t take on too much work – the extra cash isn’t worth it.
3. take something ↔ on to begin to have a particular quality or appearance:
Her face took on a fierce expression.
His life had taken on a new dimension.
4. take somebody ↔ on to compete against someone or start a fight with someone, especially someone bigger or better than you:
Nigeria will take on Argentina in the first round of the World Cup on Saturday.
He was prepared to take on anyone who laid a finger on us.
5. take something ↔ on if a plane or ship takes on people or things, they come onto it:
We stopped to take on fuel.
take somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb
1. take somebody ↔ out to take someone as your guest to a restaurant, cinema, club etc
take somebody ↔ out for
We’re taking my folks out for a meal next week.
2. take something ↔ out to make a financial or legal arrangement with a bank, company, law court etc
take out a policy/injunction/loan etc
Before taking a loan out, calculate your monthly outgoings.
3. take something ↔ out to get money from your bank account SYN withdraw:
How much would you like to take out?
4. take something ↔ out to borrow books from a library:
You can take out six books at a time.
5. take somebody/something ↔ out informal to kill someone or destroy something:
The building was taken out by a bomb.
take something out on somebody phrasal verb
to treat someone badly when you are angry or upset, even though it is not their fault:
Don’t take it out on me just because you’ve had a bad day.
take your anger/frustration etc out on somebody
Irritated with herself, she took her annoyance out on Bridget.
take over phrasal verb
to take control of something ⇨ takeover
take something ↔ over
His only reason for investing in the company was to take it over.
Ruth moved into our apartment and promptly took over.
take to somebody/something phrasal verb [not in passive]
1. to start to like someone or something:
Sandra took to it straight away.
Charles was an odd character whom Kelly had never really taken to.
2. to start doing something regularly
take to doing something
Dee’s taken to getting up at 6 and going jogging.
3. take to your bed to get into your bed and stay there:
He was so depressed, he took to his bed for a week.
take something up phrasal verb
1. take something ↔ up to become interested in a new activity and to spend time doing it:
Roger took painting up for a while, but soon lost interest.
2. to start a new job or have a new responsibility:
Peter will take up the management of the finance department.
take up a post/a position/duties etc
The headteacher takes her duties up in August.
3. take something ↔ up if you take up a suggestion, problem, complaint etc, you start to do something about it:
Now the papers have taken up the story.
take something ↔ up with
The hospital manager has promised to take the matter up with the member of staff involved.
I am still very angry and will be taking it up with the authorities.
4. to fill a particular amount of time or space
be taken up with something
The little time I had outside of school was taken up with work.
take up space/room
old books that were taking up space in the office
5. take something ↔ up to accept a suggestion, offer, or idea:
Rob took up the invitation to visit.
take up the challenge/gauntlet
Rick took up the challenge and cycled the 250 mile route alone.
6. to move to the exact place where you should be, so that you are ready to do something:
The runners are taking up their positions on the starting line.
7. take something ↔ up to make a piece of clothing shorter OPP let down
8. take something ↔ up to continue a story or activity that you or someone else had begun, after a short break:
I’ll take up the story where you left off.
take somebody up on something phrasal verb
to accept an invitation or suggestion
take somebody up on an offer/a promise/a suggestion etc
I’ll take you up on that offer of a drink, if it still stands.
take up with somebody/something phrasal verb
old-fashioned to become friendly with someone, especially someone who may influence you badly
II. take² BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑takings, ↑undertaking, ↑take, ↑taker; verb: ↑take, ↑overtake, ↑undertake]
1. [countable] an occasion when a film scene, song, action etc is recorded:
We had to do six takes for this particular scene.
2. sb’s take (on something) someone’s opinion about a situation or idea:
What’s your take on this issue?
3. be on the take informal to be willing to do something wrong in return for money:
Is it true that some of the generals are on the take?
4. [usually singular] American English informal the amount of money earned by a shop or business in a particular period of time
• • •
THESAURUS
■ what you say when giving examples
▪ for example used when giving an example: Prices have risen sharply. The price of gasoline, for example, has risen by over 50%. | Nepal has many attractions for visitors. For example, you can go trekking in the Himalayas, or see tigers in Chitwan National Park.
▪ for instance used when giving an example. For instance is slightly less formal than for example and is used more in spoken English: There were many unanswered questions. For instance, where was the money going to come from? | Some people are really good languages. Take Katie, for instance.
▪ eg/e.g. written used when giving an example or a list of examples. Don’t use eg in formal writing – use the full phrase for example: Make sure you eat foods that contain protein, e.g. meat, fish, eggs, milk, or cheese.
▪ such as especially written used when giving one or two typical examples when there are many others: It is difficult to get even basic foods such as bread and sugar.
▪ take spoken used when giving a particular example as a way of proving that what you are saying is correct: Take John – he has a good job but he didn’t go to university. | It is possible to recover from some types of cancer. Take skin cancer, for example.
▪ be a case in point used when emphasizing that someone or something is a good or typical example of what you have just mentioned: Some birds have returned to Britain after once being extinct here. The return of the osprey is a case in point.

ride

I. ride¹ S2 W2 /raɪd/ BrE AmE verb (past tense rode /rəʊd $ roʊd/, past participle ridden /ˈrɪdn/)
[Word Family: noun: ↑ride, ↑rider, ↑riding, ↑override; verb: ↑ride, ↑override; adjective: ↑overriding]
[Language: Old English; Origin: ridan]
1. ANIMAL [intransitive and transitive] to sit on an animal, especially a horse, and make it move along:
She learned to ride when she was seven.
He was riding a large grey mare.
ride on
She arrived riding on a white horse.
ride away/across/through etc
He rode away across the marshes.
2. BICYCLE/MOTORBIKE [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] to travel on a bicycle or ↑motorbike:
He had never learned to ride a bicycle.
They mounted their bikes and rode off.
3. VEHICLE [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] especially American English to travel in a bus, car, or other vehicle that you are not driving:
We got onto the bus and rode into San Francisco.
ride in
The kids were riding in the back.
ride a bus American English:
Ann rides the bus to work.
► Do not use ride to talk about someone controlling a car or other vehicle. Use drive: the man who was driving the stolen car
4. IN A LIFT [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] American English to travel up or down in a ↑lift
ride up/down
He rode the elevator down to the first floor.
I rode up to the tenth floor.
5. WATER/AIR
a) [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to be floating in water or in the air:
The smaller boat was lighter and rode higher in the water.
The moon was riding high in the sky.
There was a large ship riding at anchor in the bay.
b) ride a wave to float on a wave and move forward with it:
surfboarders riding the waves
6. be riding high to feel very happy and confident:
They were still riding high after their election victory.
7. let something ride spoken to take no action about something that is wrong or unpleasant:
What he had said was wrong, and I knew I shouldn’t just let it ride.
8. ride roughshod over something to ignore someone else’s feelings or ideas because you have the power or authority to do this:
The planning authorities should not ride roughshod over the wishes of local people.
9. ANNOY SOMEBODY [transitive] American English spoken to annoy someone by often criticizing them or asking them to do things:
Why are you riding her so hard?
10. ride on sb’s shoulders/back if a child rides on someone’s shoulders or back, they are carried in that way
11. ride a punch/blow to move back slightly when someone hits you, so that you are not hit with so much force:
He managed to ride the punch.
12. be riding for a fall informal to be doing something unwise which could result in failure:
I had a feeling he was riding for a fall, and tried to tell him so.
ride on something phrasal verb
if one thing is riding on another, it depends on it:
He knew he had to win – his reputation was riding on it.
There’s a lot riding on this match.
ride something ↔ out phrasal verb
1. if a ship rides out a storm, it manages to keep floating until the storm has ended
2. if you ride out a difficult situation, you are not badly harmed by it:
Most large companies should be able to ride out the recession.
ride up phrasal verb
if a piece of clothing rides up, it moves upwards so that it is no longer covering your body properly
II. ride² S3 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑ride, ↑rider, ↑riding, ↑override; verb: ↑ride, ↑override; adjective: ↑overriding]
1. CAR/TRAIN ETC a journey in a vehicle, when you are not driving ⇨ lift
ride in
He invited me to go for a ride in his new car.
Can you give me a ride back to town?
Sammy had promised to take me for a ride in his truck.
I managed to get a ride down to the station.
We hitched a ride (=got a free ride from a passing vehicle) into town.
car/bus/train etc ride
A fifteen minute taxi ride will take you to the airport.
a smooth/comfortable/bumpy etc ride
The new model offers a lovely smooth, comfortable ride.
2. HORSE/BICYCLE a journey on a bicycle, a horse, or a similar animal
ride on
Can I have a ride on your bike?
a bike/bicycle ride
Shall we go for a bike ride this afternoon?
3. a rough/easy ride informal if people give someone, especially someone in authority, a rough or an easy ride, they make a situation difficult or easy for them:
Journalists gave the Prime Minister a rough ride at the press conference.
The chairman will face a rough ride from shareholders.
The President will not have an easy ride when he gives his account of events.
4. a bumpy ride informal if something has a bumpy ride, it experiences a lot of problems:
Shares had a bumpy ride yesterday, falling by an average of 15%.
The new bill could be in for a bumpy ride when it is put before parliament.
5. take somebody for a ride spoken to trick someone, especially in order to get money from them:
I’d just begun to realise he was taking me for a ride.
6. come/go along for the ride spoken to join what other people are doing just for pleasure, not because you are seriously interested in it:
A couple of friends had come along for the ride.
7. MACHINE a large machine that people ride on for fun at a ↑fair:
We went on loads of rides.
8. PATH literary a path for riding on a horse in the countryside:
a grassy ride
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ take/have a ride Visitors can take a ride on a steam train.
▪ go for a ride He went for a ride in a private plane piloted by a friend.
▪ give somebody a ride Ellie gave us a ride to school.
▪ get a ride AmE: I left the farm that night, and got a ride into town.
▪ hitch a ride (=get a free ride from a passing vehicle) He hitched a ride to Denver on a truck.
▪ take somebody for a ride Hugh took me for a ride in his new car.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + ride
▪ a car/bus/train etc ride The resort is a short bus ride away from the hotel.
▪ a short/long ride I climbed slowly aboard the bus for the long ride to Hawkesworth.
▪ a smooth/comfortable ride The new suspension produces a smoother ride.
▪ a bumpy ride Part of the flight had been a bumpy ride through a thunderstorm.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ by plane/boat/car/bicycle etc
▪ flight a journey by air: You should check in at the airport two hours before your flight.
▪ voyage /ˈvɔɪ-ɪdʒ/ a long journey over the sea: MacArthur’s epic round-the-world voyage
▪ crossing a short journey by boat from one piece of land to another: A 30-minute ferry crossing takes you to the island.
▪ cruise a journey by boat for pleasure: a Mediterranean cruise | a cruise down the Nile
▪ drive a journey in a car, often for pleasure: The drive through the mountains was absolutely beautiful.
▪ ride a short journey in a car, or on a bicycle or horse: It’s a twenty-minute taxi ride to the station. | a bike ride