单词	answer
释义	answer1 nounanswer2 verb answeran‧swer1 /ˈɑːnsə $ ˈænsər/ ●●● S1 W1 noun Entry menu MENU FOR answeranswer1 reply2 test/competition etc3 invitation/letter etc4 problem5 on the phone6 at the door7 have/know all the answers8 somebody’s answer to something Word Origin WORD ORIGINanswer1 Origin: Old English andswaru Examples EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES Answers to the letters are as varied as the children who wrote them. A bank loan seemed like the answer to all our problems. And the answer is... Budapest! Did you ever get an answer to your last letter? Each time I ask him when the work will be done, I get a different answer. I've asked Yvonne to come on vacation with us, but I'm still waiting for her answer. If you're asking me for money, the answer's no! Score one point for each correct answer. The answer to your question is very simple; you failed the exam because you didn't do any work. The city council has to find a better way of dealing with domestic waste. One answer is to burn it. The first person to call with the right answer will win 10 CDs of their choice. The obvious answer is to keep poisonous plants out of children's reach. There are no easy answers to today's environmental problems. There was a question and answer period after the lecture. Think carefully before you give the answer. We've written to the bank requesting a loan, and we're expecting an answer in this morning's mail. What's the answer to question 4? What was her answer? Why don't people complain? The answer is that they are frightened of losing their jobs. Write your answers on the form and send it to this address. EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS I must also emphasise that the answer I give to the question before me will be of general application. In search of an answer, you follow your nose, wherever it leads, actively pursuing the mystery. Nor can the living coelacanth suggest an answer, for today it never leaves its deep waters. The answer is certainly not to pay all academics more. The answers they gave had to be corroborated by witnesses. The braggart turns every question into an answer that makes himself or herself look incredibly good. We chatted about Guantanamo, me with the long questions and he with the short, abrupt answers. Thesaurus THESAURUS► answer something you say when someone asks you a question or speaks to you: · I asked if he wanted to come, but I didn’t get an answer.· If you’re asking me for money, the answer’s no! ► reply an answer – used especially in written English to report what someone said: · She asked how he felt, and received the reply, ‘Awful!’· ‘Finished now?’ ‘No,' came the reply. ► response an answer that clearly shows your reaction to a question, suggestion etc: · Wagner’s responses showed that he had thought carefully about the issues.· ‘Sure. Why not?’ was his response to most of Billie’s suggestions. ► retort written an angry answer given when someone has annoyed you or criticized you: · Isabelle began an angry retort and then stopped herself. ► comeback a quick answer that is clever, funny, or rude: · He walked out before I could think of a snappy comeback. ► riposte formal a quick and clever answer: · Anna produced the perfect riposte. ► rejoinder formal a quick answer, especially a clever or rude one: · If he confronts them, he’ll run the risk of a sharp rejoinder. Longman Language Activatorto answer when someone asks you a question or speaks to you► answer to say something to someone when they have asked you a question or spoken to you: · Julie thought for a long time before answering.· I said hello to her, but she didn't answer.· "Why don't you just leave?" "I'd like to," she answered, "but I have nowhere else to go."· How much did you spend? Come on, answer me!answer a question: · You don't have to answer the question if you don't want to.answer that: · When questioned about the robbery, Hughes answered that he knew nothing about it. ► reply to answer someone when they have asked you a question or spoken to you - used especially in written English to report what someone said: · I waited for Smith to reply, but he said nothing.· "I'm so sorry," he replied.reply to: · The jailers refused to reply to the prisoners' questions about where they were being taken.reply that: · We asked Jane to help, but she replied that she was too busy. ► respond to answer someone, especially someone who has criticized you or disagreed with you, in a clear and detailed way: · The waitress waited a moment and then responded.· "I'd be there if I could," Bill responded.respond to: · How do you respond to the allegation that you deliberately deceived your employers?· The meeting will give administrators a chance to respond to the community's questions and concerns.respond by saying/telling/asking etc: · His father usually responds by telling him to be quiet. ► give somebody an answer to answer someone by telling them what you have decided or by providing them with the particular piece of information that they have asked for: · They're offering us a new contract and we have to give them a definite answer by the end of the month.· He didn't give me a very satisfactory answer ► in reply (to)/in answer to/in response to if you say or do something in reply to what someone has said, you say or do it as a way of answering their question, request, remark etc: · "Where are we going?" Jill asked. The driver only lifted his hand in reply, as if to silence her.· "That won't be necessary," Wilson said in reply to the question.· In response to your question, no, I don't think a meeting is necessary. ► get back to to answer someone at a later time especially by telephoning them, usually because you need to think about their question or find out more information before you can give an answer: · She's promised to get back to me as soon as she hears any more news from the hospital.· Tell you what, let me talk it over with the guys and I'll get back to you. ► retort written to answer someone angrily, especially because they have annoyed you or criticized you: · "You're not afraid?" Brenda asked. "Of course not," he retorted angrily.retort that: · Republicans retorted that the amendment is necessary to balance the budget. to answer a letter, invitation, e-mail etc► reply to write a letter to someone who has written to you, or to someone who has put an advertisement in a newspaper: · I wrote to Franca three weeks ago but she hasn't replied yet.reply to: · Becky hasn't replied to our invitation, so I assume she isn't coming. ► answer if you answer a letter or advertisement, you write a letter to the person who has written it: · I got the job by answering an advertisement in the paper.· Miss Millar hired a secretary to answer her mail while she was on vacation.· Think carefully before answering that memo. ► write back to write a letter to someone who has written a letter to you: · Sara wrote asking if she could help, so I wrote back and said yes.write back to: · Josh, have you written back to Grandma yet?write somebody back American: · She didn't really expect him to write her back. ► acknowledge formal to write a letter telling someone that you have received a letter, parcel etc that they have sent you: · I have just sent off a letter acknowledging their message.acknowledge receipt of something (=officially acknowledge that you have received something): · Please acknowledge receipt of this document by signing and returning the enclosed form. ► RSVP/R.S.V.P. written please answer this invitation - used at the end of formal invitations when asking someone to say if they can definitely come to a wedding, formal dinner etc: · Dr Fischer requests your company at a dinner to celebrate his retirement at the Dorchester Hotel on November 30th at 10 pm. RSVP. ► in response/answer/reply to something if you say or do something in response to what someone has written, you say or do it as a way of answering their question, request, advertisement etc: · She said she'd come to the office in response to an ad she'd seen in the paper.· In answer to recent criticism the President has issued a statement explaining his policies. to answer the telephone/the door► answer to pick up the telephone and speak when it rings, or go to the door and open it when someone knocks: · I knocked on the door for a long time, but no one answered.answer the telephone/a call/the door: · A strange man answered the door.· She still isn't answering my calls. ► get to answer the telephone, or go to the door when someone knocks: get the phone/door: · I'll get the phone. I think it's for me.· Can someone get the door - I'm in the shower!get it spoken (=answer the phone/door): · The phone's ringing. Do you want me to get it? ► take a call to speak to someone on the telephone because the person that they want to speak to is not available: · I was out that day, and my mother took the call.· Do you want to take the call in your office?take a call for: · Someone wants to speak to Professor Welch, but I can't find him. Would you take the call for him please. ► pick up spoken to answer a phone and talk to the person who is calling: · Come on Bob, pick up! I know you're there.pick up the phone: · Just pick up the phone and tell her to stop calling you here.pick it/the phone up: · After the phone had rung twice, Joyce picked it up and said hello. to answer a teacher, parent etc in a rude way► answer back/talk back to answer someone rudely, especially a teacher, parent etc when they criticize you or tell you to do something: · Don't talk back. It's rude.answer somebody back: · We were all scared of Mr Williams, but here was a girl who actually answered him back.talk back to somebody: · Don't talk back to your mother like that! ► back talk also back chat British rude remarks that someone makes when they answer their teacher, parent etc: · I don't want any excuses, complaints, or back talk.· Any more of your back chat and you'll have to stay behind after school. something you say as an answer► answer something you say when someone asks you a question or speaks to you: · Each time I ask him when the work will be done, I get a different answer.· I've asked Yvonne to come on vacation with us, but I'm still waiting for her answer.the answer is no/yes: · If you're asking me for money, the answer's no!answer to a question: · The answer to your question is very simple: you failed the exam because you didn't do any work.the answer is (that): · Why don't people complain? The answer is that they are frightened of losing their jobs. ► reply something you say when someone asks you a question or speaks to you - use this especially in written English to report what someone has said: · Dr Kleinert murmured a reply, but I couldn't hear what it was.· "I'm just borrowing your black dress, OK?" said Maxine, without waiting for a reply.reply to: · Railway officials say it isn't their fault - which is their standard reply to customers' complaints. ► response an answer that clearly shows your reaction to a question, suggestion etc: · Wagner's responses showed that he had thought carefully about the issues.response to: · "Sure. Why not?" was his response to most of Billie's suggestions. ► retort written an angry or cleverly humorous answer, especially to someone who has made you angry: · Ellie's angry retort surprised Max.· She could never think of a clever retort to counter Ben's string of jokes and witticisms. something you write as an answer► reply a written answer to a letter, invitation, or advertisement: · We advertised for a secretary in the local paper and got 24 replies.· I wrote to them three weeks ago and I haven't had a reply back yet.reply to: · It is usual to send a formal reply to a wedding invitation. ► answer a letter that you write back to someone who has asked you for something: · We've written to the bank requesting a loan, and we're expecting an answer in this morning's mail.answer to: · Did you ever get an answer to your last letter? ► acknowledgement a formal letter or note stating that a letter, parcel etc has been received: · I received an acknowledgement from Toshiba yesterday telling me that they were considering my application for the job.letter of acknowledgement: · He's still waiting for a letter of acknowledgement of the last cheque he sent them. ► response an answer that clearly shows your reaction to a question, suggestion etc: · I mailed the letter on Monday and had a response already on Friday.response to: · Write your responses to the questions on the back of the sheet. to not answer someone► not answer · "What are you doing here?" The child's mouth trembled a little, but he did not answer.not answer somebody/something · I'm afraid I can't answer that question.· I knew there was something wrong when she didn't answer me. ► no answer/reply/response : there is no answer/reply/response · I called Stevie's name but there was no answer.get no answer/reply/response · He's written three letters to the mayor, but he's gotten no response. ► make no reply/response/answer to deliberately remain silent when someone asks you a question or talks to you: · I greeted Minna, but she made no reply.· Alan tried to start a conversation, but when Lockwood made no response, he gave up. the answer to a question in a test, competition etc► answer an answer to a question in a test or competition: · Write your answers on the form and send it to this address.the answer (=the correct answer): · And the answer is ... Budapest!answer to: · What's the answer to question 4?give your answer: · Think carefully before you give the answer.the right/wrong answer: · The first person to call with the right answer will win 10 CDs of their choice. ► result an answer that you have found after calculating or doing tests: · I've tried three different ways of adding these figures and each time I get a different result.· We have completed our experiments and we are now analyzing the results.· The results of our accountant's calculations show that we are on the verge of bankruptcy. ► solution the correct answer to a complicated problem in a test or competition: · It was a difficult equation, but it took her only five minutes to work out the solution.solution to: · The solution to this week's puzzle will be published in next week's magazine. to give an answer to a question in a test, competition etc► answer : answer a question · You have 20 minutes to answer all the questions.answer correctly · If you answer correctly, you could win a video camera. to find or calculate the answer to a question► solve to find the correct answer to a question, problem, or sum by thinking about it carefully or doing calculations: · I'm never going to solve this puzzle - it's impossible.· According to Greek legend, it was Oedipus who solved the riddle of the Sphinx. ► work out/figure out to find the answer, usually a number or amount, to a calculation: work/figure something out: · It's all right, I don't need a calculator. I can work it out in my head.· I'm sure they owe me more money than that - I'll have to sit down and figure it out.work out/figure out something: · Using a calculator, work out the answers to the following questions. when a law court decides that someone is innocent► insist · "I really need to speak to you now." "Oh, all right if you insist."· We hadn't intended to stay for another drink, but our host insisted.insist (that) · Mom always insists that we keep our rooms neat.· He was a religious man who insisted his children went to church every Sunday.insist on · Many workers now insist on a smoke-free environment.insist on doing something · The man insisted on helping me find a taxi even though I told him I didn't need any help. ► demand to say very strongly and often angrily that something should be done or given to you: · Parents are demanding greater control over their children's education.· I caught Alice going through my letters and demanded an immediate explanation.demand that: · State health inspectors have demanded that the city act immediately to clean the water supply.demand to do something: · The guards demanded to see her I.D. before they allowed her in the building.· Daley demanded to know why the police had not been called in to stop the rioting. ► put your foot down to say firmly that someone must not do something or behave in a particular way: · You'd better put your foot down before those kids get completely out of control.· Ed was talking about dropping out of school, but Mom and Dad put their foot down. ► be adamant if someone is adamant about something, they say strongly that it must be done or that it is right and no one can persuade them to change their mind: · I didn't want to go to the party, but he was adamant and we ended up going.be adamant about: · The protesters were adamant about staying and making sure their voices were heard.be adamant that: · The company's managing director is adamant that there will be no compromise with the unions.be adamant in your opposition/refusal/desire etc: · The district attorney has been adamant in her refusal to pursue the case. ► won't/wouldn't take no for an answer informal if someone won't take no for an answer, they insist that you must do something, even though you have told them that you do not want to do it: · You simply must come to dinner on Saturday - I won't take no for an answer!· I told him that I didn't want to go out with him, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. ► be insistent to say repeatedly and strongly that someone should do something, even though they disagree: · My boss finally got me to take the course - he's very insistent.be insistent that: · Eric's parents have been insistent that he and his girlfriend get married.be insistent on: · The principal would be less insistent on kids wearing school uniforms if the school had to pay for them. ► at somebody's insistence if you do something at someone's insistence , you do it because they say you must do it: · Byrd claims he was carrying the gun at his wife's insistence.· At Stevenson's insistence, Reynold's name was kept on the list.at the insistence of somebody: · U.S. troops were finally removed from the country at the insistence of Congress. ► won't/wouldn't hear of informal to insist that someone should not do something, especially because you want to help them in some way: · I've offered to pay Simon for fixing my car, but he won't hear of it.· Jack wouldn't hear of Debbie going back to work so soon after the baby was born. a solution to a problem► solution · One possible solution might be to borrow the money.· A dentist could put in a temporary filling, but that's not the perfect solution.solution to/for · Sleeping tablets are not the best solution to insomnia as they upset the natural rhythm of sleep.find/come up with a solution · We can help you find a solution to all your financial problems. ► answer a way of dealing with a problem or unsatisfactory situation, especially one that has been worrying you for a long time: · The city council has to find a better way of dealing with domestic waste. One answer is to burn it.answer to: · A bank loan seemed like the answer to all our problems.there are no easy answers: · There are no easy answers to today's environmental problems. ► cure a way of dealing with a problem, especially a practical problem, so that it does not happen again: · The experts believe they know the causes of the crime wave but they cannot agree on a cure.cure for: · Adding a little oil into the mechanism is one of the best cures for a noisy engine.miracle/wonder cure (=a very effective cure): · It's not a miracle cure, but moisturiser can make your skin less dry. ► remedy a way of dealing with a problem or unsatisfactory situation by improving it or getting rid of it completely: · If you find it hard to live on your present salary, the best remedy would be to change jobs.remedy for: · One remedy for racial attacks would be to educate our children more about social issues. ► panacea formal something that people hope will solve all their problems: · Electoral reform is not a panacea. It causes almost as many problems as it solves.panacea for: · Librarians welcomed computerization as the panacea for all their cataloguing problems. ► way out a way of dealing with an unpleasant situation so that it no longer exists: · We are faced with a very difficult situation, but there must be a way out.way out of: · I don't see any way out of the present deadlock. WORD SETS► Telephone/Telegraph answer, nounanswering machine, nounarea code, nounbeeper, nounbleep, verbbleeper, nounbusy, adjectivecable, nouncable, verbcall box, nouncaller, nounCATV, cell, nouncellphone, nouncellular phone, nounchat line, nouncode, nounconference call, nounconferencing, nounconnect, verbcradle, nouncrossed, adjectivedead, adjectivedial, noundial, verbdialling code, noundialling tone, noundial tone, noundirectory enquiries, noundisconnect, verbearpiece, nounECN, nounEntryphone, nounex-directory, adjectiveext., extension, nounfacsimile, nounFreephone, nounGSM, nounhelpline, nounhotline, nounhousephone, nounline, nounlocal call, nounmayday, nounmobile, nounmobile phone, nounMorse code, nounmouthpiece, nounnumber, nounon, prepositionoperator, nounpay phone, nounphone book, nounphone booth, nounphone box, nounphonecard, nounradio-telephone, nounreceiver, nounredial, verbring, verbscrambler, nounsecond-generation, adjectiveSOS, nounswitchboard, nountelecottage, nountelegram, nountelegraph, nountelegraph, verbtelegrapher, nountelegraphist, nountelegraph pole, nountelemarketing, nountelematics, nountelephone, nountelephone, verbtelephone book, nountelephone box, nountelephone call, nountelephone directory, nountelephone exchange, nountelephone number, nountelephone pole, nountelephonist, nounteleprinter, nounteletypewriter, nountelex, nounthird-generation, adjectivethrough, prepositiontoll-free, adverbTouch-Tone phone, nountrace, nountriple play, nountrunk call, noununlisted, adjectiveutility pole, nounvideophone, nounvoice mail, nounWi-Fi, nounwire, nounwire, verbwireless internet, wiretapping, noun Collocations COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Meaning 1adjectives► an honest/straight answer · The honest answer is that I don’t know. ► a definite answer (=that says yes or no definitely)· Can you give me a definite answer tomorrow? ► a satisfactory answer · I didn’t get a satisfactory answer from the company. verbs► give somebody an answer · I’ll give you an answer tomorrow. ► get/receive an answer · She wrote to him but she never got an answer. ► wait for an answer · Kate was looking at me, waiting for an answer. ► think of an answer · She couldn’t think of a suitable answer to his question. phrases► the short answer is ... (=used when giving a simple, honest, or direct answer to a difficult question)· ‘How does homeopathy work?’ ‘The short answer to this question is that we do not know how homeopathic remedies work.’ Meaning 2adjectives► the right/wrong answer · Do you know the right answer to this question? ► the correct/incorrect answer · You get 5 points for each correct answer. verbs► know the answer · Put up your hand if you know the answer. ► guess the answer · If you don’t know the answer, try guessing it. ► write the answer · Do we write the answers in the exercise book, Sir? Meaning 3adjectives► the simple/easy answer · There are a lot of problems and no simple answers. ► the obvious answer · The obvious answer is to raise taxes, but that would be unpopular. ► the perfect answer · I think I have the perfect answer to the problem. ► the complete answer · A loan, however, is not the complete answer to the company’s problems. ► the long-term answer · He believes hydrogen is the long-term answer to our growing energy crisis. ► a short-term answer · Employing overseas nurses is only a short-term answer to the shortage. verbs► have an answer · Doctors are supposed to have all the answers. ► find an answer · The aim is to find a long-term answer to poverty. ► come up with an answer (=find a way of dealing with a problem)· The government is struggling to come up with answers to our economic problems. COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► answer an advertisement · I answered an advertisement in the paper for volunteers. ► answer a call · We’re sorry that we cannot answer your call right now. ► a correct answer · Lucy got fourteen out of twenty correct answers. ► somebody answering a description (=a person who looks like someone in a police description)· A young girl answering this description has been seen in Spain. ► answer the door (=open it for someone who has knocked or pressed the bell)· Lucy ran downstairs to answer the door. ► answer/reply to an email · She did not bother replying to his email. ► answer an inquiry (also respond to an inquiry formal)· The government has not yet answered our inquiry. ► answer a letter/reply to a letter · I never answered his letter. ► the problem/answer etc lies with/in something  The difficulty lies in providing sufficient evidence. ► an answering machine (=for recording telephone messages)· There’s a message on the answering machine. ► negative answer/reply/response  He gave a negative answer without any explanation. ► the answer is no  If you’re asking whether I feel the same way about her, the answer is no. ► the obvious answer · There is no obvious answer to their problem. ► answer the phone (also pick up the phone)· My dad answered the phone. ► answer somebody's prayer (=respond to a prayer, especially by giving you what you ask for)· One day my prayers were answered. ► answer ... queries  Staff are always available to answer your queries. ► answer a question · You haven’t answered my question. ► ready answer  I had no ready answer to his question. ► a question-and-answer session (=when people ask a speaker questions)· His talk was followed by a question and answer session. ► straight answer  I’d like a straight answer please. ► stumped for words/an answer/a reply  Travis seemed absolutely stumped for words. ► answer the telephone · When I called the house, Mike answered the telephone. COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► correct · Conversely, correct answers were sometimes treated as if they were incorrect.· The correct answer is: Yes.· This supplements the consideration of deductive and logical abilities measured by the traditional convergent questions for which there are unique correct answers.· Owner Jim presented flash cards, writes Steiner, and Sunny came up with correct answers.· A total of 71 percent of the full attainment range sample obtained the correct answer.· The correct answer is Coco Chanel.· The point is that nobody can be sure what the correct answer actually is.· The quicker the player chooses the correct answer, the more points he or she gets. ► definite · Philosophers need to stop procrastinating and staring at their navels and answer questions like the one above with a definite answer.· Because there are few definite answers in law, it engages one to be philosophical-or spiritual, you might say.· The accompanying text pages explore these questions and give definite answers as a basis for discussion.· I would like to give a definite answer.· For the bluesy sound that you are after, an old Marshall 50 with a 4x12 would be the definite answer.· All are familiar with their own experiences of being asleep, and feel they can give definite answers.· There can be no definite answer to this problem at the moment.· None of those questions has a definite answer. ► easy · Some materials still resist easy answers - gold is an example.· Because the move to management requires transformation, though, no easy answers or quick fixes are provided.· No easy answers came and there were many apparent paradoxes.· I found no easy answer from within myself.· Magona's reexamination of a highly contentious political event leaves no easy answers.· So much for an easy answer.· It's time to ask questions that don't have easy answers.· Instead of careful legalisms, there was an easy flow of answers, even if some were too pat. ► honest · The honest answer is another question; well what is there?· In my mind, it was the only truly honest answer to my question.· Unless it means he can't give an honest answer.· Sadly the only honest answer to this question is that nobody knows.· Please can we have some honest answers which really address the true situation?· The attendant was entirely honest in his answers to my questions and in the amount of fuel he pumped.· Be honest with your answers and repeat the questionnaire in two months' time!· An honest answer seems to be that no one has the slightest idea. ► obvious · The obvious answer is to draw it back to the side away from the corner, but this can create an unbalanced appearance.· Video teleconferencing seemed the obvious answer to span the communications gap.· Cui bono? has a too obvious answer.· If counterintelligence becomes the overriding mission, the obvious answer is the solution first offered by Sen.· To all these and other equally weighty questions, I had no obvious answers yet.· The obvious answer, of course, is that it is just another example of the Government's incompetence.· For the Terrells a good many of the obvious answers are irrelevant. ► only · As a matter of interpretation the only possible answer is that it can not.· In my mind, it was the only truly honest answer to my question.· Surely those were good questions which need answering, and to abandon the community interpretation deprives us of the only possible answer.· I should have known the only answer ever is to stand and fight.· The only answer was to find himself some one new.· Housing officers say the only answer is for tenants to be prepared to take their cases to court.· The only answer was the serum.· A return to scriptural authority is the only answer. ► possible · We look at other possible answers in the next chapter.· Truc inadvertently provided a possible answer.· Surely those were good questions which need answering, and to abandon the community interpretation deprives us of the only possible answer.· There are other possible answers, too.· A letter from Shrewsbury, received in Christmas week, provided one possible answer.· Here is a possible answer: Michael Landon was rich, decent, handsome, young, and successful.· But it is the first possible answer that presents the immediate worry.· One possible answer is that the Fed is wrong, that depository institutions do borrow for profit as well as need. ► right · Mr. Lloyd may be right in his answer to the estoppel by deed point.· They had simply assumed that, because I had asked the question, one of those words must be the right answer.· The child will work it out on his fingers and get the right answer.· What mattered was that I got the right answer.· No one has all the right answers but there is now a willingness to share information.· I quickly found out that knowing the right answer was much easier than selling it.· There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.· When a clinical situation poses a genuine moral dilemma, by definition no right answer exists. ► satisfactory · One long-standing allegation of satanic elements in masonry, however, still awaits a satisfactory answer.· There are hundreds of questions to be asked in order to find a satisfactory answer to the general question.· But she had no satisfactory answer to that.· We are left by the master without a satisfactory answer to our question.· She was baffled when she couldn't give herself, or wouldn't give herself, a satisfactory answer.· I can not pretend to give a satisfactory answer to these questions.· In the case of Sri Lanka, there is no satisfactory answer.· But he can never come up with a satisfactory answer. ► short · There is a short and simple answer to this question.· The short answer is yes, some but not nearly enough.· That short answer gives rise to two further questions.· We chatted about Guantanamo, me with the long questions and he with the short, abrupt answers.· The short answer to that is that we don't know.· A: The short answer is no.· A well-structured short answer is better than a weakly-structured long answer. ► simple · The simple answer is, they do not.· There is no simple answer to this question.· In short, there is no simple answer to whether caffeine is, or is not, helpful in performing intellectual tasks.· The simple answer is - yes.· We persist in grasping at neat, simple answers, when we should be questioning everything.· A simple answer would be to establish a sociology / psychology / philosophy core for all pupils.· There is, unfortunately, no simple answer, for our knowledge on the subject will always be limited. ► straight · Then I want a straight answer.· Tommy gave straight answers and expected them in return.· I also want a straight answer on Charlie Northrup.· Designed to provide a straight answer to a straight question as fast as possible.· Now that was a straight answer.· You just have to give a straight answer. ► wrong · There was a reluctance among some teachers to say openly that a particular answer to a question was wrong.· With contemporary art, there is not always a right or wrong answer.· They found no clearly right and wrong answers in dealing with people.· There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.· The teacher was told by the researcher to regard silence as a wrong answer and to punish it accordingly.· But it's the wrong answer.· Conversely, they attached little value to questions to which there were simply short right or wrong answers. VERB► find · And then she thought of how she might find an answer to some of her questions.· There are hundreds of questions to be asked in order to find a satisfactory answer to the general question.· In 1983 she found an answer - albeit the wrong one to all her problems.· Suggested it would take a bipartisan commission to find answers for long-term imbalances in Social Security and Medicare.· From this, assumptions can be made about the internal processes required to find the answer.· And when you found the right answer, there was no arguing about it.· Time to leave then, and find some answers.· As with the science of fermentation, it took a surprisingly long time for anybody to find answers to such questions. ► give · I wish I could give a more hopeful answer.· A Census Bureau study gives us the answer.· The boy was quieter than his sister, and gave tongue-tied answers.· I will give you my answer.· When everyone has finished discussing, they give their answers.· Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do.· However, they did find that personal service workers tended to give different answers to the questions about autonomy at work.· My Internet provider gives conflicting answers. ► know · I mean, he knows the answers to all the questions in the Baby Trivia Quiz already.· Without his even knowing it, the answer was already there for him, sitting fully formed in his head.· I don't know the answer to all these questions.· I quickly found out that knowing the right answer was much easier than selling it.· I didn't know the answer and neither did anyone else.· Eleven months ago, with a full head of hair, Dominic won this game because he knew the answer was Bambi.· I should have known the only answer ever is to stand and fight.· The voter knows that an affirmative answer would be considered more respectable than the truth. ► lie · The long-term answer lies in a case decision favourable to the taxpayer on this very point.· The first answer lies in the choice of books.· The answer probably lies in the complex maze of hype, distribution and luck which makes up today's rock biz.· One answer lies in the technological advances that make it possible to operate with fewer people.· The answer lies in the nature of Skymaster itself, and for that you need a little history.· Sure, part of the new management answer lies in articulating why change is necessary and what the desired changes look like.· The answer lies somewhere between these two extremes.· This answer lies in several areas: high-quality content, use of the latest technology and the fun factor. ► provide · Researchers hope that observations of behaviour within the hive will provide an answer.· No one can provide definitive answers to these questions.· We regret that we can not provide data or answer queries on articles or projects that are more than five years old.· Evaluation does not provide all the answers and often presents no clear path for improvement.· While measures for closer relations between auditors and shareholders are welcome, they may not provide the complete answer.· This stage of experiment should focus and direct inquiry by providing some answers to old questions and suggesting some new questions.· This approach tends to wait on the scientists to provide a satisfactory answer.· The Senate subcommittee, like too many government entities, asked the wrong questions and provided no answers. ► receive · Both questions have to receive affirmative answers, and they are not mutually exclusive.· Kate never received an answer to this letter, for it never reached Minnie.· I've delivered the message, and I've received your answer.· When Tabachnikov asked open-ended questions, she rarely received an answer.· He thumped his hand on it twice and, receiving no answer, used his keys and entered.· I asked, never receiving a satisfy-ing answer.· Once all the tenders had been received, the answers were scored.· You can also leave a question and receive an answer by mail or telephone call within a week. ► send · All you have to do is identify those plants and send in your answers on a postcard together with your name and address.· No trouble! Send your answers to Link editor,,.· Lenders advertising the same APRs sent in different answers. ► write · As each question is asked each team goes into a huddle and then writes down its answer.· The Bureau drew most of its figures from a written answer to a printed form.· Simply write the appropriate answers in the boxes on the corner of the page - all necessary information appears in this feature.· First, it is apparent that illiterates will not have much success in giving written answers to a printed questionnaire.· Answer the following questions. Write your answers on a sheet of paper which you can keep.· Ask questions on any subject and receive written answers.· Then use the coupon on the right to write your answers and personal details.· They questioned the men, wrote down their answers, conferred, made decisions. Phrases PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► somebody’s answer to something The Space Needle is Seattle's answer to the Eiffel Tower. A third consideration draws attention to the association between answers to the Ten Statements Test, and another set of factors. An answer to that question might give clues to the broader question of the function of sleep. At first glance the answer to this question too seems to be in the negative. Do you really want to hear the answers to all those questions? I never did get an answer to that final one. Send your answers to Link editor,,. The answer to that question depends in part on your business. The attendant was entirely honest in his answers to my questions and in the amount of fuel he pumped. ► have/know all the answers Anyone can claim to have all the answers. But I don't have all the answers. He was a modest and unassuming man who never gave the impression that he knew all the answers. In the current situation many issues as yet remain unresolved and we do not have all the answers. We are supposed to have all the answers. Will that have all the answers? PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► answer/reply in the affirmative Are men more mechanical than women? 67% of all men responding to our poll answered in the affirmative. When asked if he recognized the defendant, the witness replied in the affirmative. No doubt Harry's family would also have replied in the affirmative, indicating that they really did not know what happiness was. That question was answered in the affirmative. We can answer in the affirmative provided the weights are all positive. ► speak/ask/answer etc directly Although they never spoke directly of Lachlan, each knew the other's mind; though not as well as she believed. Dole spoke directly about his age, saying 73 years of life are not a liability. Even when asked directly, as they were by Carol Hong, employees misrepresented the costs, her lawsuit alleges. In fact, a Harvard spokesman confirmed her admittance only when asked directly. Later she spoke directly to Rachel. They seem to speak directly out of the dark into your ears or mine alone. This is, however, a book that speaks directly to the home cook looking for new challenges and tastes. When asked directly what were their visions of Howdendyke's future, interviewees made fairly consistent replies. ► there are no easy answers As usual, there are no easy answers to explain human behavior. But suddenly we find ourselves acknowledging that there are no easy answers to the dilemmas Christians face. So there are no easy answers. There are no easy answers to this problem. ► won’t take no for an answer► an/the answer to somebody’s prayers Excel 4 has the answer to my prayers in the Scenario Manager. If so, a 100 per cent mortgage may look like the answer to your prayers. If so, Lands' End may have the answer to your prayers. She, she is the answer to my prayers. The letter seemed to be the answer to her prayers. To Jacqueline this was the answer to her prayers. 1reply [countable, uncountable] something you say when you reply to a question that someone has asked you SYN  response:  You don’t have to give them an answer now. Every time I ask him about it, I get a different answer.answer to These are important questions, and we want answers to them. She’s still waiting for an answer from the school. The honest answer was that I didn’t know. He was never able to get a straight answer about why it happened. It’s impossible for me to give you a definite answer at this time. The short answer is that it can’t be done. In answer to your question, yes, you can go. If it’s money you want, the answer is no!2test/competition etc [countable] something that you write or say in reply to a question in a test or competitionanswer to What was the answer to question 4?the right/wrong/correct/incorrect answer Score two points for each correct answer.3invitation/letter etc [countable] a written reply to a letter, invitation, advertisement etcanswer to Did you ever get an answer to your letter?4problem [countable] a way of dealing with a problem SYN  solutionsimple/easy/obvious answer There is no simple answer.answer to The police do not have an answer to rising crime. Some people think cars should be banned from the city, but I don’t think that’s the answer.be the answer to somebody’s problems/worries etc If he could get a job, it’d be the answer to all his worries.5on the phone [singular, uncountable usually in negative] if you get an answer when you call someone on the phone, they pick up the phone and talk to you:  I tried calling him all day but couldn’t get an answer.6at the door [singular, uncountable usually in negative] if you get an answer when you knock on a door, someone opens it and talks to you:  I tried knocking on her door, but there was no answer.7have/know all the answers informal to be very sure that you know everything about a situation, especially when you do not:  He acts like he has all the answers.8somebody’s answer to something written someone or something that is considered to be just as good as a more famous person or thing:  The Space Needle is Seattle’s answer to the Eiffel Tower.COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 1adjectivesan honest/straight answer· The honest answer is that I don’t know.a definite answer (=that says yes or no definitely)· Can you give me a definite answer tomorrow?a satisfactory answer· I didn’t get a satisfactory answer from the company.verbsgive somebody an answer· I’ll give you an answer tomorrow.get/receive an answer· She wrote to him but she never got an answer.wait for an answer· Kate was looking at me, waiting for an answer.think of an answer· She couldn’t think of a suitable answer to his question.phrasesthe short answer is ... (=used when giving a simple, honest, or direct answer to a difficult question)· ‘How does homeopathy work?’ ‘The short answer to this question is that we do not know how homeopathic remedies work.’COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 2adjectivesthe right/wrong answer· Do you know the right answer to this question?the correct/incorrect answer· You get 5 points for each correct answer.verbsknow the answer· Put up your hand if you know the answer.guess the answer· If you don’t know the answer, try guessing it.write the answer· Do we write the answers in the exercise book, Sir?COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 3adjectivesthe simple/easy answer· There are a lot of problems and no simple answers.the obvious answer· The obvious answer is to raise taxes, but that would be unpopular.the perfect answer· I think I have the perfect answer to the problem.the complete answer· A loan, however, is not the complete answer to the company’s problems.the long-term answer· He believes hydrogen is the long-term answer to our growing energy crisis.a short-term answer· Employing overseas nurses is only a short-term answer to the shortage.verbshave an answer· Doctors are supposed to have all the answers.find an answer· The aim is to find a long-term answer to poverty.come up with an answer (=find a way of dealing with a problem)· The government is struggling to come up with answers to our economic problems.THESAURUSanswer something you say when someone asks you a question or speaks to you: · I asked if he wanted to come, but I didn’t get an answer.· If you’re asking me for money, the answer’s no!reply an answer – used especially in written English to report what someone said: · She asked how he felt, and received the reply, ‘Awful!’· ‘Finished now?’ ‘No,' came the reply.response an answer that clearly shows your reaction to a question, suggestion etc: · Wagner’s responses showed that he had thought carefully about the issues.· ‘Sure. Why not?’ was his response to most of Billie’s suggestions.retort written an angry answer given when someone has annoyed you or criticized you: · Isabelle began an angry retort and then stopped herself.comeback a quick answer that is clever, funny, or rude: · He walked out before I could think of a snappy comeback.riposte formal a quick and clever answer: · Anna produced the perfect riposte.rejoinder formal a quick answer, especially a clever or rude one: · If he confronts them, he’ll run the risk of a sharp rejoinder. answer1 nounanswer2 verb answeranswer2 ●●● S1 W2 verb Entry menu MENU FOR answeranswer1 reply2 test3 answer the phone/a call/the door4 letter5 answer criticism/charges/accusations etc6 react to something7 deal with a problem8 answer a need9 answer a descriptionPhrasal verbsanswer backanswer for somebody/somethinganswer to somebody/something Verb Table VERB TABLE answer Simple Form Present I, you, we, they answer he, she, it answers Past I, you, he, she, it, we, they answered Present perfect I, you, we, they have answered he, she, it has answered Past perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they had answered Future I, you, he, she, it, we, they will answer Future perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they will have answered Continuous Form Present I am answering he, she, it is answering you, we, they are answering Past I, he, she, it was answering you, we, they were answering Present perfect I, you, we, they have been answering he, she, it has been answering Past perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they had been answering Future I, you, he, she, it, we, they will be answering Future perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they will have been answering Examples EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES "Why don't you just leave?" "I'd like to," she answered, "but I have nowhere else to go." A strange man answered the door. How much did you spend? Come on, answer me! I got the job by answering an advertisement in the paper. I knocked on the door for a long time, but no one answered. I said hello to her, but she didn't answer. If you answer correctly, you could win a video camera. Julie thought for a long time before answering. Miss Millar hired a secretary to answer her mail while she was on vacation. No one in the city government satisfactorily answered that question. Officials have made every effort to answer trade concerns. Only one person answered all the questions correctly. She still isn't answering my calls. The waiters are happy to answer customers' questions. Think carefully before answering that memo. When questioned about the robbery, Hughes answered that he knew nothing about it. Whitmore never answered any of my letters. You don't have to answer the question if you don't want to. You have 20 minutes to answer all the questions. EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS A few other players checked their watches, eager to stop fielding questions that only the Games can really answer now. As the editor in chief of such a magazine, I am obliged to answer a lot of questions about men. Be careful how you answer that one. Employing one or several people to answer calls, so that they are screened for their relevance. I think the present Government has a lot to answer for. It is a long interview because he is constitutionally incapable of answering a question without at least three long digressions. She refused to answer questions from reporters later as she left. That prayer may already be answered. Thesaurus THESAURUS► answer to say something to someone when they have asked you a question or spoken to you: · You don’t have to answer the question if you don’t want to.· I said hello to her, but she didn’t answer. ► reply to answer someone – used especially in written English to report what someone said: · ‘I’m so sorry,’ he replied.· We asked Jane to help, but she replied that she was too busy. ► respond formal to answer someone: · How do you respond to the allegation that you deliberately deceived your employers? ► give somebody an answer to answer someone by telling them what you have decided or giving them a piece of information they asked for: · He asked me to marry him, but I didn’t give him an answer straight away. ► get back to somebody to answer someone at a later time especially by telephoning them, usually because you need to think about their question or find out more information: · She’s promised to get back to me as soon as she hears any more news from the hospital. ► retort written to answer someone angrily, especially because they have annoyed you or criticized you: · ‘You’re not afraid?’ Brenda asked. ‘Of course not,’ he retorted angrily. Longman Language Activatorto answer when someone asks you a question or speaks to you► answer to say something to someone when they have asked you a question or spoken to you: · Julie thought for a long time before answering.· I said hello to her, but she didn't answer.· "Why don't you just leave?" "I'd like to," she answered, "but I have nowhere else to go."· How much did you spend? Come on, answer me!answer a question: · You don't have to answer the question if you don't want to.answer that: · When questioned about the robbery, Hughes answered that he knew nothing about it. ► reply to answer someone when they have asked you a question or spoken to you - used especially in written English to report what someone said: · I waited for Smith to reply, but he said nothing.· "I'm so sorry," he replied.reply to: · The jailers refused to reply to the prisoners' questions about where they were being taken.reply that: · We asked Jane to help, but she replied that she was too busy. ► respond to answer someone, especially someone who has criticized you or disagreed with you, in a clear and detailed way: · The waitress waited a moment and then responded.· "I'd be there if I could," Bill responded.respond to: · How do you respond to the allegation that you deliberately deceived your employers?· The meeting will give administrators a chance to respond to the community's questions and concerns.respond by saying/telling/asking etc: · His father usually responds by telling him to be quiet. ► give somebody an answer to answer someone by telling them what you have decided or by providing them with the particular piece of information that they have asked for: · They're offering us a new contract and we have to give them a definite answer by the end of the month.· He didn't give me a very satisfactory answer ► in reply (to)/in answer to/in response to if you say or do something in reply to what someone has said, you say or do it as a way of answering their question, request, remark etc: · "Where are we going?" Jill asked. The driver only lifted his hand in reply, as if to silence her.· "That won't be necessary," Wilson said in reply to the question.· In response to your question, no, I don't think a meeting is necessary. ► get back to to answer someone at a later time especially by telephoning them, usually because you need to think about their question or find out more information before you can give an answer: · She's promised to get back to me as soon as she hears any more news from the hospital.· Tell you what, let me talk it over with the guys and I'll get back to you. ► retort written to answer someone angrily, especially because they have annoyed you or criticized you: · "You're not afraid?" Brenda asked. "Of course not," he retorted angrily.retort that: · Republicans retorted that the amendment is necessary to balance the budget. to answer a letter, invitation, e-mail etc► reply to write a letter to someone who has written to you, or to someone who has put an advertisement in a newspaper: · I wrote to Franca three weeks ago but she hasn't replied yet.reply to: · Becky hasn't replied to our invitation, so I assume she isn't coming. ► answer if you answer a letter or advertisement, you write a letter to the person who has written it: · I got the job by answering an advertisement in the paper.· Miss Millar hired a secretary to answer her mail while she was on vacation.· Think carefully before answering that memo. ► write back to write a letter to someone who has written a letter to you: · Sara wrote asking if she could help, so I wrote back and said yes.write back to: · Josh, have you written back to Grandma yet?write somebody back American: · She didn't really expect him to write her back. ► acknowledge formal to write a letter telling someone that you have received a letter, parcel etc that they have sent you: · I have just sent off a letter acknowledging their message.acknowledge receipt of something (=officially acknowledge that you have received something): · Please acknowledge receipt of this document by signing and returning the enclosed form. ► RSVP/R.S.V.P. written please answer this invitation - used at the end of formal invitations when asking someone to say if they can definitely come to a wedding, formal dinner etc: · Dr Fischer requests your company at a dinner to celebrate his retirement at the Dorchester Hotel on November 30th at 10 pm. RSVP. ► in response/answer/reply to something if you say or do something in response to what someone has written, you say or do it as a way of answering their question, request, advertisement etc: · She said she'd come to the office in response to an ad she'd seen in the paper.· In answer to recent criticism the President has issued a statement explaining his policies. to answer the telephone/the door► answer to pick up the telephone and speak when it rings, or go to the door and open it when someone knocks: · I knocked on the door for a long time, but no one answered.answer the telephone/a call/the door: · A strange man answered the door.· She still isn't answering my calls. ► get to answer the telephone, or go to the door when someone knocks: get the phone/door: · I'll get the phone. I think it's for me.· Can someone get the door - I'm in the shower!get it spoken (=answer the phone/door): · The phone's ringing. Do you want me to get it? ► take a call to speak to someone on the telephone because the person that they want to speak to is not available: · I was out that day, and my mother took the call.· Do you want to take the call in your office?take a call for: · Someone wants to speak to Professor Welch, but I can't find him. Would you take the call for him please. ► pick up spoken to answer a phone and talk to the person who is calling: · Come on Bob, pick up! I know you're there.pick up the phone: · Just pick up the phone and tell her to stop calling you here.pick it/the phone up: · After the phone had rung twice, Joyce picked it up and said hello. to answer a teacher, parent etc in a rude way► answer back/talk back to answer someone rudely, especially a teacher, parent etc when they criticize you or tell you to do something: · Don't talk back. It's rude.answer somebody back: · We were all scared of Mr Williams, but here was a girl who actually answered him back.talk back to somebody: · Don't talk back to your mother like that! ► back talk also back chat British rude remarks that someone makes when they answer their teacher, parent etc: · I don't want any excuses, complaints, or back talk.· Any more of your back chat and you'll have to stay behind after school. something you say as an answer► answer something you say when someone asks you a question or speaks to you: · Each time I ask him when the work will be done, I get a different answer.· I've asked Yvonne to come on vacation with us, but I'm still waiting for her answer.the answer is no/yes: · If you're asking me for money, the answer's no!answer to a question: · The answer to your question is very simple: you failed the exam because you didn't do any work.the answer is (that): · Why don't people complain? The answer is that they are frightened of losing their jobs. ► reply something you say when someone asks you a question or speaks to you - use this especially in written English to report what someone has said: · Dr Kleinert murmured a reply, but I couldn't hear what it was.· "I'm just borrowing your black dress, OK?" said Maxine, without waiting for a reply.reply to: · Railway officials say it isn't their fault - which is their standard reply to customers' complaints. ► response an answer that clearly shows your reaction to a question, suggestion etc: · Wagner's responses showed that he had thought carefully about the issues.response to: · "Sure. Why not?" was his response to most of Billie's suggestions. ► retort written an angry or cleverly humorous answer, especially to someone who has made you angry: · Ellie's angry retort surprised Max.· She could never think of a clever retort to counter Ben's string of jokes and witticisms. something you write as an answer► reply a written answer to a letter, invitation, or advertisement: · We advertised for a secretary in the local paper and got 24 replies.· I wrote to them three weeks ago and I haven't had a reply back yet.reply to: · It is usual to send a formal reply to a wedding invitation. ► answer a letter that you write back to someone who has asked you for something: · We've written to the bank requesting a loan, and we're expecting an answer in this morning's mail.answer to: · Did you ever get an answer to your last letter? ► acknowledgement a formal letter or note stating that a letter, parcel etc has been received: · I received an acknowledgement from Toshiba yesterday telling me that they were considering my application for the job.letter of acknowledgement: · He's still waiting for a letter of acknowledgement of the last cheque he sent them. ► response an answer that clearly shows your reaction to a question, suggestion etc: · I mailed the letter on Monday and had a response already on Friday.response to: · Write your responses to the questions on the back of the sheet. to not answer someone► not answer · "What are you doing here?" The child's mouth trembled a little, but he did not answer.not answer somebody/something · I'm afraid I can't answer that question.· I knew there was something wrong when she didn't answer me. ► no answer/reply/response : there is no answer/reply/response · I called Stevie's name but there was no answer.get no answer/reply/response · He's written three letters to the mayor, but he's gotten no response. ► make no reply/response/answer to deliberately remain silent when someone asks you a question or talks to you: · I greeted Minna, but she made no reply.· Alan tried to start a conversation, but when Lockwood made no response, he gave up. the answer to a question in a test, competition etc► answer an answer to a question in a test or competition: · Write your answers on the form and send it to this address.the answer (=the correct answer): · And the answer is ... Budapest!answer to: · What's the answer to question 4?give your answer: · Think carefully before you give the answer.the right/wrong answer: · The first person to call with the right answer will win 10 CDs of their choice. ► result an answer that you have found after calculating or doing tests: · I've tried three different ways of adding these figures and each time I get a different result.· We have completed our experiments and we are now analyzing the results.· The results of our accountant's calculations show that we are on the verge of bankruptcy. ► solution the correct answer to a complicated problem in a test or competition: · It was a difficult equation, but it took her only five minutes to work out the solution.solution to: · The solution to this week's puzzle will be published in next week's magazine. to give an answer to a question in a test, competition etc► answer : answer a question · You have 20 minutes to answer all the questions.answer correctly · If you answer correctly, you could win a video camera. to find or calculate the answer to a question► solve to find the correct answer to a question, problem, or sum by thinking about it carefully or doing calculations: · I'm never going to solve this puzzle - it's impossible.· According to Greek legend, it was Oedipus who solved the riddle of the Sphinx. ► work out/figure out to find the answer, usually a number or amount, to a calculation: work/figure something out: · It's all right, I don't need a calculator. I can work it out in my head.· I'm sure they owe me more money than that - I'll have to sit down and figure it out.work out/figure out something: · Using a calculator, work out the answers to the following questions. to say no to a question, request or suggestion► say no · I asked him to come along to the restaurant with us, but he said no.· She's not likely to say no if you tell her the real reason you need the money.· I'm really busy at the moment, so I'm afraid I'll have to say no. ► answer/reply in the negative written to say no when you are asked something: · When asked to confirm whether all the missing soldiers were accounted for, the Lieutenant answered in the negative.· Workers were asked if they had reached their weekly targets, and if they replied in the negative, they were fired. when someone asks you a question► yes spoken · "Have you lived here long?" "Yes, about 10 years."· "Did you watch 'Trial and Retribution' last night?" "Yes, wasn't it good?"· If you're asking me whether I think we should do it, the answer is yes.yes, please (=say this to politely accept something that someone offers you) · "Would you like some wine?" "Yes, please." ► yeah spoken informal · "Are you ready, Chrissie?" "Yeah, yeah, I'm just coming."· "Was it £2000 that your car cost?" "Yeah, that's right."· "Do you think you may have to retire from athletics soon?'' "Well, yeah, I suppose so.'' ► sure spoken informal especially American · "Do you have the time, please?'' "Sure, it's three o'clock.''· "We're going to the beach this afternoon - want to come?'' "Sure, that 'd be great.'' ► definitely spoken say this when you want to agree strongly with something, or to make it clear that you are definitely going to do something: · "I think Mark would make a good team captain, don't you?" "Definitely!"· "Are you going to Sonya's party?" "Definitely! It should be really fun." ► of course spoken say this when you are surprised or annoyed that someone has asked you something, or to make your answer strong: · "Do you know when my birthday is?'' "Of course, it's next Wednesday.''of course I am/she is/you can etc: · "Are you feeling nervous?" "Of course I am, it's a very important speech." ► I'm afraid so spoken say this when you think the person asking the question is hoping for a different answer: · "You're not going out, are you?'' "I'm afraid so. But I won't be long."· "School doesn't start again next week, does it?" "Yes, I'm afraid so, Charlie." ► answer/reply in the affirmative formal written to say yes - use this when someone says yes in a formal or public situation, for example in a law court: · When asked if he recognized the defendant, the witness replied in the affirmative.· Are men more mechanical than women? 67% of all men responding to our poll answered in the affirmative. Collocations COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY► answered ... question  He still hadn’t answered my question. ► was · She answered that she was fine. ► was · She replied that she was fine. COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► answer an advertisement · I answered an advertisement in the paper for volunteers. ► answer a call · We’re sorry that we cannot answer your call right now. ► a correct answer · Lucy got fourteen out of twenty correct answers. ► somebody answering a description (=a person who looks like someone in a police description)· A young girl answering this description has been seen in Spain. ► answer the door (=open it for someone who has knocked or pressed the bell)· Lucy ran downstairs to answer the door. ► answer/reply to an email · She did not bother replying to his email. ► answer an inquiry (also respond to an inquiry formal)· The government has not yet answered our inquiry. ► answer a letter/reply to a letter · I never answered his letter. ► the problem/answer etc lies with/in something  The difficulty lies in providing sufficient evidence. ► an answering machine (=for recording telephone messages)· There’s a message on the answering machine. ► negative answer/reply/response  He gave a negative answer without any explanation. ► the answer is no  If you’re asking whether I feel the same way about her, the answer is no. ► the obvious answer · There is no obvious answer to their problem. ► answer the phone (also pick up the phone)· My dad answered the phone. ► answer somebody's prayer (=respond to a prayer, especially by giving you what you ask for)· One day my prayers were answered. ► answer ... queries  Staff are always available to answer your queries. ► answer a question · You haven’t answered my question. ► ready answer  I had no ready answer to his question. ► a question-and-answer session (=when people ask a speaker questions)· His talk was followed by a question and answer session. ► straight answer  I’d like a straight answer please. ► stumped for words/an answer/a reply  Travis seemed absolutely stumped for words. ► answer the telephone · When I called the house, Mike answered the telephone. COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► for · Elvis has a lot to answer for.· Tax men have a lot to answer for.· I think the present Government has a lot to answer for.· The procedures whereby political decisions are made in the United States surely have much to answer for.· The trade unions have been largely silent and it was felt that the media had a lot to answer for in this department.· The old, and now much condemned, low-carbohydrate method of dieting had much to answer for in making social eaters fat.· Time is relative - and Einstein has a lot to answer for. ► yes · Ninety-nine percent of those responding answered yes.· If you had asked that question six or seven years ago, I would have answered yes..· Attorney Robert Rivas answers yes to both questions.· The patient with damage to one frontal lobe catches on to the original sorting strategy and gets the string of yes answers.· Twenty percent of single women and 18 percent of women who are now separated or divorced answered yes.· Just 17 percent of women in our computer sample gave a yes answer to this question.· Again, more men than women endorsed the romantic ideal by answering yes.· Cosby answered yes when Baum asked if he ever told Jackson he loved her. NOUN► call · Secondly, it will answer calls for a less economistic analysis of social change and behaviour.· They answered our call....· He would not answer at her call.· Drinker answered phone calls at all hours from around the world, giving instructions on how to build and operate them.· Perhaps she had known it would happen, perhaps he had answered her call for the same reason.· The police officers, answering a call reporting a man beating a woman, were shot shortly before 10 p. m. Sunday.· As Marguerite left the room for a moment to answer a phone call, Jenna looked up at Alain.· Nor did it answer to a radio call. ► charge · This publication contained detailed descriptions of persons who failed to appear at court to answer a criminal charge.· You can even have your phone answered for a minimal charge.· Avon and Somerset Police have summonsed Redknapp to appear in court to answer charges of alleged abusive conduct.· He needed intelligently and forthrightly to answer her charges and demonstrate sympathy for her embattled position.· He said he would return to answer all charges.· When he tried to answer such charges Gore seemed unable or unwilling to draw on Clinton's approach.· He appeared in court to answer a charge of drink-driving - not, it transpired, for the first time.· In particular non-disclosure makes it difficult to answer charges that the government's policies are not properly coordinated. ► door · Yesterday traders tracked down show chairman Alistair McCloud to his hotel room in Aylesbury, but he refused to answer the door.· Yet it was clear to Sarn Fong that he should not go outside or answer the door after dark.· Dimity's knitting had been hastily put aside when she answered the door, and decorated a low table near the fire.· There was a rule in the Ackerman house that whoever was least busy had to answer the door and the phone.· And he's not answering the door or coming out.· Manuel Gustavo arrives, and when no one answers the door, comes in the back way.· When traders tracked him down to his hotel room, he wouldn't answer the door.· Her granddaughter says the old woman was afraid to answer the door, terrified that once again city officials would come knocking. ► letter · We regret that we are unable to answer your letters personally.· He answered every letter in his voluminous correspondence, and never formally.· Others need the extra information to answer readers' letters, whose numbers in some instances can be quite substantial.· Normally he answered such letters at once, often in his own hand.· He answered his letters in long-hand, and when he retired there was not even a typewriter in the building.· Another acquaintance, some one we d not heard from since our last visit, apologized for not answering our annual letters.· I will ensure that the hon. Gentleman is answered by letter.· She asked me to apologize to you, should I see you, for not having answered your last letter. ► need · He had expected money to answer every need.· Previously, most units had a clean-lined, contemporary look that did not answer needs of style-conscious traditionalists.· The nurses say they are in favour of the Pill being available because it answers a very real need.· But jiggling with the past to answer the needs of the present can be a high risk operation.· It is answering a direct need of the audience.· He kissed her, his mouth crushing hers, answering her need with his own.· We're looking at new programmes - again to answer the needs of our audience.· He believed they answered to people's needs. ► phone · He sat on the edge of the bed in his hotel room and waited for the phone to be answered.· You can even have your phone answered for a minimal charge.· What's the point of having a phone if you never answer it? he asked me.· Even if the phone was answered, the client might not get through to the person he wanted. ► prayer · Both play a very clever trick which will answer the prayers of video users all round the world.· I thought I could bestow beauty like a benediction and that your half-dark flesh would answer to the prayer.· A very last thought is that we must do everything possible to answer our own prayers. ► query · We answer three of your queries about getting hair into tip-top condition.· It gives clear detailed instructions, answers queries and suggests ways to improve your technique.· The Bank staff are there to help you, answer your queries or take details of your complaint.· Please note: We can not answer queries personally and no correspondence will be entered into.· Our advisory services answer thousands of queries from people all over the country.· I can't do much to answer your queries about Kaama.· Station and telephone enquiry bureaux can answer queries on individual services.· Gold Seal unit I should be grateful if you could answer a few technical queries for me. ► question · The relocation officer held departmental meetings during which every aspect of the move was discussed and employees' questions were answered.· It might be thought of as an umbrella question which is answered by answering a series of minor questions.· This kind of compromise, we confess, raises as many questions as it answers.· The question is impossible to answer.· Until these questions are answered, no computer can be said to understand language.· Cover is a paltry three bucks, and further questions can be answered by calling 622-8848.· All questions are to be answered.· That question is never answered satisfactorily, even by its champions. ► telephone · I shall be killed, Paul Schramm thought, and all because Maria Grandinetti couldn't answer the telephone.· Be pleasant to everyone, especially secretaries who answer the telephone.· When answering the telephone, don't give your number.· But the phone company patched through a line Friday night, and du Pont answered the telephone when authorities called.· Her voice was breathless with bonhomie when she answered the telephone, with an undertone of throatiness that David found attractive.· It was her job to answer the telephone, prepare coffee for her boss's visitors, and run errands.· Here are some of them: Always answer the telephone promptly.· She answered the telephone, thanked the Martellis for thanking her for the party. VERB► attempt · There are two lines of approach open to the inductivist in attempting to answer this question.· Accounting information does not attempt to answer such questions.· What is the most important question that political science should attempt to answer?· Regarding exercises: before attempting to answer a question do make sure you know the meaning of all the words in it!· Rolling Stone attempted to answer that question recently, with the Rolling Stone 200· That we should attempt to answer the question posed here at all would have seemed peculiar 200 years ago.· One of the first questions they attempted to answer was, Where does stability come from? ► refuse · She ignored him, refusing to answer, because what could she say?· She refused to answer questions from reporters later as she left.· For a moment she considered saying nothing at all - after all, he had refused to answer her questions.· Will you refuse to answer the phone if there is no number on your display?· The Opposition refused to answer that in the recent debate, and they have refused to answer it again today.· Yesterday traders tracked down show chairman Alistair McCloud to his hotel room in Aylesbury, but he refused to answer the door.· He refused to answer questions about Paxon. ► try · Working with a partner, A asks B open questions, which B tries to answer as briefly as possible.· Every psychotherapy process, early in its development, defines the basic questions it is trying to answer.· Since its landmark 1978 decision in the Bakke reverse-discrimination case, the court has been trying to answer those questions.· I am sorry, I am only trying to answer the question.· When he tried to answer such charges Gore seemed unable or unwilling to draw on Clinton's approach.· I tried again to answer him. Phrases PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► answer a need Previously, most units had a clean-lined, contemporary look that did not answer needs of style-conscious traditionalists. Your answer need not be quite as full as the explanations given here. ► answer a description A hiker spotted a man answering the description given by police. ► have a lot to answer for That sister of yours has an awful lot to answer for. ► can’t answer for somebody► answer to the name of something He's 6 foot 5, but he answers to the name of Shorty. One answering to the name of Henry. Relieved of her professional role, she manifested herself as an attractive well-dressed young woman answering to the name of Suzanne. ► answer the phone/a call/the door► answer criticism/charges/accusations etc Avon and Somerset Police have summonsed Redknapp to appear in court to answer charges of alleged abusive conduct. His finance minister was busy answering charges of bribery. In particular non-disclosure makes it difficult to answer charges that the government's policies are not properly coordinated. The meeting was called to answer criticisms and make mid-course corrections. PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► answer/reply in the affirmative Are men more mechanical than women? 67% of all men responding to our poll answered in the affirmative. When asked if he recognized the defendant, the witness replied in the affirmative. No doubt Harry's family would also have replied in the affirmative, indicating that they really did not know what happiness was. That question was answered in the affirmative. We can answer in the affirmative provided the weights are all positive. ► speak/ask/answer etc directly Although they never spoke directly of Lachlan, each knew the other's mind; though not as well as she believed. Dole spoke directly about his age, saying 73 years of life are not a liability. Even when asked directly, as they were by Carol Hong, employees misrepresented the costs, her lawsuit alleges. In fact, a Harvard spokesman confirmed her admittance only when asked directly. Later she spoke directly to Rachel. They seem to speak directly out of the dark into your ears or mine alone. This is, however, a book that speaks directly to the home cook looking for new challenges and tastes. When asked directly what were their visions of Howdendyke's future, interviewees made fairly consistent replies. ► there are no easy answers As usual, there are no easy answers to explain human behavior. But suddenly we find ourselves acknowledging that there are no easy answers to the dilemmas Christians face. So there are no easy answers. There are no easy answers to this problem. ► won’t take no for an answer► an/the answer to somebody’s prayers Excel 4 has the answer to my prayers in the Scenario Manager. If so, a 100 per cent mortgage may look like the answer to your prayers. If so, Lands' End may have the answer to your prayers. She, she is the answer to my prayers. The letter seemed to be the answer to her prayers. To Jacqueline this was the answer to her prayers. 1reply [intransitive, transitive] to say something to someone as a reply when they have asked you a question, made a suggestion etc:  She thought for a moment before answering. He still hadn’t answered my question. ‘Why don’t you just leave?’ ‘I’d like to,’ she answered, ‘but I have nowhere else to go.’answer (that) When questioned, Hughes answered that he knew nothing about the robbery. How much was it? Come on, answer me.2test [intransitive, transitive] to write or say the answer to a question in a test or competition:  Answer as many questions as possible in the time provided.3answer the phone/a call/the door to pick up the telephone and speak when it rings or open the door when someone knocks or rings the bell4letter [transitive] if you answer a letter or advertisement, you write a letter to the person who has written it:  Simon got the job by answering an advert in the paper.5 answer criticism/charges/accusations etc to explain why you did something when people are criticizing you – used in news reports:  How do you answer the criticism that your government has done nothing to help the homeless?6react to something [intransitive, transitive] to do something as a reaction to criticism or an attack SYN  respond:  The army answered by firing into the crowd.7deal with a problem [transitive] to be a way of dealing with or solving a problem:  ‘You can borrow my car if you like.’ ‘Well, that answers one problem.’8answer a need to provide something that is needed:  Our transportation system is designed to answer the needs of the city’s commuters.9answer a description if someone answers a description, they match that description:  A man answering the police’s description was seen entering the building.GRAMMAR: Comparisonanswer• You answer someone: · Why won’t you answer me? ✗Don’t say answer to someone in this meaning.• You answer someone’s question: · You still have not answered my question.• You can use answer with speech marks (‘...’) when quoting someone’s exact words: · ‘I’m fine, thank you,’ she answered.• You can use answer that to report what someone says. After answered, the verb in the other clause is usually also in the past tense: · She answered that she was fine.reply• You reply to someone’s question: · You still have not replied to my question.• You can use reply with speech marks (‘...’) when quoting someone’s exact words: · ‘I’m fine, thank you,’ she replied.• You can use reply that to report what someone says. After replied, the verb in the other clause is usually also in the past tense: · She replied that she was fine.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSTHESAURUSanswer to say something to someone when they have asked you a question or spoken to you: · You don’t have to answer the question if you don’t want to.· I said hello to her, but she didn’t answer.reply to answer someone – used especially in written English to report what someone said: · ‘I’m so sorry,’ he replied.· We asked Jane to help, but she replied that she was too busy.respond formal to answer someone: · How do you respond to the allegation that you deliberately deceived your employers?give somebody an answer to answer someone by telling them what you have decided or giving them a piece of information they asked for: · He asked me to marry him, but I didn’t give him an answer straight away.get back to somebody to answer someone at a later time especially by telephoning them, usually because you need to think about their question or find out more information: · She’s promised to get back to me as soon as she hears any more news from the hospital.retort written to answer someone angrily, especially because they have annoyed you or criticized you: · ‘You’re not afraid?’ Brenda asked. ‘Of course not,’ he retorted angrily.answer back phrasal verb to reply in a rude way to someone that you are supposed to obeyanswer somebody back Don’t answer me back young man!answer for somebody/something phrasal verb1to explain to people in authority why you did something wrong or why something happened, and be punished if necessary:  Their coach must answer for the team’s poor performance.2 have a lot to answer for informal to be responsible for causing a lot of trouble3 can’t answer for somebody spoken used to say that you cannot make a decision for someone who is not there, or give their opinion:  I’m sure John will help us – I can’t really answer for the others.answer to somebody/something phrasal verb1to give an explanation to someone, especially about something that you have done wrong:  Phipps answers to me and me alone.2answer to the name of something to be called a particular name – used humorously:  a well-dressed young woman answering to the name of Suzanne
随便看	tweetable tweeter tweezers twelfth Twelfth Night twelve Twelve Step twentieth twenty Twenty20 twenty-first twenty-four seven twenty-one twenty questions twentysomething Twenty-Third Psalm twenty-twenty twerp twice Twickenham twiddle twig Twiggy twiggy twilight

英语词典包含52748条英英释义在线翻译词条，基本涵盖了全部常用单词的英英翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。