like1 prepositionlike2 verblike3 nounlike4 conjunctionlike5 adverblike6 adjective
likelike1 /laɪk/ ●●● S1 W1 preposition 
WORD ORIGINlike1
Origin:
1300-1400 ➔ LIKE6EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Like many women her age, she struggled to find a balance between her career and her children.
- Fruits like oranges and kiwis have lots of vitamin C.
- He moves and talks just like his father.
- He stood bolt upright, like a soldier.
- Huge trees had snapped like matchsticks in the hurricane-force winds.
- I'd love to be able to sing like Ella Fitzgerald.
- It's not like Emily to lie.
- It looks a bit like a cactus.
- Life at college was nothing like I expected.
- My mother has a car like yours.
- She laughed like a child and played with her hair.
- She moves and talks exactly like her mother.
- The houses here are like the ones in northern France.
- The lamp was round, like a ball.
- They were all waving their arms around, like this.
- This is such beautiful material - it feels like silk.
- This superb almost-flourless chocolate cake is something like a brownie for grownups.
- We could cook something easy, like pasta.
- We still haven't settled a number of problems, like who is going to be in charge here while I'm away.
- You're treating him like a child.
Longman Language Activatorto like something
to think that something is nice, attractive, enjoyable etc: · I like your dress - it's a beautiful colour.· Do you like spaghetti?like something about something: · What did you like about the movie?like doing something/like to do something: · I think Roy likes living alone.· I like to see the children enjoying themselves.
spoken to like doing a particular activity or be interested in a particular subject: · I know she's really into sports, so I thought I'd ask her to come skiing with us.· A lot of his relatives are into very weird New Age stuff.
especially British to like something, especially something that you have liked for a long time: · Connie had always been fond of animals.· He had always been fond of drinking at lunchtime, perhaps too fond.
especially British to like or be very interested in an activity or idea: · I know he's keen on opera. Let's take him to see "La Traviata'.· I'm quite keen on the idea of having a fancy dress party.
if something appeals to you, you like it because it involves things that interest you or ideas that you agree with: · I'm sure this delightful book will appeal to children of all ages.· Does either suggestion appeal to you?
also go over well American if something you do, or a book, film, performance etc goes down well with a group of people, they like it: · Her style of comedy is very British, but it goes down well in the States too.go down well with: · At the present time, military action would not go over well with the international community
formal if something is to your liking it has the qualities that you like, or it is made in the way that you like: · Was the meal to your liking, Madam?· The surrounding countryside was very much to our liking.
to like something very much especially spoken to like something very much. Adore is stronger but less common than love: · We had a great time at Disneyland. The kids loved it.· I adore chocolate -- I could live on it.love/adore doing something: · The older men loved hearing about Russ's success on the football field.· Jessie adored being the centre of attention.
also be mad about something British informal to be extremely interested in an activity and spend a lot of time doing it or watching it: · Jonah's crazy about basketball.· She's always been mad about horses.
to like something very much, especially something that you own or use, so that you would be upset if you lost it: · Mom gets very attached to her pets.· Casey had become quite attached to the comforts of his London home.
to like an activity very much, because it gives you a lot of pleasure or excitement: · From a very early age he had a passion for fast cars.· To be a great performer, you have to work very hard and have a passion for the music you play.
to enjoy doing something so much that you do it, watch it etc as often as you can and feel that you cannot stop doing it: · My son's addicted to computer games - he hardly ever comes out of his room.be addicted: · I started watching the show out of curiosity, but now I'm addicted!
to like something that could be bad for you to like something so much that you cannot refuse it when it is offered to you: · My mother could never resist expensive perfumes.can't resist doing something: · I couldn't resist stopping by the bakery on the way home.
informal to like a particular kind of food, drink, or activity, even though you know it is not good for you or that other people might not approve of it: · Too many of the men in our family have a weakness for alcohol.· I have to admit I have a weakness for daytime soap operas.
to like something such as a particular food or drink, especially when you eat or drink it more than you should: · He was particularly partial to my mother's home-made wine.
to like something or like doing something, especially something that could be bad or dangerous. This is often used humorously about something that is not really very bad: · She's not averse to the occasional glass of wine.not be averse to doing something: · The company is highly competitive and not averse to taking risks.
to begin to like something to begin to like something, especially something that you did not like at first: · The more the two women talked, the more they got to like each other.· I don't think I could ever get to like hip-hop.
if something grows on you , you gradually start to like it after a period of time: · I didn't like his accent much at first, but it kind of grows on you.· "The furniture in this place is a little weird." "Yeah, but it grows on you after a while."
also develop a liking for something to begin to like something that you did not like or had not experienced before: · While Bev was married, she acquired a taste for luxurious living.· When her family moved to Hollywood, she developed a liking for movie magazines and film culture.· Sam soon got a taste for Thai green curry and sticky rice.
if something is an acquired taste , people tend not to like when they first try it, but begin to like it when they have tried it a few more times: · Dark beers and ales are an acquired taste, but there's nothing better on a cold winter night.· Like most modern jazz players, his music's a bit of an acquired taste.
someone who likes something very much someone who likes a particular sport, team, or famous entertainer very much: · Thousands of fans came to hear Oasis play.· a football fanfan of: · Fans of Sylvester Stallone will enjoy this movie.
someone who likes a particular activity very much: music/car/wine/animal etc lover: · We are a nation of animal lovers.· Every jazz lover dreams of visiting New Orleans.lover of: · Lovers of night life won't be able to resist the many nightclubs in the area.
someone who likes a subject, activity, performer etc very much, is very interested in them and knows a lot about them: · Enthusiasts are willing to pay up to $12,000 for an original copy of the book.football/film/jazz etc enthusiast: · Golf enthusiasts will be able to see the tournament live on TV.· The exhibition will be of interest to classic car owners and other motoring enthusiasts.
informal someone who is extremely interested in a particular activity, especially when other people think they are a little strange for liking it so much: health/tv/sports etc freak: · Raw vegetables and nuts have always been a favourite with health-food freaks.· One Beatle's freak is reported to have paid $18,000 for Paul McCartney's birth certificate.
informal someone who does, eats, watches etc something a lot because they enjoy it so much that they cannot stop doing it - use this especially when you do not think someone should be spending so much time doing or being involved in a particular thing: TV/news/fast food etc junkie: · If you're a shopping junkie, then this is the channel for you!· You'd have to be a real political junkie to remember that Tsongas won the New Hampshire Primary in 1992.TV/news/fast food etc addict: · My sons and my husband are all football addicts.
formal someone who likes something such as art or literature very much and spends a lot of their time and money on it: · He's a devotee of old Hollywood movies.· Urquhart, a rich devotee of the arts, made generous donations to the museum.
something that you like all the things you like and do not like: · She never lets her personal likes and dislikes affect the way she treats people.· Employees were asked about their likes and dislikes, and also about how they felt about their working conditions.
something that you are deeply interested in and which you like so much that you are always excited about it: · Donna's latest passion is cooking and eating Mexican food. somebody's great/first love: · My father's great love was fishing.
to like someone to think someone has good qualities so that you feel friendly towards them: · I've always liked Sally - she's a lot of fun.· Everybody liked Mr. Schofield, but he wasn't a very good teacher.· I never really liked her - she was always a bit stuck-up and condescending.
to like someone very much, especially when you have known them for a long time: · You're very fond of Tyler, aren't you?· Over the years, the old man grew very fond of his nurse.
to like someone that you have known for a long time, so that you would be upset if they left you: · We've grown quite attached to you, Annie, and we'll be very sorry to see you leave.· Nurses can easily get too attached to their patients.
informal to like one person in particular more than the other people in a group: · She's always had a soft spot for her youngest grandson.· I've had a soft spot for Janet ever since she took my side in the argument I had with Jimmy.
to like someone because of a particular quality that they have, especially when other people do not notice that quality in them: · Tom's so innocent. He only sees the good in everyone he meets.· I can't figure out what Doug sees in her.
spoken someone that you like because they have the same attitudes that you have, or like the same things that you like: · I like the way she runs her business - a woman after my own heart.
if two people hit it off , they like each other, especially as soon as they meet: · Art Howe asked him to come for an interview for the coaching job, and the two men hit it off immediately.· Those two didn't really hit it off at first, did they?hit it off with: · You can't expect to hit it off with everyone you meet.
to begin to like someone to begin to like someone, especially someone that you did not like at first: · At first I thought she was a bit weird, but now I'm getting to like her.· Over the years, we grew to like each other, despite our differences.· I've gradually come to like Larry and his eccentric habits.
to begin to like someone and feel friendly towards them: · Her heart warmed to Amos. He was obviously a man who loved animals.· She was very nervous about introducing James to her children, but they warmed to him immediately.
to begin to like someone, especially when you have only known them for a very short time: · I introduced Anders to my brother and they took to each other immediately.· When Nicky takes to someone the way he's taken to you, he's your friend for life.· They only met yesterday, but I can tell Jim's taken a great liking to the girl.
to make someone like you to make someone like you by behaving in a way that pleases them: · "Can I help you Mrs Killigarew'' he said, hoping to endear himself to her by remembering her name.· She was witty and charming and quickly managed to endear herself to her future mother-in-law.
British informal also get on somebody's good side American informal to do nice things for someone and avoid making them angry, in order to be sure they like you: · He's only sent me flowers because he's trying to get on the right side of me.· Chris doesn't care what he has to say to get on Miller's good side.
to make a lot of people like you very much, especially by doing something that they admire or approve of: · With the words, "Ich bin ein Berliner,'' J.F. Kennedy won the hearts of millions of Germans.· The slight, nervous-looking young gymnast won the hearts of a whole nation.
approximately a large number or amount · The business is worth something in the region of $25m.· The universe is estimated to be somewhere in the region of eleven billion years old.· A typical price would be somewhere in the region of £2,500 per person.
spoken · Smith is already something like $10,000 in debt.· In the USA something like 4000 such accidents occur each year.
: an estimated 3000 people/one million pounds/90% of profits etc approximately that number or amount - use this when you have no exact or detailed figures on which to calculate the exact number: · The event was seen on television by an estimated 250 million people worldwide.· An estimated 10% of new mothers suffer from severe depression.· By the end of the month an estimated 1000 people had been killed and 42,000 left homeless.
: some 100 people/50 years/2000 establishments etc approximately that number or amount - use this especially when you think it is impressive or surprising: · Among the 11 factory sites across Europe, some 2,600 jobs are to be eliminated this year.· He lectured at the Institut Pasteur for some 50 years.
: 5000 people/20%/9 days etc or more use this when the total may be a lot more, and you want to emphasize that this is a large number or amount: · How can you be tired? You slept for ten hours or more last night.· There were a thousand or more fans at the airport to welcome the band.
better than before · The following day, the weather was a little better.better than · People's general health is a lot better these days than it used to be.get better · Your Spanish is definitely getting better.far better/much better/a lot better · Angie spent last week painting her bedroom -- it looks much better.
better than before as a result of changes that have been made -- used especially when selling or advertising a product: · Perhaps you'd like to have a look at our new improved model?· Garrett believes the new system will allow him to lower prices and provide improved service to customers.much/greatly/vastly improved: · This vastly improved information system means that doctors can see patients' medical histories at the flick of a switch.
to be better than something similar, such as a product or method, that existed before: be an improvement on something: · The new heating system is certainly an improvement on the old one.be a big improvement on something: · I wouldn't say it was my favorite show, but it's a big improvement on her last series.
spoken say this when something that is not happening or being done in the way that you want suddenly gets better: · Faster, faster -- good, that's more like it.· What's wrong with this TV set? It doesn't seem to be working -- ah, that's more like it.
to describe someone or something to talk or write about a person, place, event etc, saying what they are like and giving details about them: · Could you try and describe the man you saw?· In her book, she describes her journey across the Sahara.describe somebody/something as: · Police described the attack as particularly violent.describe somebody/something to somebody: · I tried to describe the feeling to my doctor, but she didn't understand.describe how/what: · It's difficult to describe how I felt.
to describe someone or something, especially by giving details about what they look like: · King gave a detailed description of a dark-haired muscular man to police.· The brochure gives a general description of the island and some of the things you can do there.
to describe something that you have seen or experienced by talking to people about it: · Grandma always talks about the way they used to live on the farm.· You should talk about your problems with someone - maybe they can help you.
to describe a person, place, event, situation etc by writing about it: · Have the children write about what they did last summer.· Purcell wrote about his son's illness for a popular magazine.
spoken use this when you are asking someone to describe someone or something to you or when you are describing someone or something to them: · "I've just met Anna's new boyfriend." "What's he like?"· I'll try and explain to you what being in prison was like.
to describe something that happened, giving only the facts and not adding your own feelings or opinions: · Please give a brief account of your previous work experience.· The second witness gave a similar account of what happened.
written to describe an event, situation etc, especially as though it was a story, in order to make it sound more exciting or impressive: · Many of the prisoners have told of the terrible conditions they were kept in and how they were beaten.tell somebody of: · In the evenings Morris would tell us of his youth spent in Europe.
what you say when you give an example use this when you are giving an example: · There are lots of famous buildings in Kyoto, for example the Golden Pavilion and the Tyoanyi Temple.· There are some tasks which are your responsibility. For instance, it's up to you to dismantle furniture and take down curtains.
written use this when you are giving an example or a series of examples. In British English, people usually write eg ; in American English people usually write e.g.: · Make sure you eat foods that contain protein, e.g. meat, cheese, fish, milk, or eggs.· This course includes a study of basic language skills (eg speaking and listening).
especially written used when you want to give one or two typical examples of something but not all the examples that are possible: · It is difficult to get even basic foods such as sugar and bread.· People's ability to do the tests is influenced by factors such as age, sex, and ethnic background.
especially spoken used in spoken English when you are giving a example which is typical of what you mean: · We could cook something easy, like pasta.· We still haven't settled a number of problems, like who is going to be in charge here while I'm away.
spoken say this when you are talking about something and you want to give an example of a certain type of situation, person etc, in order to prove what you are saying is correct: · I can think of lots of people who got worse grades than you and still have good jobs. Take Julie.take somebody/something for example: · Take me for example. I've never relied on other people for help.
a particular person, situation etc that is a case in point , is a very good or typical example of what you have just mentioned: · Some birds have returned to England after once being extinct here. The return of the osprey is a case in point.· Some women have managed to achieve success in football. A case in point is Anne Spencer.
formal if you name a particular situation, person etc by way of illustration , you want to use them as a way of explaining what you mean: · Other countries have totally different laws on abortion. By way of illustration let us look at the cases of Germany and Japan.
if you say to name but a few after giving several examples of something, you mean that these are just a few examples of what you mean and there are many more: · So many industries have been hit in the recession. Steel, coal, construction, to name but a few.
what you say when you are going to explain something spoken say this when you are explaining something to someone, and you want to check that they are listening and that they understand you: · This fits on here, see, where the arrow is.· Simon's car broke down, you see, and neither of us knew how to fix it.
spoken say this when you are explaining something you have said or giving an example of something: · Ted seems kind of lazy. I mean, he never offers to help and he just lies in front of the TV.what I mean (to say) is: · I'm afraid I can't help you. What I mean is that I'm not a detective, and I don't solve crimes.
use this when you are saying something in a different way in order to explain it more clearly: · What we need is a more sustainable transport system, in other words, more buses and trains, and fewer cars.· This is supposed to be a democracy - in other words, one person one vote.
spoken use this when you are explaining a problem or the reason for something: · I really don't want to leave yet. The thing is, I have an appointment in 15 minutes.· I do have a computer, but the thing is, it's really old and I can't use it for email.
use this to explain the meaning of the previous word or phrase by giving more information about it: · The fare is reduced for children, that is, anyone under 15 years old.· All documents are printed in the two official languages - that is, English and French.
spoken say this when you want to explain something to someone because you think they have not understood: · I can see you're getting confused. Let me explain.· I know the plan seems a little crazy at first, but it's really not. Let me explain.
used when you have explained something in one way and you are going to try to make it clearer by explaining it in a different way: · Money makes money. To put it another way, the more you invest, the greater your potential profit will be.· The problem demands a global solution. To put it another way, local regulations will have very little effect.
spoken say this when someone is not sure what you mean and you are going to try to explain in a way that will help them to understand, especially by saying something humorous or direct: · "Does he get many dates?" "Put it like this - you don't have to feel sorry for him."· Put it this way, honey - what the boss doesn't know isn't going to bother him.
spoken used when you are going to use different words to say something again, because you have just said it in an unsuitable way and it may not have been understood correctly: · I'm sorry, let me rephrase that. That wasn't what I meant to say at all.· Most of the people there were incredibly old. Let me rephrase that - we were the youngest couple there.
in a similar way in a similar way to someone or something: · I'd love to be able to sing like Ella Fitzgerald.· You're treating him like a child.· Huge trees had snapped like matchsticks in the hurricane-force winds.· Like many women her age, she struggled to find a balance between her career and her children.just/exactly like something: · She moves and talks exactly like her mother.
formal · The son followed his father's example and, similarly, the daughter modelled herself on her mother.similarly situated/expressed/inclined etc · San Francisco and Rio de Janeiro are similarly situated, both standing at the entrance to great natural harbours.· This idea of creation is similarly expressed in a poem by Dylan Thomas.
like something or someone else similar to something or someone: · The houses here are like the ones in northern France.· My mother has a car like yours.look/feel/sound/smell/taste like: · She laughed like a child and played with her hair.· This is such beautiful material - it feels like silk.· It looks a bit like a cactus.something like (=fairly similar): · This superb almost-flourless chocolate cake is something like a brownie for grownups.nothing like (=not at all similar): · Life at college was nothing like I expected.
if one thing is similar to another, or if two or more things are similar , they are like each other: · I know how you feel, because I have a similar problem.· It's bigger than Jim's room, but it's very similar.· When you look at these two carpets, you can see that the patterns are very similar.similar to: · Do you have anything similar to this material but cheaper?· The Marines also experimented with fast-attack vehicles, similar to dune buggies.
if two or more things or people are alike , they are very similar in some way: · You lawyers are all alike. You just talk a lot, tell a few lies, and send the bill.· I think my mother and I are very much alike in some ways.· As the personal computer market matured, computer makers have realized that not all PC buyers are alike.look/think/sound etc alike: · The album is boring - all of their songs sound alike.
very similar: · Soldiers are much the same throughout the world.much the same as: · Bodie looks much the same as the day the mines closed down.much the same....as/that: · The glass is still made in much the same way as it was 100 years ago.· The warranty would cover the electric car's battery pack in much the same way that gasoline engines are protected.look/feel/smell/taste much the same: · All these wines taste much the same.
to be similar in appearance or character: · Geraldine resembled her mother in every way.· Addis Ababa soon resembled an armed camp.closely resemble: · We have produced a cloth made of pineapple fibre, closely resembling cotton but stronger.bear a strong/close/striking resemblance to: · She's seventy-six, short, round and fair, and bears a strong resemblance to my own grandmother.bear some/little/no resemblance to: · The London of the new millennium bears little resemblance to the London of my youth.
similar in size, number, quality etc so that a comparison is possible: · Climatic conditions in the two countries are roughly comparable.comparable with/to: · The size of a dolphin's brain is comparable to a human's.comparable in size/importance etc: · The planet Pluto is comparable in size to our Moon.
if something is akin to something else, it is very similar to it in character - used especially in literature: · It's a language closely akin to Arabic, and most Syrians would understand it.· It was with a feeling akin to despair that I realized the car was not going to start.
to look very much like another person or thing also look/be exactly like · That vase is just like one that I used to have.· He looks exactly like Clint Eastwood, except he's slightly taller.
also be the (living) image of British informal to look almost exactly the same as someone else: · Everyone always said my aunt was the spitting image of Ingrid Bergman.· With that beautiful black hair, she is the living image of her mother.
if you could pass for or be mistaken for another person, you look so much like them that people might think you were the other person: · You could easily pass for your sister - you look just like her.· With her hair cut short, she could easily have been mistaken for a boy.
to be like your mother, father, grandfather etc to have a very similar character to your mother, father, grandfather etc: · You're like your grandmother -- obstinate and determined.just/exactly like somebody: · You and your dad - you're exactly like each other in temperament.
to have a very similar appearance to your mother, father, grandfather etc: · My sister looks like my dad, but I look more like my mother.· Who does the baby look like?just/exactly like: · You look just like your sister - I would've known you anywhere.
to be like your mother, father, grandfather etc, especially in character: · Aunt Arabella is very stubborn. Kim takes after her in that respect.· He spends a lot of time trying to dispel the myth that he takes after his famous, alcoholic father.
informal to be like your mother, father, grandfather etc in character or behaviour, used especially when talking about a good characteristic: · "That daughter of yours has a great sense of humour." "Yes, I like to think she's a chip off the old block!"
to have a particular appearance · Doesn't she look beautiful!· That coat looks nice and warm. Where did you get it?· The cake didn't look very good, but it tasted all right.· With his dark hair and dark eyes he looked Italian.· I'm glad you've shaved off that beard. It makes you look ten years younger!
to have an appearance that is similar to someone or something else: · She looks a bit like my sister.· They just look like ordinary people to me.· In the moonlight the plane looked like a huge eagle soaring across the sky.
exactly like someone or something · They were both wearing the same shoes.· We've opened up stores in the UK and we hope to do the same in the rest of Europe.· "We always get up late on Saturdays." "It's the same in our house."look/sound/taste etc the same · The houses on the street all look the same.just the same/exactly the same (=not different in any way) · I tried three different types of wine, but they all tasted exactly the same to me.all the same · Take whichever you like - they're all the same.the same ... as · They were doing the same jobs as the men, but being paid less.
if someone or something is just like or exactly like someone or something else, there is very little difference between them: · You're just like my teacher.· There are insects that look exactly like green leaves.· This song sounds exactly like that one by The Beatles.be just/exactly like doing something: · We had often talked about emigrating to Australia. Suzie came from Melbourne, so it would be just like going home for her.
identical things are exactly the same in every way: · To me the two patterns looked identical.identical to: · The picture is identical to the one in the museum of Modern Art in New York.identical in size/colour/shape etc: · The tablets were identical in size, shape, and colour.
if you can't tell the difference between two people or things, or if you can't tell them apart , they look, sound, or seem exactly the same to you: · Emma and Louise sound so alike on the phone, I can't tell the difference.· They are identical twins and it's impossible to tell them apart.· These rap bands all sound the same to me -- I can't tell them apart.can't tell the difference between: · Don't let her help you with the gardening -- she can't tell the difference between a weed and a strawberry plant!
two people or things that are indistinguishable are so similar that it is impossible to know which is which or to see any differences between them: · In the storm the sky and sea were indistinguishable.· It was claimed that Russian and American defence policies were indistinguishable.indistinguishable from: · He tasted the cheaper wine and found it indistinguishable from a superior one.
use this especially when you expect something or someone to be different from another thing or person, but in fact they are the same: · People often think that movie stars are special in some way, but really they're no different from anybody else.· Life on the island is no different from life on the mainland.
if one thing matches another or if two things match , they look the same or have the same qualities or characteristics: · You can't go out wearing socks that don't match.· Their performance in government didn't quite match their election promises.
if you repeat or copy something word for word , you do it using exactly the same words: · Janice repeated word for word what Harold had told her.· It appears that someone has copied your essay word for word.
a type of person or thing a group of things or people that are similar to each other in some way, or a thing or person that belongs to such a group. Kind and sort are more common than type in spoken English. Use type when you are talking about technical subjects or when you are describing something in an exact way: · I'll get you some ice-cream. What kind would you like?type/kind/sort of: · The floor was made of three different types of wood.· What sort of fish is this?· "What type of music do you like?" "Mainly dance music and some indie."· She's the kind of person you can always rely on.· There are two sorts of politician - the ones who really want to help people, and the ones who just want power.of this/that type etc: · Accidents of this type are extremely common.· It's a club for writers and actors and people of that sort.of various/many/different types etc: · They export farming machinery and tools of various kinds.
a particular type of building, art, literature, music etc: · The new library is a blend of various architectural styles.style of: · a completely new style of painting
a group that people or things of the same type are divided into for a particular purpose - use this when there are several groups and there is a clear system for deciding which group something belongs to: · Emma Thompson won an Oscar in the Best Actress category.· The novels are divided up into three categories: historical, romantic, and crime.category of: · Insurance companies identify six main categories of driver.
a number of people or things that are considered as being of the same group because they have the same physical features, qualities etc: class of: · French is one of a class of languages known as the Romance languages.· Doctors are reluctant to prescribe a new class of drugs, especially ones which need to be taken for long periods of time.
a type of thing that is different from another similar type: variety of: · The French make many varieties of cheese, from both cows' and goats' milk.· At that time, all newsreaders spoke a variety of English spoken in southern England, known as Received Pronunciation.
formal a type of literature, film, or work of art: · Science fiction as a genre is relatively new.· Italian filmmakers made their own versions of the classic Hollywood genres - the western, the gangster film, the musical.
a form of something is one type of it of all the ones that are possible: form of: · Melanoma is a form of skin cancer.· Britain has a constitutional form of government.· Sugar in chocolate and other forms of confectionery is one of the major causes of tooth decay.
a particular type of thing: of a political/historical/technical/scientific/sexual nature : · The support being given is primarily of a practical nature.· books of an erotic natureof a different/similar nature: · On the plains the farmers have to deal with frequent floods, but up in the hills their problems are of a different nature. of that nature: · Children at this age commonly refer to being eaten up by tigers and lions and things of that nature.be in the nature of something (=to be like something): · The cruise was to be in the nature of a "rest cure".
of that type, his type etc - use this especially about types that you do not like or respect: · Environmentalists, feminists, and others of that ilk regularly try to drive shows like this off the air.· Desserts ($5) were of the tiramisu, crème brûlée, chocolate torte ilk.
especially spoken of the type that you have just been talking about: · The children need new pens and pencils and things like that.· People like that really annoy me.· I'm not sure what to do. I've never been in a situation like this before.
typical behaviour or qualities behaviour or actions that are typical of a person are just what you usually expect them to do, especially when this is something bad or annoying: · "Dad forgot to mail the letter." "That's just typical!"· Mrs Quilley greeted the guests with typical charm and confidence.· This is typical adolescent behaviour - part of the process of becoming independent from your parents.it is typical of somebody to do something: · It's typical of Ramon to waste time when he knows we're already late.
very typical of a particular type of thing, or of someone's character or usual behaviour: · Each species of bird has its own characteristic song.· Larry, with characteristic generosity, invited everyone back to his house.characteristic of: · This pattern is characteristic of the local architecture.
if you say that something is just what you'd expect , you mean that it is exactly what your idea of someone makes you expect them to do: · Jenny's house is very clean and neat, just what you'd expect.· He was annoyed, but he soon got over it -- just what you'd expect, in fact.
if you say that someone's action or behaviour is just like them, you mean that it is typical of them in a way that annoys you: · You have left everything to the last minute. That's just like you.it is just like somebody to do something: · It's just like Uncle Roy to invite us all to lunch and then forget to tell Aunt Sarah.· It would be just like my son to get the measles twice.
used for saying that you are not surprised that someone has done something or behaved in a particular way, because it's the kind of thing they often do: · He was late, of course, but that's Tim all over.· "That's Dora all over," interrupted Rose with a sniff. "Once she gets an idea into her head, nothing will stop her."
if you say that someone does something true to form you mean it is very typical of them, especially when it is something annoying: · True to form, Oliver turned up late and drunk.· They promised to pay by Friday and yes, true to form, the money didn't arrive till Wednesday.
you say someone would do something when they do something that is typical of them and you want to criticize them for it: · "Janice is going to be late for the meeting." "She would be!"· "And then Harry got drunk." "He would do, wouldn't he!"
usual and expected for a particular person or type of person or a situation - you can often use this in humorous contexts: · It was a typical student's room with the inevitable Van Gogh print on the wall.· Dinner started with the inevitable chicken soup.· In the subway I got cornered by the inevitable drunkard wanting to give me some advice.
an action or remark that is in character is typical of someone's character: · Julie said that? That doesn't seem to be in character at all.· His reaction was quite in character. The man had no respect for education, and it was no surprise when he took his son out of school.
not typical belonging to a type or group, but not having the usual qualities of that type or group: · Such letters of complaint are atypical; the foundation usually receives nothing but praise and admiration for our work.atypical of: · This bird is atypical of most species here in that it does not build a nest.
not typical of a situation or of someone's character, and therefore surprising: · It was summer and despite the uncharacteristic chill in the air, the tourists were swarming the beaches. · With uncharacteristic modesty, Will explained his contribution to the development of the film medium.
if you say it is not like someone or is unlike them to do something, you mean it is not typical of them to behave in that way, and it is strange or surprising: · Cheer up Maria. It isn't like you to be as depressed as this.· It's unlike him to drink so much - I hope he is all right.· I don't understand why Mr Beanie is being so nice today -- it's just not like him.
an action which is out of character is not typical of someone's character and usual behaviour: · I can't believe Andrew wrote this letter -- it seems so out of character.· "Jane never said a word all morning." "That sounds very out of character to me."
not typical of the usual behaviour of a person or group: · The train's 20-minute delay, my Japanese friend informed me, was most untypical.· For some reason, and with untypical boldness, she took a step forward and walked into the room. untypical of: · The solemn tone of this story is untypical of her usual style.
when someone's behaviour is unusual someone who is unconventional lives, behaves, or does things in ways that are very different from the way that most ordinary people live or behave: · She comes from an unconventional family.· They were both unconventional to the point of eccentricity.· unconventional political views
spoken say this when you mean that someone is behaving in a way that they do not usually behave, so you think they may be ill or have some kind of problem: · Don't you want any more to eat? That's not like you.it's not like somebody to do something: · It's not like Sally to get so upset - I think she's been working too hard.
done in a particular way · She was looking at me in a very strange way.· The wedding ceremony was conducted in quite a formal manner.
formal if you do something in a particular fashion , you do it in a particular way: · There's no reason why we can't behave in a civilized fashion even though we're getting divorced.
: with enthusiasm/care/envy/delight etc enthusiastically, carefully etc: · A sign warned motorists to drive with care.· He has borne his illness with great courage.· They set about tackling the problem with a great deal of enthusiasm.· "My daughter's been selected for the Olympic team," she said, with understandable pride.
in a particular way: like this/that: · You mustn't talk to people like that - it's very rude.· They were all waving their arms around, like this.like somebody (=in the same way as someone): · He stood bolt upright, like a soldier.· He moves and talks just like his father.
done or made in a way that is typical of a place, group of people etc - use this after another noun or adjective: · Although he was educated in India, he went to an English-style boarding school.· They live in a beautiful little country-style house on the edge of town.· He wore his gun at the hip, cowboy-style.
if something is done along particular lines , it is done in a way that is similar to the way you have mentioned: along socialist/military/institutional etc lines: · The school was run along almost military lines.along the same/similar lines: · We must have been thinking along the same lines, because we both said together, "Let's get out of here!"
in a way that seems to show that something has happened, something is true etc, even though this might not always be what has happened, what is true etc: · Dreen looked as if he'd seen a ghost.· She moved her legs slowly, as though in pain.
formal in a particular way - used in literature: · The affair had been conducted with an air of mystery which he disliked.· Lila came out into the yard with an air of happy confidence.
the way in which something is done use this to say or ask the way that someone does something: · How do you get your CD player to work?· We don't know how she managed to escape.how to do something: · My dad's teaching me how to use email.· She told me how to get to the Johnsons' house.
spoken in this way - say this when you are showing someone the way to do something: · You have to fold the corners back like this.something like this: · The program works something like this.
if you do something somehow , you do it by using any method that is available: · There's a bus strike, but I'm sure Ian will get here somehow.· The newspaper had somehow got hold of some secret government papers.somehow or other: · I'll find out her address somehow or other.
using a particular method: by doing something: · They got the information by bribing officials.· She earns a living by selling insurance.
using a particular method, tool, object etc: · FBI officers recorded the conversation by means of a tiny bug hidden in the phone.· She paid for the goods by means of a stolen credit card.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
The garden looked like a jungle. At last he felt like a real soldier. My experience is very much like that described in the book. He’s very like his brother. Sometimes you sound just like (=exactly like) my mum! He’s growing more like his father every day. He looked nothing like (=not at all like) the man in the police photograph. Things like glass, paper, and plastic can all be recycled. It’s just like her to run away from her responsibilities! This will be nothing like enough money.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES What I like about the job is that it’s never boring. Why did you speak to him? You usually avoid him like the plague (=try hard to avoid him). Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). She was screaming like a banshee. She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. She looks a bit like my sister. You’re not a bit like your brother. They’re like chalk and cheese, those two. I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely). I would dearly like to know what she said. A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes. Don’t let him treat you like a doormat. My flatmate Cherry drinks like a fish (=regularly drinks a lot of alcohol). Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. She tries to be exactly like her older sister. I felt like I’d really achieved something. It’s nice fabric – it feels like velvet. It’s been a year since her daughter died, but to her, it still feels like yesterday. I know this dress is going to fit you like a glove (=fit you very well). The idea went down like a lead balloon (=was not popular or successful). I can’t go on like this for much longer. After a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox. the city he had grown to love Becoming a doctor never interested him. It was too much like hard work (=it would involve too much work). I grew up here; I know the place like the back of my hand (=I know it very well). a chance to meet like-minded people He looked as if he hadn’t washed for a week. What did the man look like? My sister doesn’t look anything like me. It’s the law so you can like it or lump it. He drives like a madman. She drew men to her like a magnet. He drove like a maniac to the hospital. I’m not surprised she left. He treated her like muck (=very badly). I quite like Chinese food. Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British English At school the other children treated them like royalty. He picked up the child and ran like hell (=ran very quickly, especially in order to escape). We were all running around like headless chickens (=trying to do a lot of things, in an anxious or disorganized way). We waited for what seemed like hours. I heard what sounded like fireworks. He does mountain biking and skiing, and stuff like that. I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson. This sounded suspiciously like an attempt to get rid of me. The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics. Don’t let Dad hear you talking like that (=expressing things in a particular way). He held my arm like a vice. Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.
The garden looked like a jungle. At last he felt like a real soldier. My experience is very much like that described in the book. He’s very like his brother. Sometimes you sound just like (=exactly like) my mum! He’s growing more like his father every day. He looked nothing like (=not at all like) the man in the police photograph. Things like glass, paper, and plastic can all be recycled. It’s just like her to run away from her responsibilities! This will be nothing like enough money. What I like about the job is that it’s never boring. Why did you speak to him? You usually avoid him like the plague (=try hard to avoid him). Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). She was screaming like a banshee. She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. She looks a bit like my sister. You’re not a bit like your brother. They’re like chalk and cheese, those two. I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely).· I enjoy cooking at the weekend.
· I feel like crying every time I think about that day.
(=cry a lot and without control)· I cried like a baby when I heard the news.
I would dearly like to know what she said. A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes. Don’t let him treat you like a doormat. (=seem unreal)· That summer was so wonderful it seemed like a dream.
My flatmate Cherry drinks like a fish (=regularly drinks a lot of alcohol). (=eat a lot)· She eats like a horse but never puts on any weight!
(=eat very little)· Ever since she was a child, Jan had always eaten like a bird.
Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. She tries to be exactly like her older sister. (=a very angry expression)· The boss had a face like thunder when he arrived this morning.
I felt like I’d really achieved something. It’s nice fabric – it feels like velvet. It’s been a year since her daughter died, but to her, it still feels like yesterday. I know this dress is going to fit you like a glove (=fit you very well). (=seems to be enjoyable)· The picnic sounded like fun.
The idea went down like a lead balloon (=was not popular or successful). I can’t go on like this for much longer. (=a very strong grip)· Victor took hold of her wrist in an iron grip.
After a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox. the city he had grown to love Becoming a doctor never interested him. It was too much like hard work (=it would involve too much work). informal (=hurt very much) My shoulder hurts like hell.
My shoulder hurts like hell. (=people who share the same opinions)· The message board is a forum where like-minded individuals can communicate.
I grew up here; I know the place like the back of my hand (=I know it very well). a chance to meet like-minded people (=it seems likely that) It looks as if it might rain later. It looks like they won’t be needing us anymore.
It looks as if it might rain later. It looks like they won’t be needing us anymore. He looked as if he hadn’t washed for a week. What did the man look like? My sister doesn’t look anything like me. (=think that something bad has happened or will happen because of something’s appearance) We should turn back now. It’s getting dark and I don’t like the look of those rain clouds.
We should turn back now. It’s getting dark and I don’t like the look of those rain clouds. It’s the law so you can like it or lump it. He drives like a madman. She drew men to her like a magnet. He drove like a maniac to the hospital. (=forget things very easily)· I'm sorry, I have a memory like a sieve. I forgot you were coming today!
I’m not surprised she left. He treated her like muck (=very badly). literary (=with a lot of energy or violence)
· ‘He's been completely irresponsible.’ ‘I wouldn’t put it quite like that.’
I quite like Chinese food. (=rain appears likely because there are dark clouds in the sky)· We ate indoors because it looked like rain.
Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British English At school the other children treated them like royalty. He picked up the child and ran like hell (=ran very quickly, especially in order to escape). We were all running around like headless chickens (=trying to do a lot of things, in an anxious or disorganized way). We waited for what seemed like hours. (=be shaking a lot because you are nervous or frightened)· Diana was shaking like a leaf when she got up to give her talk.
· I have liked him since we first met.
(also sleep like a baby) informal (=sleep very well)· I was exhausted and slept like a log.
I heard what sounded like fireworks. (=spread extremely quickly)· The news spread like wildfire through the town.
He does mountain biking and skiing, and stuff like that. I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson. This sounded suspiciously like an attempt to get rid of me. informal (=sweat a lot) basketball players sweating buckets
basketball players sweating buckets The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics. Don’t let Dad hear you talking like that (=expressing things in a particular way). informal (=very badly and with no respect)· He treated this wife like dirt.
He held my arm like a vice. Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► that’s more like it/this is more like it► what are you like!PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► not anything like/near► be like a bear with a sore head► like getting blood out of a stone► feel/look like a million bucks► like a cat on hot bricks► like the cat that got the cream► look like something the cat dragged/brought in► like Darby and Joan► look/feel like death warmed up► like a dog with two tails► look/feel etc like nothing on earth► like father like son► fight like cat and dog► a voice like a foghorn► like fury► be like gold dust► hold/hang on for/like grim death► have eyes like a hawk► be (like) banging/bashing etc your head against a brick wall► like a rabbit/deer caught in headlights► like hell/the hell► something is like herding cats► need/want something like a hole in the head► be selling/going like hot cakes► get on/along like a house on fire► how about that!/how do you like that!► feel like/turn to jelly► like a lamb to the slaughter► go down like a lead balloon► like mad► like magic/as if by magic► make like► be of one mind/of the same mind/of like mind► be (like) a morgue► be (like) a mother to somebody► like a mother hen► need something like a hole in the head► like looking for a needle in a haystack► be/feel like a new man/woman► like new/as good as new► as if/as though/like you own the place► like two peas in a pod► turn up like a bad penny► rise like a phoenix from the ashes► (like) rats leaving the sinking ship► sell like hot cakes► like sheep► work/run/go like stink► be like talking to a brick wall► come down on somebody like a ton of bricks► work like a Trojan► a vice-like grip► like water► like water off a duck’s back► what's not to like/love?► work like magic/work like a charm► for all the world as if/as though/like
1similar similar to something else, or happening in the same way: - In the USA something like 4000 such accidents occur each year.
- Smith is already something like $10,000 in debt.
- The project will take us something like three weeks.
- And it goes something like this.
- And it stands a better chance than most of lasting for something like a full five-year term.
- It must have been something like that.
- There was another example of something like this at one point a little earlier in the year.
- They got an unreal turnover, something like seventy-five million a year.
- We can tell Mr Goodwin to patrol the grounds in case he is dumped, tied up, or something like that.
- Well, something like the churning of the Nile River, which keeps on recreating the fertile farmlands at her delta.
- You grow up idealizing something like law.
- All of these are useful, and collectively they offer nothing like enough.
- But she's nothing like her character in real-life.
- But the 1870s were not the 1370s, and amid rapid industrialization, apprenticeship was nothing like it once was.
- I have heard of three deaths during rugby matches in the seven years I have been secretary, but nothing like this.
- It was nothing like the life I wanted.
- Myddle parish saw nothing like the same rapid turnover of personnel.
- Straitlaced Amos, for example, was less stereotypical than his pals, and Sapphire spoke nothing like her husband.
- The zone blitz can fluster an offense because it looks nothing like a conventional blitz.
- There's nothing like Mom's chicken soup.
- And there's nothing like a conversation when you smoke.
- Facing page: there's nothing like a brew to soothe aching limbs but where's the Kendal Mint cake?
- No, there's nothing like a good laugh to make you feel better about yourself.
- Second team or not, however, there's nothing like the first century.
- When the weather's good there's nothing like a luxurious dessert to give a special menu a final flourish.
- As Compaq's products become more like other firms', they are starting to look overpriced.
- Cyrix says the computer actually performs more like a 200 megahertz Pentium-based machine.
- It seems more like a bad motel in Jersey City.
- Neither a club nor a knife: something more like a rowing oar, perhaps, considering our location.
- People begin to act more like themselves again.
- The seven children there had seemed more like seventeen.
- This was more like a pause in the struggle.
- While Tyrone is more like Michael Owen on a doughnut and Viagra diet.
- Arguing more like it, or rowing.
- Beatific would be more like it.
- Done off, more like it.
- I thought, hang on, this is more like it.
- Just plain sappy is more like it.
- That was more like it, I thought.-Good, I said.
- The Shirkers was more like it.
- Turned myself inside out is more like it.
- What's it like living in Spain?
- What's the new teacher like?
- But what is it like to actually be in Brookie?
- But what is it like to go from one pregnancy to the next - going on having more and more children?
- But what is it like to possess 360° vision with two, narrow and separate binocular fields?
- But what is life like for people living in rural areas who can't afford a car?
- But what is morale like in today's force.
- So what is the Pro-File like to dive with?
- Aye, some boys will be like that.
- But it was not always like this.
- Geniculate, at first glimpse, is something like that.
- He was an associate of Neuhaus, and like that legendary figure imparted the richest sense of cultural and human ideals.
- How typical of Iris to think of such a detail at a time like this.
- It goes like this: 1.
- Nothing even remotely like this had ever happened to her before, and she didn't like it.
- At home the bowl of the sky is just like that.
- Certainly they impute to the accused a degree of mystical malevolence just like that implied in witchcraft charges.
- Could he abandon everything now, just like that?
- How many people came to this country and bought a house just like that?
- I put my arm round him and gave him a hug just like that.
- I was on tablets for two days and then taken off, just like that.
- The pickup switching configuration is just like that of a Strat, but obviously with a fatter tone from the humbuckers.
- They stopped, just like that.
- Tom only left last week and I already miss him like anything.
- But like anything else worthy of our attention, it takes a little educating.
- I mean, eight singles hardly seems like anything at all.
- If it was like anything, thought Henry, it was probably like the art of eating out.
- It may not be perfect, and it may not even be like anything we have seen before.
- Somewhat softened by wind erosion, the surface none the less looked more like the lunar highlands than like anything on Earth.
- The interior is nothing like anything I've seen before.
- They would probably worry like anything.
- To intense, hardworking young Taylor, the practice could scarcely have seemed like anything but the most shameless sloth.
- Does Brenda look anything like her mother?
- I drove like a bat out of hell to the hospital.
- They took off like a bat out of hell for Tan Son Nhut.
- We're going to have to work like blazes to win this time!
- You could lean into the wind and it was raining like blazes.
- Politically, he often behaved like a bull in a china shop.
- You're not going to go storming in there like a bull in a china shop again?
- They may fight like a lion or go at something like a bull at a gate.
- Our new accounting system works like a charm.
- A slap on the hand or the behind works like a charm for one parent-child combination.
- But let me first applaud the coupling: it works like a charm.
- However, the schmaltzy parts, near the end, work like a charm.
- This time, the setup worked like a charm.
- She's only thirteen and she already smokes like a chimney.
- My granddad, who smoked like a chimney and lived to 97, was lucky enough never to encounter a promoter.
- The only sadness was that they all appeared to smoke like chimneys.
- Little legs going like the clappers.
- Male speaker Inside you are going like the clappers because you are nervous and the tension is building up.
- A universe that ran like clockwork also evinced design.
- And if Lais and Leonore created the promised diversion the plan would go like clockwork.
- Sometimes it ran like clockwork, sometimes-as I wrote at the time-it ran like the movie Clockwise.
- Then we had been surprised when our ascent of the nearby Jankopiti had gone like clockwork.
- Whereas Prost had been delayed as the Ferrari mechanics fiddled with the right-rear wheel, Senna's stop went like clockwork.
- At 6:30 every evening, like clockwork, Ari went out to milk the cows.
- The charity event was well organized and ran like clockwork.
- These mosquito bites on my leg are itching like crazy.
- We ran like crazy to the bus stop.
- They rang the doorbell and ran like the devil.
- He holds me like the devil himself.
- Hencke heard one canister bounce off the outer hull with a dull echo like the Devil knocking at the door.
- It glared and it floated and it flew like the Devil.
- Not screaming, although some of them must have fought like the devil not to.
- The hitchhiker keeps showing up, like a bad dream, like the devil himself.
- They scampered off, barking like the devil.
- Very good, Thérèse conceded afterwards: just like the Devil would do.
- L.M. True - like a dose of salts!
- The new car drives like a dream.
- But elsewhere Dream Stuff does not soothe.Life is like a dream because it is beyond control.
- He kept talking about it, like a dream.
- It is like a dream come true.
- Others, like dreams of fame or wealth, are egocentric.
- Some, like dreams of providing a great service, are altruistic.
- These tiresome but, one hopes, isolated problems aside, our Metro 1.1S is still running like a dream.
- Those few short months with Tony seemed sometimes like a dream to her.
- Players from both teams are dropping like flies.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
- At 17 he was a drug addict.
- Casodex is a drug that blocks the release of testosterone, a hormone that is linked to prostate cancer.
- I would have loved a drink, but I thought it might be drugged.
- Of those held in federal rather than state prisons, 60 % are drug offenders with no history of violence.
- The more complete descriptive term is drug elimination half-life.
- The most worrisome cross-border export, however, is drugs.
- The robber bridegroom could be a drug pusher in-stead of a homicidal cannibal, for instance.
- Tobacco is a drug and addicts should be given a chance to ease off gradually.
- She's taken to her new position like a duck to water.
- My mother had eyes like a hawk.
- She's been spending money like it's going out of fashion.
- I just don't feel like doing anything tonight.
- Joe says he feels like Mexican food.
- But the whole thing feels like a retread.
- He feels like the captain of a sleeping ship, alone at the helm, steering his oblivious crew through dangerous seas.
- I hang up, feeling like a wind-up toy.
- She felt like screaming at him, but she was determined not to lose her self-control.
- The careful procession into the Hall had felt like a kind of funeral.
- They stepped forward, and his muscles stiffened until they felt like bone.
- You made me feel like I was your family, a part of you.
- I felt like a fish out of water.
- In his first interview since the move, he still looks like a fish out of water.
- The computer can sort and edit a mailing list in a flash.
- He also had a nature that went violent in a flash.
- If he knew what I wanted he'd be out of the car and away in a flash of shock.
- It's all done in a flash these days.
- It was over in a flash.
- Shelby chooses the green chair for her dad, then like a flash, she's off to the house.
- The lesson seemed to pass in a flash.
- Two shots, they stop in a flash.
- We went by the tower like a flash and landed on the red cross near the newly set-up hospital tent.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- The men were dying like flies, of fever.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
- "I'm going to Barbara's house." "Like fun you are! Come and finish your chores first."
- Fraser's historical novels are selling like gangbusters.
- All I had to do was got to know his taste in food.
- Come to think of it, he'd seemed rather a decent chap, some one it might be worth getting to know.
- He got to know Bill Clinton quite well when they were together at Oxford as Rhodes scholars.
- I would like to get to know customers well 8.
- It was one of Brian's three daughters, Karen, who got to know Kirsty.
- Mrs Nowak and Taczek must have got to know most of the truth and stuck by the cover story.
- She had seen a leaflet about the YCs and thought that this would provide a good way of getting to know people.
- So I got, I sort of got to know her.
- They expect the bill to move through Congress like greased lightning.
- The following passage exemplifies, for Rees, macho characteristics: Clogger moved like greased lightning.
- Parents should watch their kids like a hawk for sunburns.
- And it's putting me off, having you watching me like a hawk all the time.
- He seemed to be watching her like a hawk, waiting for some reaction.
- Kruger is watching them like a hawk!
- They're watching me like hawks here.
- Today, more than usual, he had been watching them like a hawk.
- The arcade section is hideous, featuring computer-controlled players running around like headless chickens and never attempting a tackle.
- He looks like hell and sounds awful, but then, as he's the first to admit, he always did.
- In that case I would peak earlier and higher and then feel like hell for the rest of the day.
- I know he lost his legs first, and then his fingers-he died alone and it hurt like hell.
- I remember running like hell, knowing I was being pursued and looking back for Sarah, who didn't join me.
- I was able to breathe only with the utmost difficulty, and my arm hurt like hell.
- Must have fought like hell to find its niche within the forest, to distinguish itself within the pack.
- My forehead hurt like hell and my body was bruised all over, but no bones were broken.
- Run, North, run; just run like hell.
- Spring sauntered north, but he had to run like hell to keep it as his traveling companion.
- We fought like hell for most of the time.
- First decide how you want to set up your directories.
- Is this how we want to spend our dotage?
- It's how we like to see ourselves.
- Live your life how you want.
- Oh, how I wanted to win!
- Oh, how she wanted him to.
- Remember how he wanted us to think he was a good guy at heart?
- You try reading this with only one eye and see how you like it.
- Lori seemed to go through men like a knife through butter.
- Suzie went off to school like a lamb today.
- He felt he had taken his only child like a lamb to the slaughter.
- I certainly don't like lamb for three meals running.
- March, according to the weather proverb, comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.
- While others were being lionised he conducted himself like a lamb or even a mouse.
- She was out like a light, as soon as we put her in bed.
- A minute later he went out like a light.
- Either it was the brandy or it was the heat, but she went out like a light.
- I went out like a light.
- Something hit me on the back of the head, here, and I went out like a light.
- Her foot slipped on the smooth tiles but Mitch moved like lightning and caught her before she fell.
- Somewhere a dog barked and, like lightning, the cat darted into some bushes.
- The cat ran up the tree like lightning.
- I first borrowed a bottle from work and it works like magic.
- The new layout and office furniture worked like magic.
- Insurance companies always make out like bandits.
- Salomon Brothers and my customer made out like bandits.
- Come on, Ragtime Cowboy Joe, take your medicine.
- Conradin hated her with all his heart, but he obeyed her quietly and took his medicine without arguing.
- He and his grandpa took their medicine together, at the same time.
- He hadn't been changed or taken his medicine.
- He shut his eyes, held his nose like a kid about to take his medicine, and started to drink.
- His major problem is that he misses taking his medicine, and he travels too much.
- Like some one recovering from the flu, she quit taking her medicine as soon as she felt better.
- Soon after she left the hospital, with a clearer mind, she again stopped taking her medicine.
- I felt like a million dollars.
- Based on one of Aesop's fables, it was as much like a limerick as one of Shakespeare's sonnets.
- For at school, the young man would be surrounded by men much like him-self.
- The space inside looked as much like a junkyard as the space outside.
- They like their bikes to be as much like cars as possible.
- What he wanted, of course, was for me to write as much like he did as I possibly could.
- Men and horses went down like ninepins before them, in a tangle of waving limbs, flailing hooves and broken lances.
- People are buying Internet stocks like nobody's business.
- There's nothing like a nice hot bath to help you relax.
- And there's nothing like a conversation when you smoke.
- Facing page: there's nothing like a brew to soothe aching limbs but where's the Kendal Mint cake?
- No, there's nothing like a good laugh to make you feel better about yourself.
- Second team or not, however, there's nothing like the first century.
- When the weather's good there's nothing like a luxurious dessert to give a special menu a final flourish.
- Certainly the lateral geniculate nucleus in rats looks nothing like the lateral geniculate nucleus in monkeys.
- It's classed as being a conifer but it looks nothing like one.
- Remember that the intermediate stored pattern may be pretty abstract, looking nothing like the input pattern.
- She insisted that I looked nothing like Majella.
- She looked nothing like her photograph.
- The problem is that in its juvenile form it looks nothing like the adult specimen.
- The zone blitz can fluster an offense because it looks nothing like a conventional blitz.
- This suspect looks nothing like Nichols, a slightly built, light-skinned man in his 40s with thinning hair.
- After five months in the hospital, I'm feeling like my old self again.
- I wish they'd turn off the heat. It's like an oven in here.
- It's like an oven in here. Let's open some windows.
- The heat of the day made the gymnasium feel like an oven.
- Makes it like an oven, spoiling the negatives.
- The room is like an oven already.
- Getting the kids to do their homework was like pulling teeth.
- Out in the field, we looked like a bunch of drowned rats.
- You were looking like a drowned rat after our little foray into Puddephat's rooms.
- I can read you like a book - some book I've read six times already.
- Naturally this was like a red rag to a bull and I refused to even consider such a course of action.
- But Cirrito is quick to point out that Rastafarianism is a religion, whereas reggae is a beat.
- If there is a theme here, it is religion.
- This form of witchcraft is a religion of the earth.
- We were packed like sardines on the train.
- On the other side of the building turtles are packed like sardines into more tanks.
- Clearly western painters said what they liked, how they liked.
- From now on he could do and say what he liked - they wouldn't raise a squeak.
- He could say what he liked, but she was now controlling the agenda.
- I can say what I like.
- If she just vanishes, Elizabeth Roisin can say what she likes, but there's nothing she can do!
- There must, he said, be a place where people are free to say what they like.
- We can do what we like and say what we like to whomever we like, without restriction.
- While manufacturers say what they like about themselves through advertising, favourable public opinion for their products or services is earned.
- I woke up with a hangover and felt like shit for the rest of the day.
- And it used to make me feel like shit to hear that.
- Everytime I am about to go to a cup match I imagine myself travelling back home feeling like shit.
- Here goes ... I expected to look like shit but this was ridiculous.
- I try to think of nice ways to comment on his appearance without saying he looks like shit.
- It's a terrible thing to be told that and then to do what the director says and it feels like shit.
- The school made you feel like shit.
- We really do look like shit.
- You looked like shit the other night.
- Everybody always treats me like shit.
- She slammed the phone down and was out of the room like a shot.
- He asked Jeter if he'd like a shot at it.
- I'd tell you like a shot if we ever got into a real jam.
- It is not a direct stimulant, like a shot of adrenaline.
- She'd be off to Legoland like a shot, to see that caretaker, if Henry said anything.
- Sometimes they fall over one another, like shots from a rapid-fire camera.
- The great majority, once they breach the system and hear the telltale whine, are out of there like a shot.
- Travis had left the door open - she seized her chance, and was through it like a shot.
- You'd better remind him about the party - he's got a memory like a sieve!
- Then turn the paper over and fold it, like so.
- Insignia has something like 100 engineers working on its line.
- You can't come to the restaurant dressed in jeans. You'd stick out like a sore thumb.
- For these reasons feminist values stand out like a sore thumb.
- Having a whole batch together should make an odd one stick out like a sore thumb.
- Having said that, in some of the bits of Shoreditch I passed through I stuck out like a sore thumb.
- I mean, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
- There's no cover, and - as happened to me - any stranger sticks out like a sore thumb.
- We stand out like sore thumbs.
- You stick out like a sore thumb in that ghastly uniform, Charles.
- "There's been a slight change in our plans." "I don't like the sound of that."
- I just did not like the sound of this woman.
- She did not like the sound of those words he was using.
- Initially nothing succeeds like success: but eventually success exceeds itself, and decline and despondency set in.
- But no one can blame Rush for telling it like it is.
- He tells it like it is.
- I try to tell it like it is.
- She tells it like it is, or seems to.
- She stood there with hands on her hips, glaring with a face like thunder.
- Ben drives like there's no tomorrow.
- I eat and drink like there's no tomorrow.
- The news of her accident hit me like a ton of bricks.
- And then the Alouette was spinning like a top and curving off over the Aegean.
- Obviously, any knock could send her mind spinning like a top.
- Throwing on a dressing-gown and swearing like a trooper, you stumble to answer it.
- Aerials sprout up like weeds on the roof.
- Cars were suffocating the roads like weeds.
- Flavor-of-the-month or program-du-jour comments crop up like weeds.
- Still, development had sprung up around the edges, like weeds encroaching on a garden.
- The eggplants flourished, and the next spring more of them popped up all over the garden like weeds.
- A light wind ruffled the leaves of the trees, but it was warm, not cold like the winds of winter.
- Cos it looks like the wind blew her face inside out.
- He swept towards me, like the wind raising a storm as soaring eagles raise dust.
- Something was sweeping through that massive arena like the wind moving through the top of the trees.
- The boy was driving like the wind when suddenly we hit something.
- We rode like the wind and by ten o'clock had come to the edge of the forest of Zenda.
- Will and I ran like the wind and only stopped when we reached the river.
Her hair is dark brown like mine. A club should be like a big family. He eats like a pig!look/sound/feel/taste/seem like The garden looked like a jungle. At last he felt like a real soldier. My experience is very much like that described in the book. He’s very like his brother. Sometimes you sound just like (=exactly like) my mum! He’s growing more like his father every day. He looked nothing like (=not at all like) the man in the police photograph.2what is somebody/something like? spoken used when asking someone to describe or give their opinion of a person or thing: What’s their house like inside? What are Dan’s parents like?3example for example: Things like glass, paper, and plastic can all be recycled. Try to avoid fatty foods like cakes and biscuits.RegisterIn written English, people usually use for example, for instance, or such as rather than like:· packaging materials, for instance paper, glass, and plastic· Try to avoid fatty foods such as cakes and biscuits.4typical typical of a particular personbe like somebody to do something It’s not like Steven to be late. It’s just like her to run away from her responsibilities!5like this/that/so spoken used when you are showing someone how to do something: You have to fold the corners back, like so.6just like that informal if you do something just like that, you do it without thinking about it or planning it carefully: You can’t give up your job just like that!7something like not much more or less than a particular amount SYN about: The machinery alone will cost something like thirty thousand pounds. He’s scored something like 60 goals this season.8nothing like British English not at all: Twenty years ago travel was nothing like as easy as it is now. This will be nothing like enough money.9there’s nothing like used to say that a particular thing is very enjoyable: There’s nothing like a nice cup of tea!10more like used when giving an amount or number that you think is closer to being right than one that has been mentioned: The builders say they’ll be finished in three months, but I think it’ll be more like six.11that’s more like it/this is more like it spoken used to say that something is better, more correct, or more enjoyable than something else: That gives us a total of 52 – that’s more like it. She sat down by the pool and took a sip of her wine. ‘This is more like it,’ she said.12more like it British English spoken used when you want to change something that has been said, to make it more true: ‘Poor David,’ she said. ‘Poor Harriet, more like it!’13what are you like! British English spoken informal used in a joking, friendly way, when you are surprised by what someone has just said or done: ‘I think she’s a lovely lady.’ ‘What are you like!’like1 prepositionlike2 verblike3 nounlike4 conjunctionlike5 adverblike6 adjective
likelike2 ●●● S1 W1 verb [transitive] WORD ORIGINlike2
Origin:
Old English licianVERB TABLE
like
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | like |
| he, she, it | likes | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | liked |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have liked |
| he, she, it | has liked | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had liked |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will like |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have liked |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Do you like spaghetti?
- Everybody liked Mr. Schofield, but he wasn't a very good teacher.
- How do you like your steak cooked?
- I've always liked Sally - she's a lot of fun.
- I like the way she interacts with children.
- I like to put lots of ketchup on my fries.
- I like your dress - it's a beautiful colour.
- I like your new car.
- I liked her, but I was afraid to ask her to go out with me.
- I don't like meetings, especially if they go on for too long.
- I don't think Professor Riker likes me.
- I never really like her - she was always a bit stuck-up and condescending.
- I think Roy likes living alone.
- My daughter doesn't like lima beans.
- Nick likes to relax and read a book in the evenings.
- We liked living abroad. It was a wonderful experience.
- What did you like about the movie?
- He doesn't like gossip, our Jack.
- I'd really like some breakfast.
- I should like to call again soon to take a drive to some other point in the country.
- In accepting both what I like and don't like in her, I can more readily accept both aspects in myself.
- Mixed in with most of the words in Englishand very likely every other language-is some taint of liking or disliking.
- More worried now than she liked to admit, Piper extended her search for the Base Administrator to the refectory.
- So you can hate them, or like them, or love them.
- You have your friends; the faculty likes you; you play on teams.
THESAURUS
to think that someone or something is nice: · I like your dress – it’s a beautiful colour.· Do you like spaghetti?· What did you like about the movie?· I like travelling by train.· I like to see the children enjoying themselves.· Everybody liked Mr Schofield.
especially British English to like someone or something, especially something that you have liked for a long time or someone who you have known for a long time: · Connie had always been fond of animals.· Over the years, I’ve become quite fond of him.· He had always been fond of drinking at lunchtime, perhaps too fond.
spoken to like someone or something – often used in negative sentences: · I like Maria but I’m not keen on her husband.· Our English teacher was very keen on Shakespeare, but I couldn’t stand him.· I was keen on all sports at school.· I know he’s keen on opera. Let’s take him to see ‘La Traviata’.· I’m quite keen on the idea of having a fancy dress party.
informal to like doing a particular activity or be interested in a particular subject – used especially by young people: · She’s really into music at the moment.· What kind of films are you into?
informal to like someone or something, especially something surprising or unusual: · I’ve always had a thing about wolves.· He has this thing about tall women.
formal to like to have something – often used humorously: · He’s partial to the occasional glass of wine.
used when saying that you begin to like something, especially something that you did not like before: · I didn’t like the colour of the room at first, but it’s growing on me.
to like something very much to like something very much. Adore is stronger than love but is less common: · I love the smell of coffee.· The children absolutely adore her books.
(also be mad about something British English informal) to be extremely interested in an activity and spend a lot of time doing it or watching it: · Jonah’s crazy about basketball.· She’s always been mad about horses.
to like an activity very much, because it gives you a lot of pleasure or excitement: · From a very early age he had a passion for fast cars.· To be a great performer, you have to work very hard and have a passion for the music you play.
to like doing something so much that you spend all your free time doing it: · My son’s addicted to computer games – he hardly ever comes out of his room.· I started watching the show out of curiosity, but now I’m addicted!
Longman Language Activatorto like something to think that something is nice, attractive, enjoyable etc: · I like your dress - it's a beautiful colour.· Do you like spaghetti?like something about something: · What did you like about the movie?like doing something/like to do something: · I think Roy likes living alone.· I like to see the children enjoying themselves.
spoken to like doing a particular activity or be interested in a particular subject: · I know she's really into sports, so I thought I'd ask her to come skiing with us.· A lot of his relatives are into very weird New Age stuff.
especially British to like something, especially something that you have liked for a long time: · Connie had always been fond of animals.· He had always been fond of drinking at lunchtime, perhaps too fond.
especially British to like or be very interested in an activity or idea: · I know he's keen on opera. Let's take him to see "La Traviata'.· I'm quite keen on the idea of having a fancy dress party.
if something appeals to you, you like it because it involves things that interest you or ideas that you agree with: · I'm sure this delightful book will appeal to children of all ages.· Does either suggestion appeal to you?
also go over well American if something you do, or a book, film, performance etc goes down well with a group of people, they like it: · Her style of comedy is very British, but it goes down well in the States too.go down well with: · At the present time, military action would not go over well with the international community
formal if something is to your liking it has the qualities that you like, or it is made in the way that you like: · Was the meal to your liking, Madam?· The surrounding countryside was very much to our liking.
to like something very much especially spoken to like something very much. Adore is stronger but less common than love: · We had a great time at Disneyland. The kids loved it.· I adore chocolate -- I could live on it.love/adore doing something: · The older men loved hearing about Russ's success on the football field.· Jessie adored being the centre of attention.
also be mad about something British informal to be extremely interested in an activity and spend a lot of time doing it or watching it: · Jonah's crazy about basketball.· She's always been mad about horses.
to like something very much, especially something that you own or use, so that you would be upset if you lost it: · Mom gets very attached to her pets.· Casey had become quite attached to the comforts of his London home.
to like an activity very much, because it gives you a lot of pleasure or excitement: · From a very early age he had a passion for fast cars.· To be a great performer, you have to work very hard and have a passion for the music you play.
to enjoy doing something so much that you do it, watch it etc as often as you can and feel that you cannot stop doing it: · My son's addicted to computer games - he hardly ever comes out of his room.be addicted: · I started watching the show out of curiosity, but now I'm addicted!
to like something that could be bad for you to like something so much that you cannot refuse it when it is offered to you: · My mother could never resist expensive perfumes.can't resist doing something: · I couldn't resist stopping by the bakery on the way home.
informal to like a particular kind of food, drink, or activity, even though you know it is not good for you or that other people might not approve of it: · Too many of the men in our family have a weakness for alcohol.· I have to admit I have a weakness for daytime soap operas.
to like something such as a particular food or drink, especially when you eat or drink it more than you should: · He was particularly partial to my mother's home-made wine.
to like something or like doing something, especially something that could be bad or dangerous. This is often used humorously about something that is not really very bad: · She's not averse to the occasional glass of wine.not be averse to doing something: · The company is highly competitive and not averse to taking risks.
to begin to like something to begin to like something, especially something that you did not like at first: · The more the two women talked, the more they got to like each other.· I don't think I could ever get to like hip-hop.
if something grows on you , you gradually start to like it after a period of time: · I didn't like his accent much at first, but it kind of grows on you.· "The furniture in this place is a little weird." "Yeah, but it grows on you after a while."
also develop a liking for something to begin to like something that you did not like or had not experienced before: · While Bev was married, she acquired a taste for luxurious living.· When her family moved to Hollywood, she developed a liking for movie magazines and film culture.· Sam soon got a taste for Thai green curry and sticky rice.
if something is an acquired taste , people tend not to like when they first try it, but begin to like it when they have tried it a few more times: · Dark beers and ales are an acquired taste, but there's nothing better on a cold winter night.· Like most modern jazz players, his music's a bit of an acquired taste.
someone who likes something very much someone who likes a particular sport, team, or famous entertainer very much: · Thousands of fans came to hear Oasis play.· a football fanfan of: · Fans of Sylvester Stallone will enjoy this movie.
someone who likes a particular activity very much: music/car/wine/animal etc lover: · We are a nation of animal lovers.· Every jazz lover dreams of visiting New Orleans.lover of: · Lovers of night life won't be able to resist the many nightclubs in the area.
someone who likes a subject, activity, performer etc very much, is very interested in them and knows a lot about them: · Enthusiasts are willing to pay up to $12,000 for an original copy of the book.football/film/jazz etc enthusiast: · Golf enthusiasts will be able to see the tournament live on TV.· The exhibition will be of interest to classic car owners and other motoring enthusiasts.
informal someone who is extremely interested in a particular activity, especially when other people think they are a little strange for liking it so much: health/tv/sports etc freak: · Raw vegetables and nuts have always been a favourite with health-food freaks.· One Beatle's freak is reported to have paid $18,000 for Paul McCartney's birth certificate.
informal someone who does, eats, watches etc something a lot because they enjoy it so much that they cannot stop doing it - use this especially when you do not think someone should be spending so much time doing or being involved in a particular thing: TV/news/fast food etc junkie: · If you're a shopping junkie, then this is the channel for you!· You'd have to be a real political junkie to remember that Tsongas won the New Hampshire Primary in 1992.TV/news/fast food etc addict: · My sons and my husband are all football addicts.
formal someone who likes something such as art or literature very much and spends a lot of their time and money on it: · He's a devotee of old Hollywood movies.· Urquhart, a rich devotee of the arts, made generous donations to the museum.
something that you like all the things you like and do not like: · She never lets her personal likes and dislikes affect the way she treats people.· Employees were asked about their likes and dislikes, and also about how they felt about their working conditions.
something that you are deeply interested in and which you like so much that you are always excited about it: · Donna's latest passion is cooking and eating Mexican food. somebody's great/first love: · My father's great love was fishing.
to like someone to think someone has good qualities so that you feel friendly towards them: · I've always liked Sally - she's a lot of fun.· Everybody liked Mr. Schofield, but he wasn't a very good teacher.· I never really liked her - she was always a bit stuck-up and condescending.
to like someone very much, especially when you have known them for a long time: · You're very fond of Tyler, aren't you?· Over the years, the old man grew very fond of his nurse.
to like someone that you have known for a long time, so that you would be upset if they left you: · We've grown quite attached to you, Annie, and we'll be very sorry to see you leave.· Nurses can easily get too attached to their patients.
informal to like one person in particular more than the other people in a group: · She's always had a soft spot for her youngest grandson.· I've had a soft spot for Janet ever since she took my side in the argument I had with Jimmy.
to like someone because of a particular quality that they have, especially when other people do not notice that quality in them: · Tom's so innocent. He only sees the good in everyone he meets.· I can't figure out what Doug sees in her.
spoken someone that you like because they have the same attitudes that you have, or like the same things that you like: · I like the way she runs her business - a woman after my own heart.
if two people hit it off , they like each other, especially as soon as they meet: · Art Howe asked him to come for an interview for the coaching job, and the two men hit it off immediately.· Those two didn't really hit it off at first, did they?hit it off with: · You can't expect to hit it off with everyone you meet.
to begin to like someone to begin to like someone, especially someone that you did not like at first: · At first I thought she was a bit weird, but now I'm getting to like her.· Over the years, we grew to like each other, despite our differences.· I've gradually come to like Larry and his eccentric habits.
to begin to like someone and feel friendly towards them: · Her heart warmed to Amos. He was obviously a man who loved animals.· She was very nervous about introducing James to her children, but they warmed to him immediately.
to begin to like someone, especially when you have only known them for a very short time: · I introduced Anders to my brother and they took to each other immediately.· When Nicky takes to someone the way he's taken to you, he's your friend for life.· They only met yesterday, but I can tell Jim's taken a great liking to the girl.
to make someone like you to make someone like you by behaving in a way that pleases them: · "Can I help you Mrs Killigarew'' he said, hoping to endear himself to her by remembering her name.· She was witty and charming and quickly managed to endear herself to her future mother-in-law.
British informal also get on somebody's good side American informal to do nice things for someone and avoid making them angry, in order to be sure they like you: · He's only sent me flowers because he's trying to get on the right side of me.· Chris doesn't care what he has to say to get on Miller's good side.
to make a lot of people like you very much, especially by doing something that they admire or approve of: · With the words, "Ich bin ein Berliner,'' J.F. Kennedy won the hearts of millions of Germans.· The slight, nervous-looking young gymnast won the hearts of a whole nation.
when something is certain and impossible to avoid · War now seems inevitable.· Nina could never escape the inevitable comparisons that people made between her and her twin.inevitable result/consequence · If the population continues to expand, Ehrlich argues, mass starvation and ecological disaster will be the inevitable consequence. · The price of bread was doubled, with the inevitable result - riots in the streets of Paris.it is inevitable (that) · It was inevitable that he'd find out her secret sooner or later.
use this to tell someone that something is certain to happen and that they cannot prevent it even if they do not like it: · You're going to have to face him one day, whether you like it or not.· Whether she likes it or not, she's got to accept that her kids are grown up now.
something that is predestined will certainly happen and cannot be changed because it has been decided in advance by a power or force beyond our control: · Life isn't a series of predestined events: we have some control over what happens.predestined to do something: · Many religions teach that man is predestined to suffer.
if you know that a situation is meant to be you know it is certain to happen, especially because it is right and suitable: · We tried to be happy together but it was never meant to be.· Although saying goodbye was painful, she knew it was meant to be.
something that is definitely going to happen and cannot be avoided or prevented: · It's time they accepted the inevitable and got a divorce.bow to the inevitable (=accept something that cannot be prevented): · Week after week the papers were full of revelations about the minister's alleged corrupt dealings, until eventually he bowed to the inevitable and resigned.
to not like something or someone · John doesn't like garlic.· Why did you invite Claire? You know I don't like her.not like doing something · My girlfriend doesn't like camping.· I don't like walking home alone at night.not like something/somebody very much · Mum didn't like Mark very much when she first met him.
written to think someone or something is very unpleasant: · Eldridge was a quiet man who disliked social occasions.· She now seriously disliked her former friend.dislike doing something: · I dislike having to get up so early in the morning.dislike somebody/something intensely (=dislike them very much): · Muriel disliked Paul intensely.
spoken to think that something is not very good or that someone is not very good at something: · You don't think much of Carol, do you?· The hotel was okay, though I didn't think much of the food.· I don't think much of The Beatles, to be quite honest.
British informal to not like something, although you do not think it is very bad or very unpleasant: · Actually, I'm not very keen on modern art.· George had never been particularly fond of small children.
if someone is not your type , they are not the kind of person you usually like or enjoy being with: · Rob isn't her type at all.· "What do you think of Michael?" "He looks a bit rough - he's not really my type."
also not be somebody's cup of tea British informal to not be the kind of thing that you enjoy - use this about activities, films, books etc: · Tennis is not my thing.· Horror films aren't really my cup of tea.
use this to say that something is not the type of thing that you like or that you think is good: · It seems that the music wasn't exactly to his taste.· The food wasn't really to my liking - it all tasted rather salty.
to dislike a person, their attitude, or their behaviour and have no respect for them: · I've no time for that kind of attitude.· My father had no time for complainers.· He has no time for players who aren't completely dedicated.
to be unwilling to accept a particular situation, suggestion, or type of behaviour, because you think it is annoying: · Nancy doesn't take kindly to being corrected.· He didn't take very kindly to being disturbed in the middle of the night.
someone who enjoys eating a lot someone who usually eats a lot of food: · Don't give me such a large portion. I'm not a big eater.· What can I cook for them? They're such big eaters.
informal to enjoy food and to usually eat a lot: · Give him a big plate of spaghetti. He likes his food.· "Now there's a man who likes his food,'' she said, as her brother took a third helping of pie.
someone who knows a lot about food and drink and likes good quality food and drink: · They're real gourmets and buy only the best cuts of meat.· Many gourmets say that Camembert should never be kept in a fridge.gourmet food/cooking etc (=very good and usually expensive): · The shop only sells gourmet food, at astronomical prices.
British informal someone who is interested in food, and likes going to restaurants and trying new and unusual foods: · a new magazine for foodies· Michael Caine is an avid foodie who owns a string of restaurants.
to enjoy doing something to get pleasure from doing something: · Did you enjoy the party?enjoy doing something: · My father always enjoyed playing golf at weekends.enjoy yourself (=do things that make you feel happy): · The park was full of people enjoying themselves in the sunshine.thoroughly/greatly enjoy: · Thanks for a lovely evening. I thoroughly enjoyed it.· Most of the students said that they had really enjoyed the day out.enjoy every minute/moment of something: · It was a wonderful vacation - we enjoyed every minute of it.enjoy something immensely especially British: · Parts of the play were extremely funny. I enjoyed it immensely.
to enjoy doing something, especially something that you do regularly or for a long time: · I don't like meetings, especially if they go on for too long.like doing something: · We liked living abroad. It was a wonderful experience.like to do something (=do something often or regularly because you enjoy it): · Nick likes to relax and read a book in the evenings.
especially spoken to enjoy doing something very much and get a lot of pleasure out of it: · Cassie works in the theatre, and she really loves it.love doing something: · Ben loves swimming, playing tennis, those kinds of thing.love to do something (=do something often or regularly because you enjoy it a lot): · She loved to sit in the park and feed the ducks.
especially spoken to enjoy yourself very much when you are with other people: · We had a great time last night - you should have come.· Did you have a good time at the beach?have a good/great etc time doing something: · The kids all had a wonderful time meeting up at each other's houses.
informal to enjoy yourself very much by going out a lot and spending a lot of money on social activities: · Pat spent most of his time at college going to parties and living it up.· I had saved about two thousand dollars, so I decided to whoop it up in Vegas before going home.
to enjoy yourself with other people, for example by relaxing, talking, or laughing with them: · I was having so much fun I forgot how late it was.have fun doing something: · We had fun trying to guess who Mike's new girlfriend was.
especially American, informal to have a very good time: · We went down to the Gulf Coast of Florida for spring break - we had a blast!
informal to enjoy yourself very much: · "Your vacation sounds fantastic.'' "We had the time of our lives!''have the time of your life/have a whale of a time doing something: · Alan was having the time of his life, playing to an admiring audience.· The kids all had a whale of a time, in and out of the pool all day.
to enjoy doing or seeing something: · I get a real kick out of watching my son learning to speak.· Jody got a kick out of trying some of the new video games.
the one you like better than any others British /favorite American your favourite colour, food, teacher etc is the one you like more than all other colours, types of food etc: · My favourite colour is purple.· Who is your favorite singer?· Proceeds from the concert will go to the singer's favorite charities.
especially spoken to like something better than other things - use this especially when you are asking someone to choose or when you are choosing: · Which of these dresses do you like best?like something best: · I think I like the red one best.
formal the preferred method, plan etc is the one that people think is the best: · Steaming is the preferred method of cooking in Central Asia.· Seventeen percent of likely voters picked Stark as their preferred candidate.
the thing or person you like best and would choose first when you have several to choose from: · Frances was our first choice as a name for the baby.· Parents choosing schools for their children are rarely given their first choice.first choice for: · Atkins was the producers' first choice for the part of the maid.first choice of: · Twenty-six percent of the students said that teaching was their first choice of occupations.
when someone likes one thing or person rather than another: · There are definite regional preferences amongst our clients.· Oil or vinegar may be added for a more bland or sharp sauce, according to your preference.preference for: · Adams expressed her preference for New York, despite the fact that she's lived in California for six years.
when you offer something to someone to say that someone can have something if they want it: offer somebody something: · She didn't even offer me a cup of tea.· I've been offered the job!· Can I offer you a ride?· Why don't you offer them a drink while I finish getting dinner ready?offer something to somebody: · Unfortunately, they offered the contract to someone else.
spoken say this as a polite way of offering something to someone: · We have some maps of the city - would you like one?· Would you like fries with that?
spoken say this when you are offering someone a drink or food, for example at a party: · Can I get you some coffee?· What can I get you? There's beer or wine.
spoken say this to tell someone they can take anything they want from the food and drink that is available: · There's plenty of food, so help yourself.help yourself to: · Help yourself to some salad.
spoken say this to persuade someone to take some food or drink that you are offering: · Have some of the pie - my Mom made it.· Go on, have another beer.
to like someone or something better than others · Which bread do you prefer, brown or white?· "Which restaurant shall we go to?" "I really don't mind. Whichever one you prefer."much prefer somebody/something (=like something much better) · She doesn't like romantic fiction -- she much prefers detective stories.· Brad Pitt? Oh no, I much prefer Russell Crowe!prefer somebody/something to somebody/ something · I'm beginning to like Japanese food. I certainly prefer rice to potatoes.I'd prefer something · Dave wants to go to New York again, but I'd prefer somewhere more exotic.
especially spoken to like one person or thing more than another one: · Which do you like better, the red tie or the green one?like better than: · I like our new teacher much better than the one we had before.· There was nothing she liked better than being in the limelight in front of the press and TV cameras.
formal to prefer something - use this especially when you are discussing which one of several things should be chosen: · We could eat Chinese, Indian, or Italian. Do you have any preference?have a preference for: · The new leader has a preference for people who come from the same area of the country as he does.have no strong/particular preference (=you don't prefer any of them more than the others): · I really have no particular preference -- you choose.express a preference (=say that you prefer one rather than others): · When I asked her about where she wanted the meeting to be held she didn't express any particular preference.
British /favor American if a person or group in a position of authority or influence favours something such as a plan, idea, or system, they think it is better than the others: · President Bush was known to favor the use of military force.· In the 1930s the Bauhaus school tended to favour a technological approach to art.
spoken informal used when you want to say that you strongly prefer one type of thing: · I can't stand English men -- they're so boring. Give me an Italian any day!· Forget all your salad and beans and organic food -- give me a thick juicy steak any day!
what you say when you thank someone say this when you want to thank someone politely: · "Would you like to come to dinner with us on Sunday?" "Thank you, I'd love to."thank you for: · Thank you for a splendid evening. I really enjoyed myself.· Thank you for letting me stay.thank you very much: · It's lovely. Thank you very much.
spoken use this to thank someone for something they have just done or given you: · "Here's your coffee." "Thanks, Mom."thanks for: · Thanks for coming. Hope we see you again next year.thanks to somebody (=used in speeches): · Thanks to everyone for all the cards and flowers. They really cheered me up.thanks a lot/a million: · "Here, let me help you." "Thanks a lot. That's great."
British informal spoken say this when you want to thank someone for something they have just done or given you: · "Here's the book you wanted." "Ta."· "I've made you a cup of tea." "Cheers."
formal spoken say this when someone has generously offered to do something for you: · "Here, you can have my seat." "Thank you, that's very kind of you."· "Would you like me to carry your shopping?" "That's very good of you!"
spoken say this when you want to thank someone who has done a lot to help you: · Thanks for helping out on a Sunday - I appreciate it.I really appreciate it: · I couldn't have managed without your support and encouragement. I really appreciate it.
spoken say this when you want to thank someone who has given you something, especially something expensive: · What a beautiful ring! Oh Mike, you shouldn't have!
spoken use this to thank someone who has got you out of a difficult situation, or solved a problem for you: · You've saved my life, Jim! Thank goodness you were here.
spoken use this to thank someone in a formal speech: · I would like to thank everyone who helped at the school fair.I'd like to thank somebody for (doing) something: · I'd like to thank Betty and Jim for organizing this wonderful party.
use this to thank someone, especially when writing a letter: · We received the pictures on Wednesday. Many thanks.many thanks for: · Many thanks for your letter of the other day.
to want something or want to do something · My parents moved out of London because they wanted a bigger house.· Do you want milk in your coffee?want to do something · What do you want to do at the weekend?· Stacey wants to be a doctor.want somebody to do something · She wants Tom to come to her party.what somebody wants is · What we want is a car that's cheap and reliable.if you want (to) · You can go back to bed for a while if you want.
especially spoken use this as a polite way of asking for something, offering something, or saying what you want to do: · We'd like some information about flights to Chicago, please.· Would you like some more coffee?would like to do something: · I'd like to reserve a room for Saturday.· Would you like to borrow this book?would like somebody to do something: · We would like you to attend an interview at 3:30 on Friday.
especially spoken to want to have something or do something, because you think you would enjoy it: · I feel like a long, hot soak in the bath.· It's a lovely day - do you feel like a walk?feel like doing something: · I feel like watching a movie tonight.
spoken to want to do or have something, but not very strongly: · I wouldn't mind another cup of coffee. How about you?I wouldn't mind doing something: · It was a really good play. I wouldn't mind seeing it again.
formal to want to do something: wish to do something: · I wish to purchase a second house in the UK for investment purposes.· Anyone wishing to order the book should send a cheque to the publishers.if you wish: · Everyone has the right to smoke if they wish, but not the right to ruin the health of those around them.
say this when you would like to do or have something: · "How about a girls' night out on the town?" "I wouldn't say no!"I wouldn't say no to: · I wouldn't say no to a glass of whisky!
to think that you may want to do something, buy something, or get involved in something: · Melanie wants to be a lawyer, and Sam's interested in a career in teaching.be interested in doing something: · We're interested in buying an apartment downtown.· Would you be interested in going to the theatre with me on Friday? I have two tickets for "The King and I".
British informal to want to have or do something: · Do you fancy a drink?· I think he's always fancied a car like Lizzie's.fancy doing something: · I really fancy going for a swim.
informal if something takes your fancy , you want to do or have it as soon as you see it or think of it: · We could go to the movies or go out for a meal -- whatever takes your fancy.· She wandered around the market stalls, stopping occasionally to look at something that took her fancy.
feeling worried not feeling happy or relaxed, because you keep thinking about a problem or about something bad that might happen: · Dave could see how worried she was, and he tried to reassure her.look worried: · You look worried - what's the matter?worried about: · Marion was worried about losing her job. · We're very worried about Grandma.· I'm not really worried about how much it will cost.worried (that): · She rushed to the station, worried that she might miss her train.· I was worried if I washed it, it might shrink.get worried: · I'm getting worried because my account still hasn't registered a check I deposited a while ago.a worried look/frown/glance etc: · She had such a worried look on her face!· Helen looked at me with a worried expression.
especially written very worried because you think that something bad has happened or may happen, and you feel that you have no control over the situation: · Anxious relatives waited at the airport for news of the plane crash.feel/sound anxious: · She knew it was a simple operation, but she still felt anxious.anxious about: · Helen is always anxious about travelling alone.· When you become anxious about sleeplessness, you actually make the problem worse.an anxious face/voice/expression etc: · "Please come with me," she said in an anxious voice.· Mae cast an anxious look in his direction.
worried and slightly frightened about something that is going to happen or something new or difficult that you have to do: · I'm always nervous before exams.get nervous: · Mum gets nervous if we don't call to say we're late.look/feel/sound nervous: · Bill looked nervous, and I could see that his hands were shaking.· Harry began to feel nervous again as the plane made its descent.make somebody (feel) nervous: · The sounds outside were making me feel nervous.· Stop tapping your feet! You're making me nervous.nervous about: · Kelly was so nervous about her interview that she couldn't sleep.
worried about someone else's problems, health, safety etc: · A TV programme about cruelty to children brought hundreds of letters from concerned viewers.concerned about: · I'm very concerned about Veronica. She looks so pale, and she has no appetite.· World governments are becoming increasingly concerned about rising global temperature levels.concerned for: · Rescuers are concerned for the safety of two men trapped in the mine.
formal worried and a little frightened about something that you are going to do or about the future, because you are not sure what it will be like: · Dr Gottlieb reassures apprehensive patients that the operation is a simple procedure. apprehensive about: · I must admit that before my baby was born I was very apprehensive about motherhood.· No one need be apprehensive about their personal safety; everything is under control.
worried and not happy with a situation, because you feel there may be something wrong and you are not sure what is going to happen: make somebody uneasy: · When I answered the telephone, no one was there, which made me uneasy.feel uneasy: · After a while she started to feel uneasy, and then scared.uneasy about: · Roger was a bit uneasy about the plan, but he agreed.· 75 percent of consumers said they were uneasy about using their credit cards over the Internet.distinctly uneasy (=very uneasy): · I was distinctly uneasy in his company, but I couldn't explain why.have the/an uneasy feeling: · She had the uneasy feeling that he wasn't going to come back.
very worried, disappointed, and upset by something that has happened: · Hardeep's lawyer said his client was 'shocked and dismayed' after hearing the court's decision.dismayed at/by: · American historians are dismayed at the condition of the texts stored in the library.dismayed to see/hear etc: · We were dismayed to discover that our daughter Louise had started experimenting with heroin.dismayed that: · Danby was dismayed that Watt had opposed him in the vote.· Many of the nurses are dismayed that the management intends to make further service reductions.
informal if you do not like the look or sound of something, it makes you feel worried and unhappy because it seems threatening or dangerous: · I don't like the look of that rash on your chest.· The captain's face darkened as he listened. 'I don't like the sound of this,' he said.· Don't let anyone into your home that you don't like the look of.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I don’t like it when you get angry. How do you like living in London (=how much do you like it)? I quite like their new album. We really liked the film. The time I like best (=like most of all) is the evening when it’s cool. I didn’t like the idea of being a single parent. I really like Sam. She’s a lovely girl and I like her very much. In time, I got to like her (=began to like her). I don’t like the way he shouts at the children. I’d just like to say how grateful we are for your help. How would you like (=would you like) to spend the summer in Italy?COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES What I like about the job is that it’s never boring. Why did you speak to him? You usually avoid him like the plague (=try hard to avoid him). Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). She was screaming like a banshee. She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. She looks a bit like my sister. You’re not a bit like your brother. They’re like chalk and cheese, those two. I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely). I would dearly like to know what she said. A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes. Don’t let him treat you like a doormat. My flatmate Cherry drinks like a fish (=regularly drinks a lot of alcohol). Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. She tries to be exactly like her older sister. I felt like I’d really achieved something. It’s nice fabric – it feels like velvet. It’s been a year since her daughter died, but to her, it still feels like yesterday. I know this dress is going to fit you like a glove (=fit you very well). The idea went down like a lead balloon (=was not popular or successful). I can’t go on like this for much longer. After a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox. the city he had grown to love Becoming a doctor never interested him. It was too much like hard work (=it would involve too much work). I grew up here; I know the place like the back of my hand (=I know it very well). a chance to meet like-minded people He looked as if he hadn’t washed for a week. What did the man look like? My sister doesn’t look anything like me. It’s the law so you can like it or lump it. He drives like a madman. She drew men to her like a magnet. He drove like a maniac to the hospital. I’m not surprised she left. He treated her like muck (=very badly). I quite like Chinese food. Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British English At school the other children treated them like royalty. He picked up the child and ran like hell (=ran very quickly, especially in order to escape). We were all running around like headless chickens (=trying to do a lot of things, in an anxious or disorganized way). We waited for what seemed like hours. I heard what sounded like fireworks. He does mountain biking and skiing, and stuff like that. I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson. This sounded suspiciously like an attempt to get rid of me. The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics. Don’t let Dad hear you talking like that (=expressing things in a particular way). He held my arm like a vice. Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
I don’t like it when you get angry. How do you like living in London (=how much do you like it)? I quite like their new album. We really liked the film. The time I like best (=like most of all) is the evening when it’s cool. I didn’t like the idea of being a single parent. I really like Sam. She’s a lovely girl and I like her very much. In time, I got to like her (=began to like her). I don’t like the way he shouts at the children. I’d just like to say how grateful we are for your help. How would you like (=would you like) to spend the summer in Italy? What I like about the job is that it’s never boring. Why did you speak to him? You usually avoid him like the plague (=try hard to avoid him). Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). She was screaming like a banshee. She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. She looks a bit like my sister. You’re not a bit like your brother. They’re like chalk and cheese, those two. I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely).· I enjoy cooking at the weekend.
· I feel like crying every time I think about that day.
(=cry a lot and without control)· I cried like a baby when I heard the news.
I would dearly like to know what she said. A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes. Don’t let him treat you like a doormat. (=seem unreal)· That summer was so wonderful it seemed like a dream.
My flatmate Cherry drinks like a fish (=regularly drinks a lot of alcohol). (=eat a lot)· She eats like a horse but never puts on any weight!
(=eat very little)· Ever since she was a child, Jan had always eaten like a bird.
Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. She tries to be exactly like her older sister. (=a very angry expression)· The boss had a face like thunder when he arrived this morning.
I felt like I’d really achieved something. It’s nice fabric – it feels like velvet. It’s been a year since her daughter died, but to her, it still feels like yesterday. I know this dress is going to fit you like a glove (=fit you very well). (=seems to be enjoyable)· The picnic sounded like fun.
The idea went down like a lead balloon (=was not popular or successful). I can’t go on like this for much longer. (=a very strong grip)· Victor took hold of her wrist in an iron grip.
After a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox. the city he had grown to love Becoming a doctor never interested him. It was too much like hard work (=it would involve too much work). informal (=hurt very much) My shoulder hurts like hell.
My shoulder hurts like hell. (=people who share the same opinions)· The message board is a forum where like-minded individuals can communicate.
I grew up here; I know the place like the back of my hand (=I know it very well). a chance to meet like-minded people (=it seems likely that) It looks as if it might rain later. It looks like they won’t be needing us anymore.
It looks as if it might rain later. It looks like they won’t be needing us anymore. He looked as if he hadn’t washed for a week. What did the man look like? My sister doesn’t look anything like me. (=think that something bad has happened or will happen because of something’s appearance) We should turn back now. It’s getting dark and I don’t like the look of those rain clouds.
We should turn back now. It’s getting dark and I don’t like the look of those rain clouds. It’s the law so you can like it or lump it. He drives like a madman. She drew men to her like a magnet. He drove like a maniac to the hospital. (=forget things very easily)· I'm sorry, I have a memory like a sieve. I forgot you were coming today!
I’m not surprised she left. He treated her like muck (=very badly). literary (=with a lot of energy or violence)
· ‘He's been completely irresponsible.’ ‘I wouldn’t put it quite like that.’
I quite like Chinese food. (=rain appears likely because there are dark clouds in the sky)· We ate indoors because it looked like rain.
Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British English At school the other children treated them like royalty. He picked up the child and ran like hell (=ran very quickly, especially in order to escape). We were all running around like headless chickens (=trying to do a lot of things, in an anxious or disorganized way). We waited for what seemed like hours. (=be shaking a lot because you are nervous or frightened)· Diana was shaking like a leaf when she got up to give her talk.
· I have liked him since we first met.
(also sleep like a baby) informal (=sleep very well)· I was exhausted and slept like a log.
I heard what sounded like fireworks. (=spread extremely quickly)· The news spread like wildfire through the town.
He does mountain biking and skiing, and stuff like that. I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson. This sounded suspiciously like an attempt to get rid of me. informal (=sweat a lot) basketball players sweating buckets
basketball players sweating buckets The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics. Don’t let Dad hear you talking like that (=expressing things in a particular way). informal (=very badly and with no respect)· He treated this wife like dirt.
He held my arm like a vice. Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.· Mr. Needham I am sure that all the people of Belfast would like to thank my hon. Friend for her comments.· Others were more interested in being with people and being liked.· It isn't a subject that most people like to dwell on; it may never even have occurred to you.· People who question Davis' ability to win in court are people who like to wear barrels instead of clothes.· Lots of people don't like him, and some actively loathe him, but try to see the better side.· The reason why people like each other is important.· Few people liked it, most either ignored it or hated it.· There are many people who like to explore the unknown.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► as long as you like/as much as you like etc► I like that!► like it or lump itPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► not anything like/near► be like a bear with a sore head► like getting blood out of a stone► feel/look like a million bucks► like a cat on hot bricks► like the cat that got the cream► look like something the cat dragged/brought in► like Darby and Joan► look/feel like death warmed up► like a dog with two tails► look/feel etc like nothing on earth► like father like son► fight like cat and dog► a voice like a foghorn► like fury► be like gold dust► hold/hang on for/like grim death► have eyes like a hawk► be (like) banging/bashing etc your head against a brick wall► like a rabbit/deer caught in headlights► like hell/the hell► something is like herding cats► need/want something like a hole in the head► be selling/going like hot cakes► get on/along like a house on fire► how about that!/how do you like that!► feel like/turn to jelly► like a lamb to the slaughter► go down like a lead balloon► like mad► like magic/as if by magic► make like► be of one mind/of the same mind/of like mind► be (like) a morgue► be (like) a mother to somebody► like a mother hen► need something like a hole in the head► like looking for a needle in a haystack► be/feel like a new man/woman► like new/as good as new► as if/as though/like you own the place► like two peas in a pod► turn up like a bad penny► rise like a phoenix from the ashes► (like) rats leaving the sinking ship► sell like hot cakes► like sheep► work/run/go like stink► be like talking to a brick wall► come down on somebody like a ton of bricks► work like a Trojan► a vice-like grip► like water► like water off a duck’s back► what's not to like/love?► work like magic/work like a charm► for all the world as if/as though/like
- You're going to the dentist, whether you like it or not.
- I'd like to believe that he's telling the truth.
- I'd like to think I know a little about airplanes.
- But I 'd like to think that gallantry isn't dead.
- Dad and I clashed more than I 'd like to think about.
- I 'd like to think Beardsley and Wright will get the nod and Graham doesn't get it wrong again.
- I 'd like to think that it does have some meaning.
- It is a novelty record in some respects, although I 'd like to think it's a lot deeper than that too.
- Perhaps it wasn't very subtle, but I 'd like to think it was funny.
- And here, keep my purse if you like, till I come back.
- Here in Naples you've got a balance, if you like.
- I asked if she liked living in this country.
- She smiled like she meant it, as if she liked everything around her.
- That's if he likes you.
- Viscount Muckraker, if you like - but you?
- We could get it over with right now if you like.
- You and Ugo can go now if you like, Anna.
- But I 'd like to see you again, when we can make time.
- I 'd like to see him again.
- I 'd like to see you give our boys a run for their money.
- How would you like a big plate of pancakes?
- If you were to have a new one delivered tomorrow, how would you like to learn how it works?
- Now, how would you like to eat tonight?
- Well, how would you like to take a case that lasts for at least four months?
- I'd like to reserve a room for Saturday.
- We'd like some information about flights to Chicago, please.
- We'd really like a new washing machine.
- We would like you to attend an interview at 3:30 on Friday.
- Would you like some more coffee?
- Would you like to borrow this book?
- A proposed right is a claim which the proposer would like the society to enforce.
- And, of course, your decision should, above all, reflect your feelings about what you would like to do.
- If you would like to reassess your life and learn how to use stress to your advantage, come along.
- People like Jennifer Grant, director of the Riley Center, would like to see it catch on big time.
- Sam Ruang would like to have one more child, but he under-stands that that is beyond his means.
- We are new to the London area, and would like to eat in restaurants or visit pubs with others.
- We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and wish her a very happy retirement.
- Down the golden road, London and the world, life, whatever you like.
- I said they can call themselves anything they like, and I would still not engage one.
- I wished I could go back to the other way, when we could just do whatever we liked.
- Once you're online, you can use whatever you like.
- That is to say put anything you like on them, but don t be surprised if some one else reads them.
- They can do whatever they like provided that it is what the Treasury has already agreed.
- We can ask him whatever we like.
- Tom only left last week and I already miss him like anything.
- But like anything else worthy of our attention, it takes a little educating.
- I mean, eight singles hardly seems like anything at all.
- If it was like anything, thought Henry, it was probably like the art of eating out.
- It may not be perfect, and it may not even be like anything we have seen before.
- Somewhat softened by wind erosion, the surface none the less looked more like the lunar highlands than like anything on Earth.
- The interior is nothing like anything I've seen before.
- They would probably worry like anything.
- To intense, hardworking young Taylor, the practice could scarcely have seemed like anything but the most shameless sloth.
- Does Brenda look anything like her mother?
- I drove like a bat out of hell to the hospital.
- They took off like a bat out of hell for Tan Son Nhut.
- We're going to have to work like blazes to win this time!
- You could lean into the wind and it was raining like blazes.
- Politically, he often behaved like a bull in a china shop.
- You're not going to go storming in there like a bull in a china shop again?
- They may fight like a lion or go at something like a bull at a gate.
- Our new accounting system works like a charm.
- A slap on the hand or the behind works like a charm for one parent-child combination.
- But let me first applaud the coupling: it works like a charm.
- However, the schmaltzy parts, near the end, work like a charm.
- This time, the setup worked like a charm.
- She's only thirteen and she already smokes like a chimney.
- My granddad, who smoked like a chimney and lived to 97, was lucky enough never to encounter a promoter.
- The only sadness was that they all appeared to smoke like chimneys.
- Little legs going like the clappers.
- Male speaker Inside you are going like the clappers because you are nervous and the tension is building up.
- A universe that ran like clockwork also evinced design.
- And if Lais and Leonore created the promised diversion the plan would go like clockwork.
- Sometimes it ran like clockwork, sometimes-as I wrote at the time-it ran like the movie Clockwise.
- Then we had been surprised when our ascent of the nearby Jankopiti had gone like clockwork.
- Whereas Prost had been delayed as the Ferrari mechanics fiddled with the right-rear wheel, Senna's stop went like clockwork.
- At 6:30 every evening, like clockwork, Ari went out to milk the cows.
- The charity event was well organized and ran like clockwork.
- These mosquito bites on my leg are itching like crazy.
- We ran like crazy to the bus stop.
- They rang the doorbell and ran like the devil.
- He holds me like the devil himself.
- Hencke heard one canister bounce off the outer hull with a dull echo like the Devil knocking at the door.
- It glared and it floated and it flew like the Devil.
- Not screaming, although some of them must have fought like the devil not to.
- The hitchhiker keeps showing up, like a bad dream, like the devil himself.
- They scampered off, barking like the devil.
- Very good, Thérèse conceded afterwards: just like the Devil would do.
- L.M. True - like a dose of salts!
- The new car drives like a dream.
- But elsewhere Dream Stuff does not soothe.Life is like a dream because it is beyond control.
- He kept talking about it, like a dream.
- It is like a dream come true.
- Others, like dreams of fame or wealth, are egocentric.
- Some, like dreams of providing a great service, are altruistic.
- These tiresome but, one hopes, isolated problems aside, our Metro 1.1S is still running like a dream.
- Those few short months with Tony seemed sometimes like a dream to her.
- Players from both teams are dropping like flies.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
- At 17 he was a drug addict.
- Casodex is a drug that blocks the release of testosterone, a hormone that is linked to prostate cancer.
- I would have loved a drink, but I thought it might be drugged.
- Of those held in federal rather than state prisons, 60 % are drug offenders with no history of violence.
- The more complete descriptive term is drug elimination half-life.
- The most worrisome cross-border export, however, is drugs.
- The robber bridegroom could be a drug pusher in-stead of a homicidal cannibal, for instance.
- Tobacco is a drug and addicts should be given a chance to ease off gradually.
- She's taken to her new position like a duck to water.
- My mother had eyes like a hawk.
- She's been spending money like it's going out of fashion.
- I just don't feel like doing anything tonight.
- Joe says he feels like Mexican food.
- But the whole thing feels like a retread.
- He feels like the captain of a sleeping ship, alone at the helm, steering his oblivious crew through dangerous seas.
- I hang up, feeling like a wind-up toy.
- She felt like screaming at him, but she was determined not to lose her self-control.
- The careful procession into the Hall had felt like a kind of funeral.
- They stepped forward, and his muscles stiffened until they felt like bone.
- You made me feel like I was your family, a part of you.
- I felt like a fish out of water.
- In his first interview since the move, he still looks like a fish out of water.
- The computer can sort and edit a mailing list in a flash.
- He also had a nature that went violent in a flash.
- If he knew what I wanted he'd be out of the car and away in a flash of shock.
- It's all done in a flash these days.
- It was over in a flash.
- Shelby chooses the green chair for her dad, then like a flash, she's off to the house.
- The lesson seemed to pass in a flash.
- Two shots, they stop in a flash.
- We went by the tower like a flash and landed on the red cross near the newly set-up hospital tent.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- The men were dying like flies, of fever.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
- "I'm going to Barbara's house." "Like fun you are! Come and finish your chores first."
- Fraser's historical novels are selling like gangbusters.
- All I had to do was got to know his taste in food.
- Come to think of it, he'd seemed rather a decent chap, some one it might be worth getting to know.
- He got to know Bill Clinton quite well when they were together at Oxford as Rhodes scholars.
- I would like to get to know customers well 8.
- It was one of Brian's three daughters, Karen, who got to know Kirsty.
- Mrs Nowak and Taczek must have got to know most of the truth and stuck by the cover story.
- She had seen a leaflet about the YCs and thought that this would provide a good way of getting to know people.
- So I got, I sort of got to know her.
- They expect the bill to move through Congress like greased lightning.
- The following passage exemplifies, for Rees, macho characteristics: Clogger moved like greased lightning.
- Parents should watch their kids like a hawk for sunburns.
- And it's putting me off, having you watching me like a hawk all the time.
- He seemed to be watching her like a hawk, waiting for some reaction.
- Kruger is watching them like a hawk!
- They're watching me like hawks here.
- Today, more than usual, he had been watching them like a hawk.
- The arcade section is hideous, featuring computer-controlled players running around like headless chickens and never attempting a tackle.
- He looks like hell and sounds awful, but then, as he's the first to admit, he always did.
- In that case I would peak earlier and higher and then feel like hell for the rest of the day.
- I know he lost his legs first, and then his fingers-he died alone and it hurt like hell.
- I remember running like hell, knowing I was being pursued and looking back for Sarah, who didn't join me.
- I was able to breathe only with the utmost difficulty, and my arm hurt like hell.
- Must have fought like hell to find its niche within the forest, to distinguish itself within the pack.
- My forehead hurt like hell and my body was bruised all over, but no bones were broken.
- Run, North, run; just run like hell.
- Spring sauntered north, but he had to run like hell to keep it as his traveling companion.
- We fought like hell for most of the time.
- First decide how you want to set up your directories.
- Is this how we want to spend our dotage?
- It's how we like to see ourselves.
- Live your life how you want.
- Oh, how I wanted to win!
- Oh, how she wanted him to.
- Remember how he wanted us to think he was a good guy at heart?
- You try reading this with only one eye and see how you like it.
- Lori seemed to go through men like a knife through butter.
- Suzie went off to school like a lamb today.
- He felt he had taken his only child like a lamb to the slaughter.
- I certainly don't like lamb for three meals running.
- March, according to the weather proverb, comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.
- While others were being lionised he conducted himself like a lamb or even a mouse.
- She was out like a light, as soon as we put her in bed.
- A minute later he went out like a light.
- Either it was the brandy or it was the heat, but she went out like a light.
- I went out like a light.
- Something hit me on the back of the head, here, and I went out like a light.
- Her foot slipped on the smooth tiles but Mitch moved like lightning and caught her before she fell.
- Somewhere a dog barked and, like lightning, the cat darted into some bushes.
- The cat ran up the tree like lightning.
- I first borrowed a bottle from work and it works like magic.
- The new layout and office furniture worked like magic.
- Insurance companies always make out like bandits.
- Salomon Brothers and my customer made out like bandits.
- Come on, Ragtime Cowboy Joe, take your medicine.
- Conradin hated her with all his heart, but he obeyed her quietly and took his medicine without arguing.
- He and his grandpa took their medicine together, at the same time.
- He hadn't been changed or taken his medicine.
- He shut his eyes, held his nose like a kid about to take his medicine, and started to drink.
- His major problem is that he misses taking his medicine, and he travels too much.
- Like some one recovering from the flu, she quit taking her medicine as soon as she felt better.
- Soon after she left the hospital, with a clearer mind, she again stopped taking her medicine.
- I felt like a million dollars.
- Based on one of Aesop's fables, it was as much like a limerick as one of Shakespeare's sonnets.
- For at school, the young man would be surrounded by men much like him-self.
- The space inside looked as much like a junkyard as the space outside.
- They like their bikes to be as much like cars as possible.
- What he wanted, of course, was for me to write as much like he did as I possibly could.
- Men and horses went down like ninepins before them, in a tangle of waving limbs, flailing hooves and broken lances.
- People are buying Internet stocks like nobody's business.
- There's nothing like a nice hot bath to help you relax.
- And there's nothing like a conversation when you smoke.
- Facing page: there's nothing like a brew to soothe aching limbs but where's the Kendal Mint cake?
- No, there's nothing like a good laugh to make you feel better about yourself.
- Second team or not, however, there's nothing like the first century.
- When the weather's good there's nothing like a luxurious dessert to give a special menu a final flourish.
- Certainly the lateral geniculate nucleus in rats looks nothing like the lateral geniculate nucleus in monkeys.
- It's classed as being a conifer but it looks nothing like one.
- Remember that the intermediate stored pattern may be pretty abstract, looking nothing like the input pattern.
- She insisted that I looked nothing like Majella.
- She looked nothing like her photograph.
- The problem is that in its juvenile form it looks nothing like the adult specimen.
- The zone blitz can fluster an offense because it looks nothing like a conventional blitz.
- This suspect looks nothing like Nichols, a slightly built, light-skinned man in his 40s with thinning hair.
- After five months in the hospital, I'm feeling like my old self again.
- I wish they'd turn off the heat. It's like an oven in here.
- It's like an oven in here. Let's open some windows.
- The heat of the day made the gymnasium feel like an oven.
- Makes it like an oven, spoiling the negatives.
- The room is like an oven already.
- Getting the kids to do their homework was like pulling teeth.
- Out in the field, we looked like a bunch of drowned rats.
- You were looking like a drowned rat after our little foray into Puddephat's rooms.
- I can read you like a book - some book I've read six times already.
- Naturally this was like a red rag to a bull and I refused to even consider such a course of action.
- But Cirrito is quick to point out that Rastafarianism is a religion, whereas reggae is a beat.
- If there is a theme here, it is religion.
- This form of witchcraft is a religion of the earth.
- We were packed like sardines on the train.
- On the other side of the building turtles are packed like sardines into more tanks.
- Clearly western painters said what they liked, how they liked.
- From now on he could do and say what he liked - they wouldn't raise a squeak.
- He could say what he liked, but she was now controlling the agenda.
- I can say what I like.
- If she just vanishes, Elizabeth Roisin can say what she likes, but there's nothing she can do!
- There must, he said, be a place where people are free to say what they like.
- We can do what we like and say what we like to whomever we like, without restriction.
- While manufacturers say what they like about themselves through advertising, favourable public opinion for their products or services is earned.
- I woke up with a hangover and felt like shit for the rest of the day.
- And it used to make me feel like shit to hear that.
- Everytime I am about to go to a cup match I imagine myself travelling back home feeling like shit.
- Here goes ... I expected to look like shit but this was ridiculous.
- I try to think of nice ways to comment on his appearance without saying he looks like shit.
- It's a terrible thing to be told that and then to do what the director says and it feels like shit.
- The school made you feel like shit.
- We really do look like shit.
- You looked like shit the other night.
- Everybody always treats me like shit.
- She slammed the phone down and was out of the room like a shot.
- He asked Jeter if he'd like a shot at it.
- I'd tell you like a shot if we ever got into a real jam.
- It is not a direct stimulant, like a shot of adrenaline.
- She'd be off to Legoland like a shot, to see that caretaker, if Henry said anything.
- Sometimes they fall over one another, like shots from a rapid-fire camera.
- The great majority, once they breach the system and hear the telltale whine, are out of there like a shot.
- Travis had left the door open - she seized her chance, and was through it like a shot.
- You'd better remind him about the party - he's got a memory like a sieve!
- Then turn the paper over and fold it, like so.
- Insignia has something like 100 engineers working on its line.
- You can't come to the restaurant dressed in jeans. You'd stick out like a sore thumb.
- For these reasons feminist values stand out like a sore thumb.
- Having a whole batch together should make an odd one stick out like a sore thumb.
- Having said that, in some of the bits of Shoreditch I passed through I stuck out like a sore thumb.
- I mean, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
- There's no cover, and - as happened to me - any stranger sticks out like a sore thumb.
- We stand out like sore thumbs.
- You stick out like a sore thumb in that ghastly uniform, Charles.
- "There's been a slight change in our plans." "I don't like the sound of that."
- I just did not like the sound of this woman.
- She did not like the sound of those words he was using.
- Initially nothing succeeds like success: but eventually success exceeds itself, and decline and despondency set in.
- But no one can blame Rush for telling it like it is.
- He tells it like it is.
- I try to tell it like it is.
- She tells it like it is, or seems to.
- She stood there with hands on her hips, glaring with a face like thunder.
- Ben drives like there's no tomorrow.
- I eat and drink like there's no tomorrow.
- The news of her accident hit me like a ton of bricks.
- And then the Alouette was spinning like a top and curving off over the Aegean.
- Obviously, any knock could send her mind spinning like a top.
- Throwing on a dressing-gown and swearing like a trooper, you stumble to answer it.
- Aerials sprout up like weeds on the roof.
- Cars were suffocating the roads like weeds.
- Flavor-of-the-month or program-du-jour comments crop up like weeds.
- Still, development had sprung up around the edges, like weeds encroaching on a garden.
- The eggplants flourished, and the next spring more of them popped up all over the garden like weeds.
- A light wind ruffled the leaves of the trees, but it was warm, not cold like the winds of winter.
- Cos it looks like the wind blew her face inside out.
- He swept towards me, like the wind raising a storm as soaring eagles raise dust.
- Something was sweeping through that massive arena like the wind moving through the top of the trees.
- The boy was driving like the wind when suddenly we hit something.
- We rode like the wind and by ten o'clock had come to the edge of the forest of Zenda.
- Will and I ran like the wind and only stopped when we reached the river.
WORD FAMILYnounlike ≠ dislikelikingadjectivelikeableverblike ≠ dislike
1think something is nice to enjoy something or think that it is nice or good OPP dislike: I like your jacket. I don’t really like classical music. Do you like this colour? I like my coffee quite weak. I don’t like it when you get angry. How do you like living in London (=how much do you like it)?like doing something I don’t like talking in public.like to do something I like to see people enjoying themselves. I quite like their new album. We really liked the film. The time I like best (=like most of all) is the evening when it’s cool.like something about somebody/something One of the things I like about John is his sense of humour. I didn’t like the idea of being a single parent.2like a person to think that someone is nice or enjoy being with them: Jessica’s really nice, but I don’t like her boyfriend. You’ll like my brother. I really like Sam. She’s a lovely girl and I like her very much. In time, I got to like her (=began to like her).3approve of something to approve of something and think that it is good or right: I don’t like dishonesty. I don’t like the way he shouts at the children.like doing something He’s never liked talking about people behind their backs.like somebody doing something I don’t like him taking all the credit when he didn’t do any of the work.like to do something She doesn’t like to swear in front of the children.4do something regularly to try to do something regularly or make something happen regularlylike to do something I like to get up early and get a bit of work done before breakfast.like somebody to do something We like our students to take part in college sports activities.5want would like a)used to say that you want something or want to do something: I’d like a cheeseburger, please.would like to do something I’d like to see that film. There’s something I’d like to tell you. I’d like to apologize for my behaviour yesterday. I’d just like to say how grateful we are for your help.would like somebody to do something He would like us all to be at the meeting. b)used to ask someone if they want something or want to do something: Would you like a drink? What would you like to eat? Contact our office if you would like more information.would somebody like to do something Would you like to come with us? How would you like (=would you like) to spend the summer in Italy?would somebody like somebody to do something Would you like me to pick you up in the morning?6whatever/wherever/anything etc you like whatever thing you want, in whatever place you want etc: You can sit wherever you like. You can choose anything you like from the menu.7as long as you like/as much as you like etc as long, as much etc as you want: You know you’re welcome to stay with us as long as you like. Take as many as you like.8(whether you) like it or not used to emphasize that something unpleasant is true or will happen and cannot be changed: Like it or not, people are often judged by their appearance.9I’d like to think/believe (that) used to say that you wish or hope something is true, when you are not sure that it is: I’d like to think that we offer an excellent service. I would like to believe that the company can be successful in the future.10Facebook to click a Facebook ‘like’ button on a webpage to show that you like or agree with somethingSPOKEN PHRASES11if you like British English a)used to suggest or offer something to someone: I can give you her phone number, if you like. If you like, I could go with you. b)used to agree to something, even if it is not really what you want yourself: ‘Shall we get a takeaway on the way home?’ ‘If you like.’ c)used to suggest one possible way of describing something or someone: We don’t have a proper agreement, but we have an informal understanding, if you like.12romantic to think someone is sexually attractive: Do you think Alex likes me?13I’d like to see you/him do something used to say that you do not believe someone can do something: I’d like to see you organize a conference!14how would you like something? used to ask someone to imagine how they would feel if something bad happened to them instead of to you or someone else: How would you like being left alone for hours in a strange place? How would you like it if someone treated you in that way?15I like that! British English used to say that what someone has said or done is rude and unfair: I like that! She didn’t even say thank you!16like it or lump it used to say that someone must accept a situation or decision they do not like because it cannot be changedGRAMMARPatterns with like• You like someone or something: · I like my teacher.· She likes tennis.• You like doing something: · She likes playing tennis.• You like to do something: · She likes to play tennis at weekends. ✗Don’t say: She likes play tennis.• Like doing something and like to do something both mean the same thing. You use like to do especially when saying that someone does something regularly or often.Using the progressive• Like is not usually used in the progressive. You say: · I like animals.· She liked to make cakes. ✗Don’t say: I am liking animals. | She was liking to make cakes.• In spoken English, people sometimes say I’m liking to describe their present feelings about something that is happening right now or that they have just seen or heard about: · I’m liking this music – what is it?Grammar guide ‒ VERBSTHESAURUSlike to think that someone or something is nice: · I like your dress – it’s a beautiful colour.· Do you like spaghetti?· What did you like about the movie?· I like travelling by train.· I like to see the children enjoying themselves.· Everybody liked Mr Schofield.be fond of somebody/something especially British English to like someone or something, especially something that you have liked for a long time or someone who you have known for a long time: · Connie had always been fond of animals.· Over the years, I’ve become quite fond of him.· He had always been fond of drinking at lunchtime, perhaps too fond.be keen on somebody/something spoken to like someone or something – often used in negative sentences: · I like Maria but I’m not keen on her husband.· Our English teacher was very keen on Shakespeare, but I couldn’t stand him.· I was keen on all sports at school.· I know he’s keen on opera. Let’s take him to see ‘La Traviata’.· I’m quite keen on the idea of having a fancy dress party.be into something informal to like doing a particular activity or be interested in a particular subject – used especially by young people: · She’s really into music at the moment.· What kind of films are you into?have a thing about somebody/something informal to like someone or something, especially something surprising or unusual: · I’ve always had a thing about wolves.· He has this thing about tall women.be partial to something formal to like to have something – often used humorously: · He’s partial to the occasional glass of wine.something grows on you used when saying that you begin to like something, especially something that you did not like before: · I didn’t like the colour of the room at first, but it’s growing on me.to like something very muchlove/adore to like something very much. Adore is stronger than love but is less common: · I love the smell of coffee.· The children absolutely adore her books.be crazy about something (also be mad about something British English informal) to be extremely interested in an activity and spend a lot of time doing it or watching it: · Jonah’s crazy about basketball.· She’s always been mad about horses.have a passion for something to like an activity very much, because it gives you a lot of pleasure or excitement: · From a very early age he had a passion for fast cars.· To be a great performer, you have to work very hard and have a passion for the music you play.be addicted to something to like doing something so much that you spend all your free time doing it: · My son’s addicted to computer games – he hardly ever comes out of his room.· I started watching the show out of curiosity, but now I’m addicted!like1 prepositionlike2 verblike3 nounlike4 conjunctionlike5 adverblike6 adjective
likelike3 ●●● W3 noun WORD ORIGINlike3
Origin:
1 1800-1900 ➔ LIKE22-3, 5 1200-1300 ➔ LIKE6EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Beyond the talk of coalitions, alphabetic organizations, and the like, there are at length real people.
- Despite the expensive-looking Baroque decor and the pianist, this place serves cheap pizzas and the like.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES What I like about the job is that it’s never boring. Why did you speak to him? You usually avoid him like the plague (=try hard to avoid him). Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). She was screaming like a banshee. She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. She looks a bit like my sister. You’re not a bit like your brother. They’re like chalk and cheese, those two. I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely). I would dearly like to know what she said. A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes. Don’t let him treat you like a doormat. My flatmate Cherry drinks like a fish (=regularly drinks a lot of alcohol). Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. She tries to be exactly like her older sister. I felt like I’d really achieved something. It’s nice fabric – it feels like velvet. It’s been a year since her daughter died, but to her, it still feels like yesterday. I know this dress is going to fit you like a glove (=fit you very well). The idea went down like a lead balloon (=was not popular or successful). I can’t go on like this for much longer. After a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox. the city he had grown to love Becoming a doctor never interested him. It was too much like hard work (=it would involve too much work). I grew up here; I know the place like the back of my hand (=I know it very well). a chance to meet like-minded people He looked as if he hadn’t washed for a week. What did the man look like? My sister doesn’t look anything like me. It’s the law so you can like it or lump it. He drives like a madman. She drew men to her like a magnet. He drove like a maniac to the hospital. I’m not surprised she left. He treated her like muck (=very badly). I quite like Chinese food. Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British English At school the other children treated them like royalty. He picked up the child and ran like hell (=ran very quickly, especially in order to escape). We were all running around like headless chickens (=trying to do a lot of things, in an anxious or disorganized way). We waited for what seemed like hours. I heard what sounded like fireworks. He does mountain biking and skiing, and stuff like that. I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson. This sounded suspiciously like an attempt to get rid of me. The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics. Don’t let Dad hear you talking like that (=expressing things in a particular way). He held my arm like a vice. Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
What I like about the job is that it’s never boring. Why did you speak to him? You usually avoid him like the plague (=try hard to avoid him). Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). She was screaming like a banshee. She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. She looks a bit like my sister. You’re not a bit like your brother. They’re like chalk and cheese, those two. I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely).· I enjoy cooking at the weekend.
· I feel like crying every time I think about that day.
(=cry a lot and without control)· I cried like a baby when I heard the news.
I would dearly like to know what she said. A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes. Don’t let him treat you like a doormat. (=seem unreal)· That summer was so wonderful it seemed like a dream.
My flatmate Cherry drinks like a fish (=regularly drinks a lot of alcohol). (=eat a lot)· She eats like a horse but never puts on any weight!
(=eat very little)· Ever since she was a child, Jan had always eaten like a bird.
Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. She tries to be exactly like her older sister. (=a very angry expression)· The boss had a face like thunder when he arrived this morning.
I felt like I’d really achieved something. It’s nice fabric – it feels like velvet. It’s been a year since her daughter died, but to her, it still feels like yesterday. I know this dress is going to fit you like a glove (=fit you very well). (=seems to be enjoyable)· The picnic sounded like fun.
The idea went down like a lead balloon (=was not popular or successful). I can’t go on like this for much longer. (=a very strong grip)· Victor took hold of her wrist in an iron grip.
After a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox. the city he had grown to love Becoming a doctor never interested him. It was too much like hard work (=it would involve too much work). informal (=hurt very much) My shoulder hurts like hell.
My shoulder hurts like hell. (=people who share the same opinions)· The message board is a forum where like-minded individuals can communicate.
I grew up here; I know the place like the back of my hand (=I know it very well). a chance to meet like-minded people (=it seems likely that) It looks as if it might rain later. It looks like they won’t be needing us anymore.
It looks as if it might rain later. It looks like they won’t be needing us anymore. He looked as if he hadn’t washed for a week. What did the man look like? My sister doesn’t look anything like me. (=think that something bad has happened or will happen because of something’s appearance) We should turn back now. It’s getting dark and I don’t like the look of those rain clouds.
We should turn back now. It’s getting dark and I don’t like the look of those rain clouds. It’s the law so you can like it or lump it. He drives like a madman. She drew men to her like a magnet. He drove like a maniac to the hospital. (=forget things very easily)· I'm sorry, I have a memory like a sieve. I forgot you were coming today!
I’m not surprised she left. He treated her like muck (=very badly). literary (=with a lot of energy or violence)
· ‘He's been completely irresponsible.’ ‘I wouldn’t put it quite like that.’
I quite like Chinese food. (=rain appears likely because there are dark clouds in the sky)· We ate indoors because it looked like rain.
Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British English At school the other children treated them like royalty. He picked up the child and ran like hell (=ran very quickly, especially in order to escape). We were all running around like headless chickens (=trying to do a lot of things, in an anxious or disorganized way). We waited for what seemed like hours. (=be shaking a lot because you are nervous or frightened)· Diana was shaking like a leaf when she got up to give her talk.
· I have liked him since we first met.
(also sleep like a baby) informal (=sleep very well)· I was exhausted and slept like a log.
I heard what sounded like fireworks. (=spread extremely quickly)· The news spread like wildfire through the town.
He does mountain biking and skiing, and stuff like that. I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson. This sounded suspiciously like an attempt to get rid of me. informal (=sweat a lot) basketball players sweating buckets
basketball players sweating buckets The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics. Don’t let Dad hear you talking like that (=expressing things in a particular way). informal (=very badly and with no respect)· He treated this wife like dirt.
He held my arm like a vice. Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.· But it has started to feel like I am being rude and ungrateful, dO you understand?· Which is why I feel like I sort of owe him this.· You made me feel like I was your family, a part of you.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► and the like/and such likePHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► not anything like/near► be like a bear with a sore head► like getting blood out of a stone► feel/look like a million bucks► like a cat on hot bricks► like the cat that got the cream► look like something the cat dragged/brought in► like Darby and Joan► look/feel like death warmed up► like a dog with two tails► look/feel etc like nothing on earth► like father like son► fight like cat and dog► a voice like a foghorn► like fury► be like gold dust► hold/hang on for/like grim death► have eyes like a hawk► be (like) banging/bashing etc your head against a brick wall► like a rabbit/deer caught in headlights► like hell/the hell► something is like herding cats► need/want something like a hole in the head► be selling/going like hot cakes► get on/along like a house on fire► how about that!/how do you like that!► feel like/turn to jelly► like a lamb to the slaughter► go down like a lead balloon► like mad► like magic/as if by magic► make like► be of one mind/of the same mind/of like mind► be (like) a morgue► be (like) a mother to somebody► like a mother hen► need something like a hole in the head► like looking for a needle in a haystack► be/feel like a new man/woman► like new/as good as new► as if/as though/like you own the place► like two peas in a pod► turn up like a bad penny► rise like a phoenix from the ashes► (like) rats leaving the sinking ship► sell like hot cakes► like sheep► work/run/go like stink► be like talking to a brick wall► come down on somebody like a ton of bricks► work like a Trojan► a vice-like grip► like water► like water off a duck’s back► what's not to like/love?► work like magic/work like a charm► for all the world as if/as though/like
- Don't let personal likes and dislikes get in the way of the job.
- Art can be created by groups, producing output that is a synthesis of their likes and dislikes.
- As children grow older they will become more consciously aware of the likes and dislikes of those who care for them.
- Employees were asked about their likes and dislikes, about general working conditions, and about their feelings toward supervisors.
- There are only subjective likes and dislikes, and one should not speak of value at all.
- These are all factors that are essentially personal, and we are all different in our likes and dislikes.
- This column takes a look at local cooks, their culinary likes and dislikes and favorite recipes.
- This is when likes and dislikes of others are first expressed.
- We all have different likes and dislikes, different tastes in food, music, films and clothes.
- And it was on this point that the likes of Mr Graham and I had some of our most interesting debates.
- As he snored, she told him Florence was full of jobs for the likes of him and by no means all were living-in.
- But then they were not written with the likes of me in mind.
- I mean, if the police can get the paperwork through the likes of me, why not?
- I think we shall not see the likes of Princess Diana ever again.
- One could hear the cries of outrage from the likes of Mrs Whitehouse and Mrs Thatcher.
- She wanted a rest from the likes of Amy.
- Did you ever see the like of it?
- Had never experienced a hunger the like of which was eating at her now.
- He had never seen the like of it.
- Here was a footballer the like of which the Whaddon faithful had never witnessed before.
- I would much rather see a return to the carefree approach by the like of Ballesteros and Lyle.
- It was a battle the like of which those present had never before witnessed.
- Stardom beyond the like of the Townsville Theatre Royal was not to be.
- This will be a show the like of which has never been seen.
- Tom only left last week and I already miss him like anything.
- But like anything else worthy of our attention, it takes a little educating.
- I mean, eight singles hardly seems like anything at all.
- If it was like anything, thought Henry, it was probably like the art of eating out.
- It may not be perfect, and it may not even be like anything we have seen before.
- Somewhat softened by wind erosion, the surface none the less looked more like the lunar highlands than like anything on Earth.
- The interior is nothing like anything I've seen before.
- They would probably worry like anything.
- To intense, hardworking young Taylor, the practice could scarcely have seemed like anything but the most shameless sloth.
- Does Brenda look anything like her mother?
- I drove like a bat out of hell to the hospital.
- They took off like a bat out of hell for Tan Son Nhut.
- We're going to have to work like blazes to win this time!
- You could lean into the wind and it was raining like blazes.
- Politically, he often behaved like a bull in a china shop.
- You're not going to go storming in there like a bull in a china shop again?
- They may fight like a lion or go at something like a bull at a gate.
- Our new accounting system works like a charm.
- A slap on the hand or the behind works like a charm for one parent-child combination.
- But let me first applaud the coupling: it works like a charm.
- However, the schmaltzy parts, near the end, work like a charm.
- This time, the setup worked like a charm.
- She's only thirteen and she already smokes like a chimney.
- My granddad, who smoked like a chimney and lived to 97, was lucky enough never to encounter a promoter.
- The only sadness was that they all appeared to smoke like chimneys.
- Little legs going like the clappers.
- Male speaker Inside you are going like the clappers because you are nervous and the tension is building up.
- A universe that ran like clockwork also evinced design.
- And if Lais and Leonore created the promised diversion the plan would go like clockwork.
- Sometimes it ran like clockwork, sometimes-as I wrote at the time-it ran like the movie Clockwise.
- Then we had been surprised when our ascent of the nearby Jankopiti had gone like clockwork.
- Whereas Prost had been delayed as the Ferrari mechanics fiddled with the right-rear wheel, Senna's stop went like clockwork.
- At 6:30 every evening, like clockwork, Ari went out to milk the cows.
- The charity event was well organized and ran like clockwork.
- These mosquito bites on my leg are itching like crazy.
- We ran like crazy to the bus stop.
- They rang the doorbell and ran like the devil.
- He holds me like the devil himself.
- Hencke heard one canister bounce off the outer hull with a dull echo like the Devil knocking at the door.
- It glared and it floated and it flew like the Devil.
- Not screaming, although some of them must have fought like the devil not to.
- The hitchhiker keeps showing up, like a bad dream, like the devil himself.
- They scampered off, barking like the devil.
- Very good, Thérèse conceded afterwards: just like the Devil would do.
- L.M. True - like a dose of salts!
- The new car drives like a dream.
- But elsewhere Dream Stuff does not soothe.Life is like a dream because it is beyond control.
- He kept talking about it, like a dream.
- It is like a dream come true.
- Others, like dreams of fame or wealth, are egocentric.
- Some, like dreams of providing a great service, are altruistic.
- These tiresome but, one hopes, isolated problems aside, our Metro 1.1S is still running like a dream.
- Those few short months with Tony seemed sometimes like a dream to her.
- Players from both teams are dropping like flies.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
- At 17 he was a drug addict.
- Casodex is a drug that blocks the release of testosterone, a hormone that is linked to prostate cancer.
- I would have loved a drink, but I thought it might be drugged.
- Of those held in federal rather than state prisons, 60 % are drug offenders with no history of violence.
- The more complete descriptive term is drug elimination half-life.
- The most worrisome cross-border export, however, is drugs.
- The robber bridegroom could be a drug pusher in-stead of a homicidal cannibal, for instance.
- Tobacco is a drug and addicts should be given a chance to ease off gradually.
- She's taken to her new position like a duck to water.
- My mother had eyes like a hawk.
- She's been spending money like it's going out of fashion.
- I just don't feel like doing anything tonight.
- Joe says he feels like Mexican food.
- But the whole thing feels like a retread.
- He feels like the captain of a sleeping ship, alone at the helm, steering his oblivious crew through dangerous seas.
- I hang up, feeling like a wind-up toy.
- She felt like screaming at him, but she was determined not to lose her self-control.
- The careful procession into the Hall had felt like a kind of funeral.
- They stepped forward, and his muscles stiffened until they felt like bone.
- You made me feel like I was your family, a part of you.
- I felt like a fish out of water.
- In his first interview since the move, he still looks like a fish out of water.
- The computer can sort and edit a mailing list in a flash.
- He also had a nature that went violent in a flash.
- If he knew what I wanted he'd be out of the car and away in a flash of shock.
- It's all done in a flash these days.
- It was over in a flash.
- Shelby chooses the green chair for her dad, then like a flash, she's off to the house.
- The lesson seemed to pass in a flash.
- Two shots, they stop in a flash.
- We went by the tower like a flash and landed on the red cross near the newly set-up hospital tent.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- The men were dying like flies, of fever.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
- "I'm going to Barbara's house." "Like fun you are! Come and finish your chores first."
- Fraser's historical novels are selling like gangbusters.
- All I had to do was got to know his taste in food.
- Come to think of it, he'd seemed rather a decent chap, some one it might be worth getting to know.
- He got to know Bill Clinton quite well when they were together at Oxford as Rhodes scholars.
- I would like to get to know customers well 8.
- It was one of Brian's three daughters, Karen, who got to know Kirsty.
- Mrs Nowak and Taczek must have got to know most of the truth and stuck by the cover story.
- She had seen a leaflet about the YCs and thought that this would provide a good way of getting to know people.
- So I got, I sort of got to know her.
- They expect the bill to move through Congress like greased lightning.
- The following passage exemplifies, for Rees, macho characteristics: Clogger moved like greased lightning.
- Parents should watch their kids like a hawk for sunburns.
- And it's putting me off, having you watching me like a hawk all the time.
- He seemed to be watching her like a hawk, waiting for some reaction.
- Kruger is watching them like a hawk!
- They're watching me like hawks here.
- Today, more than usual, he had been watching them like a hawk.
- The arcade section is hideous, featuring computer-controlled players running around like headless chickens and never attempting a tackle.
- He looks like hell and sounds awful, but then, as he's the first to admit, he always did.
- In that case I would peak earlier and higher and then feel like hell for the rest of the day.
- I know he lost his legs first, and then his fingers-he died alone and it hurt like hell.
- I remember running like hell, knowing I was being pursued and looking back for Sarah, who didn't join me.
- I was able to breathe only with the utmost difficulty, and my arm hurt like hell.
- Must have fought like hell to find its niche within the forest, to distinguish itself within the pack.
- My forehead hurt like hell and my body was bruised all over, but no bones were broken.
- Run, North, run; just run like hell.
- Spring sauntered north, but he had to run like hell to keep it as his traveling companion.
- We fought like hell for most of the time.
- First decide how you want to set up your directories.
- Is this how we want to spend our dotage?
- It's how we like to see ourselves.
- Live your life how you want.
- Oh, how I wanted to win!
- Oh, how she wanted him to.
- Remember how he wanted us to think he was a good guy at heart?
- You try reading this with only one eye and see how you like it.
- Lori seemed to go through men like a knife through butter.
- Suzie went off to school like a lamb today.
- He felt he had taken his only child like a lamb to the slaughter.
- I certainly don't like lamb for three meals running.
- March, according to the weather proverb, comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.
- While others were being lionised he conducted himself like a lamb or even a mouse.
- She was out like a light, as soon as we put her in bed.
- A minute later he went out like a light.
- Either it was the brandy or it was the heat, but she went out like a light.
- I went out like a light.
- Something hit me on the back of the head, here, and I went out like a light.
- Her foot slipped on the smooth tiles but Mitch moved like lightning and caught her before she fell.
- Somewhere a dog barked and, like lightning, the cat darted into some bushes.
- The cat ran up the tree like lightning.
- I first borrowed a bottle from work and it works like magic.
- The new layout and office furniture worked like magic.
- Insurance companies always make out like bandits.
- Salomon Brothers and my customer made out like bandits.
- Come on, Ragtime Cowboy Joe, take your medicine.
- Conradin hated her with all his heart, but he obeyed her quietly and took his medicine without arguing.
- He and his grandpa took their medicine together, at the same time.
- He hadn't been changed or taken his medicine.
- He shut his eyes, held his nose like a kid about to take his medicine, and started to drink.
- His major problem is that he misses taking his medicine, and he travels too much.
- Like some one recovering from the flu, she quit taking her medicine as soon as she felt better.
- Soon after she left the hospital, with a clearer mind, she again stopped taking her medicine.
- I felt like a million dollars.
- Based on one of Aesop's fables, it was as much like a limerick as one of Shakespeare's sonnets.
- For at school, the young man would be surrounded by men much like him-self.
- The space inside looked as much like a junkyard as the space outside.
- They like their bikes to be as much like cars as possible.
- What he wanted, of course, was for me to write as much like he did as I possibly could.
- Men and horses went down like ninepins before them, in a tangle of waving limbs, flailing hooves and broken lances.
- People are buying Internet stocks like nobody's business.
- There's nothing like a nice hot bath to help you relax.
- And there's nothing like a conversation when you smoke.
- Facing page: there's nothing like a brew to soothe aching limbs but where's the Kendal Mint cake?
- No, there's nothing like a good laugh to make you feel better about yourself.
- Second team or not, however, there's nothing like the first century.
- When the weather's good there's nothing like a luxurious dessert to give a special menu a final flourish.
- Certainly the lateral geniculate nucleus in rats looks nothing like the lateral geniculate nucleus in monkeys.
- It's classed as being a conifer but it looks nothing like one.
- Remember that the intermediate stored pattern may be pretty abstract, looking nothing like the input pattern.
- She insisted that I looked nothing like Majella.
- She looked nothing like her photograph.
- The problem is that in its juvenile form it looks nothing like the adult specimen.
- The zone blitz can fluster an offense because it looks nothing like a conventional blitz.
- This suspect looks nothing like Nichols, a slightly built, light-skinned man in his 40s with thinning hair.
- After five months in the hospital, I'm feeling like my old self again.
- I wish they'd turn off the heat. It's like an oven in here.
- It's like an oven in here. Let's open some windows.
- The heat of the day made the gymnasium feel like an oven.
- Makes it like an oven, spoiling the negatives.
- The room is like an oven already.
- Getting the kids to do their homework was like pulling teeth.
- Out in the field, we looked like a bunch of drowned rats.
- You were looking like a drowned rat after our little foray into Puddephat's rooms.
- I can read you like a book - some book I've read six times already.
- Naturally this was like a red rag to a bull and I refused to even consider such a course of action.
- But Cirrito is quick to point out that Rastafarianism is a religion, whereas reggae is a beat.
- If there is a theme here, it is religion.
- This form of witchcraft is a religion of the earth.
- We were packed like sardines on the train.
- On the other side of the building turtles are packed like sardines into more tanks.
- Clearly western painters said what they liked, how they liked.
- From now on he could do and say what he liked - they wouldn't raise a squeak.
- He could say what he liked, but she was now controlling the agenda.
- I can say what I like.
- If she just vanishes, Elizabeth Roisin can say what she likes, but there's nothing she can do!
- There must, he said, be a place where people are free to say what they like.
- We can do what we like and say what we like to whomever we like, without restriction.
- While manufacturers say what they like about themselves through advertising, favourable public opinion for their products or services is earned.
- I woke up with a hangover and felt like shit for the rest of the day.
- And it used to make me feel like shit to hear that.
- Everytime I am about to go to a cup match I imagine myself travelling back home feeling like shit.
- Here goes ... I expected to look like shit but this was ridiculous.
- I try to think of nice ways to comment on his appearance without saying he looks like shit.
- It's a terrible thing to be told that and then to do what the director says and it feels like shit.
- The school made you feel like shit.
- We really do look like shit.
- You looked like shit the other night.
- Everybody always treats me like shit.
- She slammed the phone down and was out of the room like a shot.
- He asked Jeter if he'd like a shot at it.
- I'd tell you like a shot if we ever got into a real jam.
- It is not a direct stimulant, like a shot of adrenaline.
- She'd be off to Legoland like a shot, to see that caretaker, if Henry said anything.
- Sometimes they fall over one another, like shots from a rapid-fire camera.
- The great majority, once they breach the system and hear the telltale whine, are out of there like a shot.
- Travis had left the door open - she seized her chance, and was through it like a shot.
- You'd better remind him about the party - he's got a memory like a sieve!
- Then turn the paper over and fold it, like so.
- Insignia has something like 100 engineers working on its line.
- You can't come to the restaurant dressed in jeans. You'd stick out like a sore thumb.
- For these reasons feminist values stand out like a sore thumb.
- Having a whole batch together should make an odd one stick out like a sore thumb.
- Having said that, in some of the bits of Shoreditch I passed through I stuck out like a sore thumb.
- I mean, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
- There's no cover, and - as happened to me - any stranger sticks out like a sore thumb.
- We stand out like sore thumbs.
- You stick out like a sore thumb in that ghastly uniform, Charles.
- "There's been a slight change in our plans." "I don't like the sound of that."
- I just did not like the sound of this woman.
- She did not like the sound of those words he was using.
- Initially nothing succeeds like success: but eventually success exceeds itself, and decline and despondency set in.
- But no one can blame Rush for telling it like it is.
- He tells it like it is.
- I try to tell it like it is.
- She tells it like it is, or seems to.
- She stood there with hands on her hips, glaring with a face like thunder.
- Ben drives like there's no tomorrow.
- I eat and drink like there's no tomorrow.
- The news of her accident hit me like a ton of bricks.
- And then the Alouette was spinning like a top and curving off over the Aegean.
- Obviously, any knock could send her mind spinning like a top.
- Throwing on a dressing-gown and swearing like a trooper, you stumble to answer it.
- Aerials sprout up like weeds on the roof.
- Cars were suffocating the roads like weeds.
- Flavor-of-the-month or program-du-jour comments crop up like weeds.
- Still, development had sprung up around the edges, like weeds encroaching on a garden.
- The eggplants flourished, and the next spring more of them popped up all over the garden like weeds.
- A light wind ruffled the leaves of the trees, but it was warm, not cold like the winds of winter.
- Cos it looks like the wind blew her face inside out.
- He swept towards me, like the wind raising a storm as soaring eagles raise dust.
- Something was sweeping through that massive arena like the wind moving through the top of the trees.
- The boy was driving like the wind when suddenly we hit something.
- We rode like the wind and by ten o'clock had come to the edge of the forest of Zenda.
- Will and I ran like the wind and only stopped when we reached the river.
WORD FAMILYnounlike ≠ dislikelikingadjectivelikeableverblike ≠ dislike
1somebody’s likes and dislikes the things that someone likes and does not like: We all have our own likes and dislikes when it comes to food.2and the like/and such like and similar things: Soldiers, policemen, and the like were all called in to help with the emergency. They believe that the government does not spend enough money on health, education, and such like.3the likes of somebody/something spoken a)used to talk about someone you do not like or do not approve of: I don’t want you spending time with the likes of him. b)used to talk about people of a particular type: Information is collected through the likes of the FBI, CIA, and Scotland Yard.4the like of somebody/something (also somebody’s/something’s like) formal something similar to someone or a particular person or thing, or of equal importance or value: This will be a show the like of which has never been seen before. The man was a genius. We shall not see his like again.like1 prepositionlike2 verblike3 nounlike4 conjunctionlike5 adverblike6 adjective
likelike4 ●●● S1 conjunction WORD ORIGINlike5
Origin:
1400-1500 ➔ LIKE1EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He acted like he owned the place.
- I don't want him treating me like Jim treated me.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES What I like about the job is that it’s never boring. Why did you speak to him? You usually avoid him like the plague (=try hard to avoid him). Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). She was screaming like a banshee. She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. She looks a bit like my sister. You’re not a bit like your brother. They’re like chalk and cheese, those two. I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely). I would dearly like to know what she said. A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes. Don’t let him treat you like a doormat. My flatmate Cherry drinks like a fish (=regularly drinks a lot of alcohol). Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. She tries to be exactly like her older sister. I felt like I’d really achieved something. It’s nice fabric – it feels like velvet. It’s been a year since her daughter died, but to her, it still feels like yesterday. I know this dress is going to fit you like a glove (=fit you very well). The idea went down like a lead balloon (=was not popular or successful). I can’t go on like this for much longer. After a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox. the city he had grown to love Becoming a doctor never interested him. It was too much like hard work (=it would involve too much work). I grew up here; I know the place like the back of my hand (=I know it very well). a chance to meet like-minded people He looked as if he hadn’t washed for a week. What did the man look like? My sister doesn’t look anything like me. It’s the law so you can like it or lump it. He drives like a madman. She drew men to her like a magnet. He drove like a maniac to the hospital. I’m not surprised she left. He treated her like muck (=very badly). I quite like Chinese food. Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British English At school the other children treated them like royalty. He picked up the child and ran like hell (=ran very quickly, especially in order to escape). We were all running around like headless chickens (=trying to do a lot of things, in an anxious or disorganized way). We waited for what seemed like hours. I heard what sounded like fireworks. He does mountain biking and skiing, and stuff like that. I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson. This sounded suspiciously like an attempt to get rid of me. The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics. Don’t let Dad hear you talking like that (=expressing things in a particular way). He held my arm like a vice. Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.
What I like about the job is that it’s never boring. Why did you speak to him? You usually avoid him like the plague (=try hard to avoid him). Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). She was screaming like a banshee. She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. She looks a bit like my sister. You’re not a bit like your brother. They’re like chalk and cheese, those two. I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely).· I enjoy cooking at the weekend.
· I feel like crying every time I think about that day.
(=cry a lot and without control)· I cried like a baby when I heard the news.
I would dearly like to know what she said. A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes. Don’t let him treat you like a doormat. (=seem unreal)· That summer was so wonderful it seemed like a dream.
My flatmate Cherry drinks like a fish (=regularly drinks a lot of alcohol). (=eat a lot)· She eats like a horse but never puts on any weight!
(=eat very little)· Ever since she was a child, Jan had always eaten like a bird.
Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. She tries to be exactly like her older sister. (=a very angry expression)· The boss had a face like thunder when he arrived this morning.
I felt like I’d really achieved something. It’s nice fabric – it feels like velvet. It’s been a year since her daughter died, but to her, it still feels like yesterday. I know this dress is going to fit you like a glove (=fit you very well). (=seems to be enjoyable)· The picnic sounded like fun.
The idea went down like a lead balloon (=was not popular or successful). I can’t go on like this for much longer. (=a very strong grip)· Victor took hold of her wrist in an iron grip.
After a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox. the city he had grown to love Becoming a doctor never interested him. It was too much like hard work (=it would involve too much work). informal (=hurt very much) My shoulder hurts like hell.
My shoulder hurts like hell. (=people who share the same opinions)· The message board is a forum where like-minded individuals can communicate.
I grew up here; I know the place like the back of my hand (=I know it very well). a chance to meet like-minded people (=it seems likely that) It looks as if it might rain later. It looks like they won’t be needing us anymore.
It looks as if it might rain later. It looks like they won’t be needing us anymore. He looked as if he hadn’t washed for a week. What did the man look like? My sister doesn’t look anything like me. (=think that something bad has happened or will happen because of something’s appearance) We should turn back now. It’s getting dark and I don’t like the look of those rain clouds.
We should turn back now. It’s getting dark and I don’t like the look of those rain clouds. It’s the law so you can like it or lump it. He drives like a madman. She drew men to her like a magnet. He drove like a maniac to the hospital. (=forget things very easily)· I'm sorry, I have a memory like a sieve. I forgot you were coming today!
I’m not surprised she left. He treated her like muck (=very badly). literary (=with a lot of energy or violence)
· ‘He's been completely irresponsible.’ ‘I wouldn’t put it quite like that.’
I quite like Chinese food. (=rain appears likely because there are dark clouds in the sky)· We ate indoors because it looked like rain.
Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British English At school the other children treated them like royalty. He picked up the child and ran like hell (=ran very quickly, especially in order to escape). We were all running around like headless chickens (=trying to do a lot of things, in an anxious or disorganized way). We waited for what seemed like hours. (=be shaking a lot because you are nervous or frightened)· Diana was shaking like a leaf when she got up to give her talk.
· I have liked him since we first met.
(also sleep like a baby) informal (=sleep very well)· I was exhausted and slept like a log.
I heard what sounded like fireworks. (=spread extremely quickly)· The news spread like wildfire through the town.
He does mountain biking and skiing, and stuff like that. I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson. This sounded suspiciously like an attempt to get rid of me. informal (=sweat a lot) basketball players sweating buckets
basketball players sweating buckets The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics. Don’t let Dad hear you talking like that (=expressing things in a particular way). informal (=very badly and with no respect)· He treated this wife like dirt.
He held my arm like a vice. Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► not anything like/near► be like a bear with a sore head► like getting blood out of a stone► feel/look like a million bucks► like a cat on hot bricks► like the cat that got the cream► look like something the cat dragged/brought in► like Darby and Joan► look/feel like death warmed up► like a dog with two tails► look/feel etc like nothing on earth► like father like son► fight like cat and dog► a voice like a foghorn► like fury► be like gold dust► hold/hang on for/like grim death► have eyes like a hawk► be (like) banging/bashing etc your head against a brick wall► like a rabbit/deer caught in headlights► like hell/the hell► something is like herding cats► need/want something like a hole in the head► be selling/going like hot cakes► get on/along like a house on fire► how about that!/how do you like that!► feel like/turn to jelly► like a lamb to the slaughter► go down like a lead balloon► like mad► like magic/as if by magic► make like► be of one mind/of the same mind/of like mind► be (like) a morgue► be (like) a mother to somebody► like a mother hen► need something like a hole in the head► like looking for a needle in a haystack► be/feel like a new man/woman► like new/as good as new► as if/as though/like you own the place► like two peas in a pod► turn up like a bad penny► rise like a phoenix from the ashes► (like) rats leaving the sinking ship► sell like hot cakes► like sheep► work/run/go like stink► be like talking to a brick wall► come down on somebody like a ton of bricks► work like a Trojan► a vice-like grip► like water► like water off a duck’s back► what's not to like/love?► work like magic/work like a charm► for all the world as if/as though/like
1in the same way as. Some people consider this use to be incorrect: - Like I said, I really appreciate your help.
- And like I said, he won't be getting his kicks from smashing up other people's property.
- Answer, like I said everybody had materials on that rug.
- Anyway, like I said, she wants to make you some food, man.
- But like I say now, I want nice furniture to go along with it.
- But they're mostly like I say.
- Okay, I can picture it happening, like I said I have, one of those things that happen.
- Tom only left last week and I already miss him like anything.
- But like anything else worthy of our attention, it takes a little educating.
- I mean, eight singles hardly seems like anything at all.
- If it was like anything, thought Henry, it was probably like the art of eating out.
- It may not be perfect, and it may not even be like anything we have seen before.
- Somewhat softened by wind erosion, the surface none the less looked more like the lunar highlands than like anything on Earth.
- The interior is nothing like anything I've seen before.
- They would probably worry like anything.
- To intense, hardworking young Taylor, the practice could scarcely have seemed like anything but the most shameless sloth.
- Does Brenda look anything like her mother?
- I drove like a bat out of hell to the hospital.
- They took off like a bat out of hell for Tan Son Nhut.
- We're going to have to work like blazes to win this time!
- You could lean into the wind and it was raining like blazes.
- Politically, he often behaved like a bull in a china shop.
- You're not going to go storming in there like a bull in a china shop again?
- They may fight like a lion or go at something like a bull at a gate.
- Our new accounting system works like a charm.
- A slap on the hand or the behind works like a charm for one parent-child combination.
- But let me first applaud the coupling: it works like a charm.
- However, the schmaltzy parts, near the end, work like a charm.
- This time, the setup worked like a charm.
- She's only thirteen and she already smokes like a chimney.
- My granddad, who smoked like a chimney and lived to 97, was lucky enough never to encounter a promoter.
- The only sadness was that they all appeared to smoke like chimneys.
- Little legs going like the clappers.
- Male speaker Inside you are going like the clappers because you are nervous and the tension is building up.
- A universe that ran like clockwork also evinced design.
- And if Lais and Leonore created the promised diversion the plan would go like clockwork.
- Sometimes it ran like clockwork, sometimes-as I wrote at the time-it ran like the movie Clockwise.
- Then we had been surprised when our ascent of the nearby Jankopiti had gone like clockwork.
- Whereas Prost had been delayed as the Ferrari mechanics fiddled with the right-rear wheel, Senna's stop went like clockwork.
- At 6:30 every evening, like clockwork, Ari went out to milk the cows.
- The charity event was well organized and ran like clockwork.
- These mosquito bites on my leg are itching like crazy.
- We ran like crazy to the bus stop.
- They rang the doorbell and ran like the devil.
- He holds me like the devil himself.
- Hencke heard one canister bounce off the outer hull with a dull echo like the Devil knocking at the door.
- It glared and it floated and it flew like the Devil.
- Not screaming, although some of them must have fought like the devil not to.
- The hitchhiker keeps showing up, like a bad dream, like the devil himself.
- They scampered off, barking like the devil.
- Very good, Thérèse conceded afterwards: just like the Devil would do.
- L.M. True - like a dose of salts!
- The new car drives like a dream.
- But elsewhere Dream Stuff does not soothe.Life is like a dream because it is beyond control.
- He kept talking about it, like a dream.
- It is like a dream come true.
- Others, like dreams of fame or wealth, are egocentric.
- Some, like dreams of providing a great service, are altruistic.
- These tiresome but, one hopes, isolated problems aside, our Metro 1.1S is still running like a dream.
- Those few short months with Tony seemed sometimes like a dream to her.
- Players from both teams are dropping like flies.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
- At 17 he was a drug addict.
- Casodex is a drug that blocks the release of testosterone, a hormone that is linked to prostate cancer.
- I would have loved a drink, but I thought it might be drugged.
- Of those held in federal rather than state prisons, 60 % are drug offenders with no history of violence.
- The more complete descriptive term is drug elimination half-life.
- The most worrisome cross-border export, however, is drugs.
- The robber bridegroom could be a drug pusher in-stead of a homicidal cannibal, for instance.
- Tobacco is a drug and addicts should be given a chance to ease off gradually.
- She's taken to her new position like a duck to water.
- My mother had eyes like a hawk.
- She's been spending money like it's going out of fashion.
- I just don't feel like doing anything tonight.
- Joe says he feels like Mexican food.
- But the whole thing feels like a retread.
- He feels like the captain of a sleeping ship, alone at the helm, steering his oblivious crew through dangerous seas.
- I hang up, feeling like a wind-up toy.
- She felt like screaming at him, but she was determined not to lose her self-control.
- The careful procession into the Hall had felt like a kind of funeral.
- They stepped forward, and his muscles stiffened until they felt like bone.
- You made me feel like I was your family, a part of you.
- I felt like a fish out of water.
- In his first interview since the move, he still looks like a fish out of water.
- The computer can sort and edit a mailing list in a flash.
- He also had a nature that went violent in a flash.
- If he knew what I wanted he'd be out of the car and away in a flash of shock.
- It's all done in a flash these days.
- It was over in a flash.
- Shelby chooses the green chair for her dad, then like a flash, she's off to the house.
- The lesson seemed to pass in a flash.
- Two shots, they stop in a flash.
- We went by the tower like a flash and landed on the red cross near the newly set-up hospital tent.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- The men were dying like flies, of fever.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
- "I'm going to Barbara's house." "Like fun you are! Come and finish your chores first."
- Fraser's historical novels are selling like gangbusters.
- All I had to do was got to know his taste in food.
- Come to think of it, he'd seemed rather a decent chap, some one it might be worth getting to know.
- He got to know Bill Clinton quite well when they were together at Oxford as Rhodes scholars.
- I would like to get to know customers well 8.
- It was one of Brian's three daughters, Karen, who got to know Kirsty.
- Mrs Nowak and Taczek must have got to know most of the truth and stuck by the cover story.
- She had seen a leaflet about the YCs and thought that this would provide a good way of getting to know people.
- So I got, I sort of got to know her.
- They expect the bill to move through Congress like greased lightning.
- The following passage exemplifies, for Rees, macho characteristics: Clogger moved like greased lightning.
- Parents should watch their kids like a hawk for sunburns.
- And it's putting me off, having you watching me like a hawk all the time.
- He seemed to be watching her like a hawk, waiting for some reaction.
- Kruger is watching them like a hawk!
- They're watching me like hawks here.
- Today, more than usual, he had been watching them like a hawk.
- The arcade section is hideous, featuring computer-controlled players running around like headless chickens and never attempting a tackle.
- He looks like hell and sounds awful, but then, as he's the first to admit, he always did.
- In that case I would peak earlier and higher and then feel like hell for the rest of the day.
- I know he lost his legs first, and then his fingers-he died alone and it hurt like hell.
- I remember running like hell, knowing I was being pursued and looking back for Sarah, who didn't join me.
- I was able to breathe only with the utmost difficulty, and my arm hurt like hell.
- Must have fought like hell to find its niche within the forest, to distinguish itself within the pack.
- My forehead hurt like hell and my body was bruised all over, but no bones were broken.
- Run, North, run; just run like hell.
- Spring sauntered north, but he had to run like hell to keep it as his traveling companion.
- We fought like hell for most of the time.
- First decide how you want to set up your directories.
- Is this how we want to spend our dotage?
- It's how we like to see ourselves.
- Live your life how you want.
- Oh, how I wanted to win!
- Oh, how she wanted him to.
- Remember how he wanted us to think he was a good guy at heart?
- You try reading this with only one eye and see how you like it.
- Lori seemed to go through men like a knife through butter.
- Suzie went off to school like a lamb today.
- He felt he had taken his only child like a lamb to the slaughter.
- I certainly don't like lamb for three meals running.
- March, according to the weather proverb, comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.
- While others were being lionised he conducted himself like a lamb or even a mouse.
- She was out like a light, as soon as we put her in bed.
- A minute later he went out like a light.
- Either it was the brandy or it was the heat, but she went out like a light.
- I went out like a light.
- Something hit me on the back of the head, here, and I went out like a light.
- Her foot slipped on the smooth tiles but Mitch moved like lightning and caught her before she fell.
- Somewhere a dog barked and, like lightning, the cat darted into some bushes.
- The cat ran up the tree like lightning.
- I first borrowed a bottle from work and it works like magic.
- The new layout and office furniture worked like magic.
- Insurance companies always make out like bandits.
- Salomon Brothers and my customer made out like bandits.
- Come on, Ragtime Cowboy Joe, take your medicine.
- Conradin hated her with all his heart, but he obeyed her quietly and took his medicine without arguing.
- He and his grandpa took their medicine together, at the same time.
- He hadn't been changed or taken his medicine.
- He shut his eyes, held his nose like a kid about to take his medicine, and started to drink.
- His major problem is that he misses taking his medicine, and he travels too much.
- Like some one recovering from the flu, she quit taking her medicine as soon as she felt better.
- Soon after she left the hospital, with a clearer mind, she again stopped taking her medicine.
- I felt like a million dollars.
- Based on one of Aesop's fables, it was as much like a limerick as one of Shakespeare's sonnets.
- For at school, the young man would be surrounded by men much like him-self.
- The space inside looked as much like a junkyard as the space outside.
- They like their bikes to be as much like cars as possible.
- What he wanted, of course, was for me to write as much like he did as I possibly could.
- Men and horses went down like ninepins before them, in a tangle of waving limbs, flailing hooves and broken lances.
- People are buying Internet stocks like nobody's business.
- There's nothing like a nice hot bath to help you relax.
- And there's nothing like a conversation when you smoke.
- Facing page: there's nothing like a brew to soothe aching limbs but where's the Kendal Mint cake?
- No, there's nothing like a good laugh to make you feel better about yourself.
- Second team or not, however, there's nothing like the first century.
- When the weather's good there's nothing like a luxurious dessert to give a special menu a final flourish.
- Certainly the lateral geniculate nucleus in rats looks nothing like the lateral geniculate nucleus in monkeys.
- It's classed as being a conifer but it looks nothing like one.
- Remember that the intermediate stored pattern may be pretty abstract, looking nothing like the input pattern.
- She insisted that I looked nothing like Majella.
- She looked nothing like her photograph.
- The problem is that in its juvenile form it looks nothing like the adult specimen.
- The zone blitz can fluster an offense because it looks nothing like a conventional blitz.
- This suspect looks nothing like Nichols, a slightly built, light-skinned man in his 40s with thinning hair.
- After five months in the hospital, I'm feeling like my old self again.
- I wish they'd turn off the heat. It's like an oven in here.
- It's like an oven in here. Let's open some windows.
- The heat of the day made the gymnasium feel like an oven.
- Makes it like an oven, spoiling the negatives.
- The room is like an oven already.
- Getting the kids to do their homework was like pulling teeth.
- Out in the field, we looked like a bunch of drowned rats.
- You were looking like a drowned rat after our little foray into Puddephat's rooms.
- I can read you like a book - some book I've read six times already.
- Naturally this was like a red rag to a bull and I refused to even consider such a course of action.
- But Cirrito is quick to point out that Rastafarianism is a religion, whereas reggae is a beat.
- If there is a theme here, it is religion.
- This form of witchcraft is a religion of the earth.
- We were packed like sardines on the train.
- On the other side of the building turtles are packed like sardines into more tanks.
- Clearly western painters said what they liked, how they liked.
- From now on he could do and say what he liked - they wouldn't raise a squeak.
- He could say what he liked, but she was now controlling the agenda.
- I can say what I like.
- If she just vanishes, Elizabeth Roisin can say what she likes, but there's nothing she can do!
- There must, he said, be a place where people are free to say what they like.
- We can do what we like and say what we like to whomever we like, without restriction.
- While manufacturers say what they like about themselves through advertising, favourable public opinion for their products or services is earned.
- I woke up with a hangover and felt like shit for the rest of the day.
- And it used to make me feel like shit to hear that.
- Everytime I am about to go to a cup match I imagine myself travelling back home feeling like shit.
- Here goes ... I expected to look like shit but this was ridiculous.
- I try to think of nice ways to comment on his appearance without saying he looks like shit.
- It's a terrible thing to be told that and then to do what the director says and it feels like shit.
- The school made you feel like shit.
- We really do look like shit.
- You looked like shit the other night.
- Everybody always treats me like shit.
- She slammed the phone down and was out of the room like a shot.
- He asked Jeter if he'd like a shot at it.
- I'd tell you like a shot if we ever got into a real jam.
- It is not a direct stimulant, like a shot of adrenaline.
- She'd be off to Legoland like a shot, to see that caretaker, if Henry said anything.
- Sometimes they fall over one another, like shots from a rapid-fire camera.
- The great majority, once they breach the system and hear the telltale whine, are out of there like a shot.
- Travis had left the door open - she seized her chance, and was through it like a shot.
- You'd better remind him about the party - he's got a memory like a sieve!
- Then turn the paper over and fold it, like so.
- Insignia has something like 100 engineers working on its line.
- You can't come to the restaurant dressed in jeans. You'd stick out like a sore thumb.
- For these reasons feminist values stand out like a sore thumb.
- Having a whole batch together should make an odd one stick out like a sore thumb.
- Having said that, in some of the bits of Shoreditch I passed through I stuck out like a sore thumb.
- I mean, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
- There's no cover, and - as happened to me - any stranger sticks out like a sore thumb.
- We stand out like sore thumbs.
- You stick out like a sore thumb in that ghastly uniform, Charles.
- "There's been a slight change in our plans." "I don't like the sound of that."
- I just did not like the sound of this woman.
- She did not like the sound of those words he was using.
- Initially nothing succeeds like success: but eventually success exceeds itself, and decline and despondency set in.
- But no one can blame Rush for telling it like it is.
- He tells it like it is.
- I try to tell it like it is.
- She tells it like it is, or seems to.
- She stood there with hands on her hips, glaring with a face like thunder.
- Ben drives like there's no tomorrow.
- I eat and drink like there's no tomorrow.
- The news of her accident hit me like a ton of bricks.
- And then the Alouette was spinning like a top and curving off over the Aegean.
- Obviously, any knock could send her mind spinning like a top.
- Throwing on a dressing-gown and swearing like a trooper, you stumble to answer it.
- Aerials sprout up like weeds on the roof.
- Cars were suffocating the roads like weeds.
- Flavor-of-the-month or program-du-jour comments crop up like weeds.
- Still, development had sprung up around the edges, like weeds encroaching on a garden.
- The eggplants flourished, and the next spring more of them popped up all over the garden like weeds.
- A light wind ruffled the leaves of the trees, but it was warm, not cold like the winds of winter.
- Cos it looks like the wind blew her face inside out.
- He swept towards me, like the wind raising a storm as soaring eagles raise dust.
- Something was sweeping through that massive arena like the wind moving through the top of the trees.
- The boy was driving like the wind when suddenly we hit something.
- We rode like the wind and by ten o'clock had come to the edge of the forest of Zenda.
- Will and I ran like the wind and only stopped when we reached the river.
No one else can score goals like he can! Don’t talk to me like you talk to a child.2like I say/said spoken used when you are repeating something that you have already said: Like I said, I don’t mind helping out on the day. I’m sorry, but, like I say, she’s not here at the moment.3 informal as if. Some people think that this use is not correct English: He looked at me like I was mad. It looks like it’s going to rain. This meat smells like it’s gone bad.like1 prepositionlike2 verblike3 nounlike4 conjunctionlike5 adverblike6 adjective
likelike5 ●●○ S3 adverb spoken WORD ORIGINlike4
Origin:
1700-1800 ➔ LIKE1EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Do you think you could, like, not tell anyone what happened?
- It was like 9 o'clock when I got home.
- That is a scary intersection. Like yesterday I saw two cars go straight through a red light.
- Like by, like by the seven eleven.
- It was like this is this is the look of puzzlement.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES What I like about the job is that it’s never boring. Why did you speak to him? You usually avoid him like the plague (=try hard to avoid him). Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). She was screaming like a banshee. She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. She looks a bit like my sister. You’re not a bit like your brother. They’re like chalk and cheese, those two. I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely). I would dearly like to know what she said. A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes. Don’t let him treat you like a doormat. My flatmate Cherry drinks like a fish (=regularly drinks a lot of alcohol). Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. She tries to be exactly like her older sister. I felt like I’d really achieved something. It’s nice fabric – it feels like velvet. It’s been a year since her daughter died, but to her, it still feels like yesterday. I know this dress is going to fit you like a glove (=fit you very well). The idea went down like a lead balloon (=was not popular or successful). I can’t go on like this for much longer. After a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox. the city he had grown to love Becoming a doctor never interested him. It was too much like hard work (=it would involve too much work). I grew up here; I know the place like the back of my hand (=I know it very well). a chance to meet like-minded people He looked as if he hadn’t washed for a week. What did the man look like? My sister doesn’t look anything like me. It’s the law so you can like it or lump it. He drives like a madman. She drew men to her like a magnet. He drove like a maniac to the hospital. I’m not surprised she left. He treated her like muck (=very badly). I quite like Chinese food. Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British English At school the other children treated them like royalty. He picked up the child and ran like hell (=ran very quickly, especially in order to escape). We were all running around like headless chickens (=trying to do a lot of things, in an anxious or disorganized way). We waited for what seemed like hours. I heard what sounded like fireworks. He does mountain biking and skiing, and stuff like that. I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson. This sounded suspiciously like an attempt to get rid of me. The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics. Don’t let Dad hear you talking like that (=expressing things in a particular way). He held my arm like a vice. Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.
What I like about the job is that it’s never boring. Why did you speak to him? You usually avoid him like the plague (=try hard to avoid him). Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). She was screaming like a banshee. She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. She looks a bit like my sister. You’re not a bit like your brother. They’re like chalk and cheese, those two. I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely).· I enjoy cooking at the weekend.
· I feel like crying every time I think about that day.
(=cry a lot and without control)· I cried like a baby when I heard the news.
I would dearly like to know what she said. A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes. Don’t let him treat you like a doormat. (=seem unreal)· That summer was so wonderful it seemed like a dream.
My flatmate Cherry drinks like a fish (=regularly drinks a lot of alcohol). (=eat a lot)· She eats like a horse but never puts on any weight!
(=eat very little)· Ever since she was a child, Jan had always eaten like a bird.
Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. She tries to be exactly like her older sister. (=a very angry expression)· The boss had a face like thunder when he arrived this morning.
I felt like I’d really achieved something. It’s nice fabric – it feels like velvet. It’s been a year since her daughter died, but to her, it still feels like yesterday. I know this dress is going to fit you like a glove (=fit you very well). (=seems to be enjoyable)· The picnic sounded like fun.
The idea went down like a lead balloon (=was not popular or successful). I can’t go on like this for much longer. (=a very strong grip)· Victor took hold of her wrist in an iron grip.
After a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox. the city he had grown to love Becoming a doctor never interested him. It was too much like hard work (=it would involve too much work). informal (=hurt very much) My shoulder hurts like hell.
My shoulder hurts like hell. (=people who share the same opinions)· The message board is a forum where like-minded individuals can communicate.
I grew up here; I know the place like the back of my hand (=I know it very well). a chance to meet like-minded people (=it seems likely that) It looks as if it might rain later. It looks like they won’t be needing us anymore.
It looks as if it might rain later. It looks like they won’t be needing us anymore. He looked as if he hadn’t washed for a week. What did the man look like? My sister doesn’t look anything like me. (=think that something bad has happened or will happen because of something’s appearance) We should turn back now. It’s getting dark and I don’t like the look of those rain clouds.
We should turn back now. It’s getting dark and I don’t like the look of those rain clouds. It’s the law so you can like it or lump it. He drives like a madman. She drew men to her like a magnet. He drove like a maniac to the hospital. (=forget things very easily)· I'm sorry, I have a memory like a sieve. I forgot you were coming today!
I’m not surprised she left. He treated her like muck (=very badly). literary (=with a lot of energy or violence)
· ‘He's been completely irresponsible.’ ‘I wouldn’t put it quite like that.’
I quite like Chinese food. (=rain appears likely because there are dark clouds in the sky)· We ate indoors because it looked like rain.
Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British English At school the other children treated them like royalty. He picked up the child and ran like hell (=ran very quickly, especially in order to escape). We were all running around like headless chickens (=trying to do a lot of things, in an anxious or disorganized way). We waited for what seemed like hours. (=be shaking a lot because you are nervous or frightened)· Diana was shaking like a leaf when she got up to give her talk.
· I have liked him since we first met.
(also sleep like a baby) informal (=sleep very well)· I was exhausted and slept like a log.
I heard what sounded like fireworks. (=spread extremely quickly)· The news spread like wildfire through the town.
He does mountain biking and skiing, and stuff like that. I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson. This sounded suspiciously like an attempt to get rid of me. informal (=sweat a lot) basketball players sweating buckets
basketball players sweating buckets The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics. Don’t let Dad hear you talking like that (=expressing things in a particular way). informal (=very badly and with no respect)· He treated this wife like dirt.
He held my arm like a vice. Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► as like as not/like enoughPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► not anything like/near► be like a bear with a sore head► like getting blood out of a stone► feel/look like a million bucks► like a cat on hot bricks► like the cat that got the cream► look like something the cat dragged/brought in► like Darby and Joan► look/feel like death warmed up► like a dog with two tails► look/feel etc like nothing on earth► like father like son► fight like cat and dog► a voice like a foghorn► like fury► be like gold dust► hold/hang on for/like grim death► have eyes like a hawk► be (like) banging/bashing etc your head against a brick wall► like a rabbit/deer caught in headlights► like hell/the hell► something is like herding cats► need/want something like a hole in the head► be selling/going like hot cakes► get on/along like a house on fire► how about that!/how do you like that!► feel like/turn to jelly► like a lamb to the slaughter► go down like a lead balloon► like mad► like magic/as if by magic► make like► be of one mind/of the same mind/of like mind► be (like) a morgue► be (like) a mother to somebody► like a mother hen► need something like a hole in the head► like looking for a needle in a haystack► be/feel like a new man/woman► like new/as good as new► as if/as though/like you own the place► like two peas in a pod► turn up like a bad penny► rise like a phoenix from the ashes► (like) rats leaving the sinking ship► sell like hot cakes► like sheep► work/run/go like stink► be like talking to a brick wall► come down on somebody like a ton of bricks► work like a Trojan► a vice-like grip► like water► like water off a duck’s back► what's not to like/love?► work like magic/work like a charm► for all the world as if/as though/like
1used in speech to fill a pause while you are thinking what to say next: - He was like, huh?
- I asked him if he thought Liz was cute, and he's like, yeah, definitely.
- We were like, oh no!
- Tom only left last week and I already miss him like anything.
- But like anything else worthy of our attention, it takes a little educating.
- I mean, eight singles hardly seems like anything at all.
- If it was like anything, thought Henry, it was probably like the art of eating out.
- It may not be perfect, and it may not even be like anything we have seen before.
- Somewhat softened by wind erosion, the surface none the less looked more like the lunar highlands than like anything on Earth.
- The interior is nothing like anything I've seen before.
- They would probably worry like anything.
- To intense, hardworking young Taylor, the practice could scarcely have seemed like anything but the most shameless sloth.
- Does Brenda look anything like her mother?
- I drove like a bat out of hell to the hospital.
- They took off like a bat out of hell for Tan Son Nhut.
- We're going to have to work like blazes to win this time!
- You could lean into the wind and it was raining like blazes.
- Politically, he often behaved like a bull in a china shop.
- You're not going to go storming in there like a bull in a china shop again?
- They may fight like a lion or go at something like a bull at a gate.
- Our new accounting system works like a charm.
- A slap on the hand or the behind works like a charm for one parent-child combination.
- But let me first applaud the coupling: it works like a charm.
- However, the schmaltzy parts, near the end, work like a charm.
- This time, the setup worked like a charm.
- She's only thirteen and she already smokes like a chimney.
- My granddad, who smoked like a chimney and lived to 97, was lucky enough never to encounter a promoter.
- The only sadness was that they all appeared to smoke like chimneys.
- Little legs going like the clappers.
- Male speaker Inside you are going like the clappers because you are nervous and the tension is building up.
- A universe that ran like clockwork also evinced design.
- And if Lais and Leonore created the promised diversion the plan would go like clockwork.
- Sometimes it ran like clockwork, sometimes-as I wrote at the time-it ran like the movie Clockwise.
- Then we had been surprised when our ascent of the nearby Jankopiti had gone like clockwork.
- Whereas Prost had been delayed as the Ferrari mechanics fiddled with the right-rear wheel, Senna's stop went like clockwork.
- At 6:30 every evening, like clockwork, Ari went out to milk the cows.
- The charity event was well organized and ran like clockwork.
- These mosquito bites on my leg are itching like crazy.
- We ran like crazy to the bus stop.
- They rang the doorbell and ran like the devil.
- He holds me like the devil himself.
- Hencke heard one canister bounce off the outer hull with a dull echo like the Devil knocking at the door.
- It glared and it floated and it flew like the Devil.
- Not screaming, although some of them must have fought like the devil not to.
- The hitchhiker keeps showing up, like a bad dream, like the devil himself.
- They scampered off, barking like the devil.
- Very good, Thérèse conceded afterwards: just like the Devil would do.
- L.M. True - like a dose of salts!
- The new car drives like a dream.
- But elsewhere Dream Stuff does not soothe.Life is like a dream because it is beyond control.
- He kept talking about it, like a dream.
- It is like a dream come true.
- Others, like dreams of fame or wealth, are egocentric.
- Some, like dreams of providing a great service, are altruistic.
- These tiresome but, one hopes, isolated problems aside, our Metro 1.1S is still running like a dream.
- Those few short months with Tony seemed sometimes like a dream to her.
- Players from both teams are dropping like flies.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
- At 17 he was a drug addict.
- Casodex is a drug that blocks the release of testosterone, a hormone that is linked to prostate cancer.
- I would have loved a drink, but I thought it might be drugged.
- Of those held in federal rather than state prisons, 60 % are drug offenders with no history of violence.
- The more complete descriptive term is drug elimination half-life.
- The most worrisome cross-border export, however, is drugs.
- The robber bridegroom could be a drug pusher in-stead of a homicidal cannibal, for instance.
- Tobacco is a drug and addicts should be given a chance to ease off gradually.
- She's taken to her new position like a duck to water.
- My mother had eyes like a hawk.
- She's been spending money like it's going out of fashion.
- I just don't feel like doing anything tonight.
- Joe says he feels like Mexican food.
- But the whole thing feels like a retread.
- He feels like the captain of a sleeping ship, alone at the helm, steering his oblivious crew through dangerous seas.
- I hang up, feeling like a wind-up toy.
- She felt like screaming at him, but she was determined not to lose her self-control.
- The careful procession into the Hall had felt like a kind of funeral.
- They stepped forward, and his muscles stiffened until they felt like bone.
- You made me feel like I was your family, a part of you.
- I felt like a fish out of water.
- In his first interview since the move, he still looks like a fish out of water.
- The computer can sort and edit a mailing list in a flash.
- He also had a nature that went violent in a flash.
- If he knew what I wanted he'd be out of the car and away in a flash of shock.
- It's all done in a flash these days.
- It was over in a flash.
- Shelby chooses the green chair for her dad, then like a flash, she's off to the house.
- The lesson seemed to pass in a flash.
- Two shots, they stop in a flash.
- We went by the tower like a flash and landed on the red cross near the newly set-up hospital tent.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- The men were dying like flies, of fever.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
- "I'm going to Barbara's house." "Like fun you are! Come and finish your chores first."
- Fraser's historical novels are selling like gangbusters.
- All I had to do was got to know his taste in food.
- Come to think of it, he'd seemed rather a decent chap, some one it might be worth getting to know.
- He got to know Bill Clinton quite well when they were together at Oxford as Rhodes scholars.
- I would like to get to know customers well 8.
- It was one of Brian's three daughters, Karen, who got to know Kirsty.
- Mrs Nowak and Taczek must have got to know most of the truth and stuck by the cover story.
- She had seen a leaflet about the YCs and thought that this would provide a good way of getting to know people.
- So I got, I sort of got to know her.
- They expect the bill to move through Congress like greased lightning.
- The following passage exemplifies, for Rees, macho characteristics: Clogger moved like greased lightning.
- Parents should watch their kids like a hawk for sunburns.
- And it's putting me off, having you watching me like a hawk all the time.
- He seemed to be watching her like a hawk, waiting for some reaction.
- Kruger is watching them like a hawk!
- They're watching me like hawks here.
- Today, more than usual, he had been watching them like a hawk.
- The arcade section is hideous, featuring computer-controlled players running around like headless chickens and never attempting a tackle.
- He looks like hell and sounds awful, but then, as he's the first to admit, he always did.
- In that case I would peak earlier and higher and then feel like hell for the rest of the day.
- I know he lost his legs first, and then his fingers-he died alone and it hurt like hell.
- I remember running like hell, knowing I was being pursued and looking back for Sarah, who didn't join me.
- I was able to breathe only with the utmost difficulty, and my arm hurt like hell.
- Must have fought like hell to find its niche within the forest, to distinguish itself within the pack.
- My forehead hurt like hell and my body was bruised all over, but no bones were broken.
- Run, North, run; just run like hell.
- Spring sauntered north, but he had to run like hell to keep it as his traveling companion.
- We fought like hell for most of the time.
- First decide how you want to set up your directories.
- Is this how we want to spend our dotage?
- It's how we like to see ourselves.
- Live your life how you want.
- Oh, how I wanted to win!
- Oh, how she wanted him to.
- Remember how he wanted us to think he was a good guy at heart?
- You try reading this with only one eye and see how you like it.
- Lori seemed to go through men like a knife through butter.
- Suzie went off to school like a lamb today.
- He felt he had taken his only child like a lamb to the slaughter.
- I certainly don't like lamb for three meals running.
- March, according to the weather proverb, comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.
- While others were being lionised he conducted himself like a lamb or even a mouse.
- She was out like a light, as soon as we put her in bed.
- A minute later he went out like a light.
- Either it was the brandy or it was the heat, but she went out like a light.
- I went out like a light.
- Something hit me on the back of the head, here, and I went out like a light.
- Her foot slipped on the smooth tiles but Mitch moved like lightning and caught her before she fell.
- Somewhere a dog barked and, like lightning, the cat darted into some bushes.
- The cat ran up the tree like lightning.
- I first borrowed a bottle from work and it works like magic.
- The new layout and office furniture worked like magic.
- Insurance companies always make out like bandits.
- Salomon Brothers and my customer made out like bandits.
- Come on, Ragtime Cowboy Joe, take your medicine.
- Conradin hated her with all his heart, but he obeyed her quietly and took his medicine without arguing.
- He and his grandpa took their medicine together, at the same time.
- He hadn't been changed or taken his medicine.
- He shut his eyes, held his nose like a kid about to take his medicine, and started to drink.
- His major problem is that he misses taking his medicine, and he travels too much.
- Like some one recovering from the flu, she quit taking her medicine as soon as she felt better.
- Soon after she left the hospital, with a clearer mind, she again stopped taking her medicine.
- I felt like a million dollars.
- Based on one of Aesop's fables, it was as much like a limerick as one of Shakespeare's sonnets.
- For at school, the young man would be surrounded by men much like him-self.
- The space inside looked as much like a junkyard as the space outside.
- They like their bikes to be as much like cars as possible.
- What he wanted, of course, was for me to write as much like he did as I possibly could.
- Men and horses went down like ninepins before them, in a tangle of waving limbs, flailing hooves and broken lances.
- People are buying Internet stocks like nobody's business.
- There's nothing like a nice hot bath to help you relax.
- And there's nothing like a conversation when you smoke.
- Facing page: there's nothing like a brew to soothe aching limbs but where's the Kendal Mint cake?
- No, there's nothing like a good laugh to make you feel better about yourself.
- Second team or not, however, there's nothing like the first century.
- When the weather's good there's nothing like a luxurious dessert to give a special menu a final flourish.
- Certainly the lateral geniculate nucleus in rats looks nothing like the lateral geniculate nucleus in monkeys.
- It's classed as being a conifer but it looks nothing like one.
- Remember that the intermediate stored pattern may be pretty abstract, looking nothing like the input pattern.
- She insisted that I looked nothing like Majella.
- She looked nothing like her photograph.
- The problem is that in its juvenile form it looks nothing like the adult specimen.
- The zone blitz can fluster an offense because it looks nothing like a conventional blitz.
- This suspect looks nothing like Nichols, a slightly built, light-skinned man in his 40s with thinning hair.
- After five months in the hospital, I'm feeling like my old self again.
- I wish they'd turn off the heat. It's like an oven in here.
- It's like an oven in here. Let's open some windows.
- The heat of the day made the gymnasium feel like an oven.
- Makes it like an oven, spoiling the negatives.
- The room is like an oven already.
- Getting the kids to do their homework was like pulling teeth.
- Out in the field, we looked like a bunch of drowned rats.
- You were looking like a drowned rat after our little foray into Puddephat's rooms.
- I can read you like a book - some book I've read six times already.
- Naturally this was like a red rag to a bull and I refused to even consider such a course of action.
- But Cirrito is quick to point out that Rastafarianism is a religion, whereas reggae is a beat.
- If there is a theme here, it is religion.
- This form of witchcraft is a religion of the earth.
- We were packed like sardines on the train.
- On the other side of the building turtles are packed like sardines into more tanks.
- Clearly western painters said what they liked, how they liked.
- From now on he could do and say what he liked - they wouldn't raise a squeak.
- He could say what he liked, but she was now controlling the agenda.
- I can say what I like.
- If she just vanishes, Elizabeth Roisin can say what she likes, but there's nothing she can do!
- There must, he said, be a place where people are free to say what they like.
- We can do what we like and say what we like to whomever we like, without restriction.
- While manufacturers say what they like about themselves through advertising, favourable public opinion for their products or services is earned.
- I woke up with a hangover and felt like shit for the rest of the day.
- And it used to make me feel like shit to hear that.
- Everytime I am about to go to a cup match I imagine myself travelling back home feeling like shit.
- Here goes ... I expected to look like shit but this was ridiculous.
- I try to think of nice ways to comment on his appearance without saying he looks like shit.
- It's a terrible thing to be told that and then to do what the director says and it feels like shit.
- The school made you feel like shit.
- We really do look like shit.
- You looked like shit the other night.
- Everybody always treats me like shit.
- She slammed the phone down and was out of the room like a shot.
- He asked Jeter if he'd like a shot at it.
- I'd tell you like a shot if we ever got into a real jam.
- It is not a direct stimulant, like a shot of adrenaline.
- She'd be off to Legoland like a shot, to see that caretaker, if Henry said anything.
- Sometimes they fall over one another, like shots from a rapid-fire camera.
- The great majority, once they breach the system and hear the telltale whine, are out of there like a shot.
- Travis had left the door open - she seized her chance, and was through it like a shot.
- You'd better remind him about the party - he's got a memory like a sieve!
- Then turn the paper over and fold it, like so.
- Insignia has something like 100 engineers working on its line.
- You can't come to the restaurant dressed in jeans. You'd stick out like a sore thumb.
- For these reasons feminist values stand out like a sore thumb.
- Having a whole batch together should make an odd one stick out like a sore thumb.
- Having said that, in some of the bits of Shoreditch I passed through I stuck out like a sore thumb.
- I mean, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
- There's no cover, and - as happened to me - any stranger sticks out like a sore thumb.
- We stand out like sore thumbs.
- You stick out like a sore thumb in that ghastly uniform, Charles.
- "There's been a slight change in our plans." "I don't like the sound of that."
- I just did not like the sound of this woman.
- She did not like the sound of those words he was using.
- Initially nothing succeeds like success: but eventually success exceeds itself, and decline and despondency set in.
- But no one can blame Rush for telling it like it is.
- He tells it like it is.
- I try to tell it like it is.
- She tells it like it is, or seems to.
- She stood there with hands on her hips, glaring with a face like thunder.
- Ben drives like there's no tomorrow.
- I eat and drink like there's no tomorrow.
- The news of her accident hit me like a ton of bricks.
- And then the Alouette was spinning like a top and curving off over the Aegean.
- Obviously, any knock could send her mind spinning like a top.
- Throwing on a dressing-gown and swearing like a trooper, you stumble to answer it.
- Aerials sprout up like weeds on the roof.
- Cars were suffocating the roads like weeds.
- Flavor-of-the-month or program-du-jour comments crop up like weeds.
- Still, development had sprung up around the edges, like weeds encroaching on a garden.
- The eggplants flourished, and the next spring more of them popped up all over the garden like weeds.
- A light wind ruffled the leaves of the trees, but it was warm, not cold like the winds of winter.
- Cos it looks like the wind blew her face inside out.
- He swept towards me, like the wind raising a storm as soaring eagles raise dust.
- Something was sweeping through that massive arena like the wind moving through the top of the trees.
- The boy was driving like the wind when suddenly we hit something.
- We rode like the wind and by ten o'clock had come to the edge of the forest of Zenda.
- Will and I ran like the wind and only stopped when we reached the river.
The water was, like, really cold. I was just, like, standing there.2I’m/he’s/she’s like ... a)used to tell the exact words someone used: I asked Dave if he wanted to go, and he’s like, no way! b)used to describe an event, feeling, or person, when it is difficult to describe or when you use a noise instead of words: She was like, huh? (=she did not understand)3as like as not/like enough British English probably: The ambulance will be too late, as like as not.like1 prepositionlike2 verblike3 nounlike4 conjunctionlike5 adverblike6 adjective
likelike6 adjective formal WORD ORIGINlike6
Origin:
Old English gelicEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- By saying they're like bus queues, you've made lots of assumptions.
- It's like poetry, Tom Rigby says, when they're working well.
- It sort of migrated upward, like cream rising to the top.
- The problem is that religion delivered as a sound bite is sort of like pate from a drive-through window.
THESAURUS
adjective almost the same: · Jo said she’d had a similar experience.· The colours are very similar, but I like this one best.
preposition similar to something or someone else: · It tastes a little like chicken.· She still looks like a teenager.
adjective [not before noun] very similar – used especially about the way people look or behave: · She and her sister look alike.· Lawyers are all alike - I don’t trust them.
adjective very similar: · The film bears a close resemblance to real life (=is very similar).· The painting is remarkably close to the original.
very similar: · The glass is still made in much the same way as it was 100 years ago.· People are much the same, wherever you go.· She still looks very much the same.
adjective exactly the same: · The two computers were identical in design.· identical names
adjective having the same colour, style, pattern etc as something else – used about clothes or furniture that you wear or use together: · She wore matching silver shoes and handbag.· a dining table and matching chairs
formal fairly similar to something: · These dialects are akin to Arabic, though different in several respects.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY They get on well together because they are of like mind. Try to buy two fish of like size.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES What I like about the job is that it’s never boring. Why did you speak to him? You usually avoid him like the plague (=try hard to avoid him). Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). She was screaming like a banshee. She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. She looks a bit like my sister. You’re not a bit like your brother. They’re like chalk and cheese, those two. I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely). I would dearly like to know what she said. A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes. Don’t let him treat you like a doormat. My flatmate Cherry drinks like a fish (=regularly drinks a lot of alcohol). Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. She tries to be exactly like her older sister. I felt like I’d really achieved something. It’s nice fabric – it feels like velvet. It’s been a year since her daughter died, but to her, it still feels like yesterday. I know this dress is going to fit you like a glove (=fit you very well). The idea went down like a lead balloon (=was not popular or successful). I can’t go on like this for much longer. After a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox. the city he had grown to love Becoming a doctor never interested him. It was too much like hard work (=it would involve too much work). I grew up here; I know the place like the back of my hand (=I know it very well). a chance to meet like-minded people He looked as if he hadn’t washed for a week. What did the man look like? My sister doesn’t look anything like me. It’s the law so you can like it or lump it. He drives like a madman. She drew men to her like a magnet. He drove like a maniac to the hospital. I’m not surprised she left. He treated her like muck (=very badly). I quite like Chinese food. Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British English At school the other children treated them like royalty. He picked up the child and ran like hell (=ran very quickly, especially in order to escape). We were all running around like headless chickens (=trying to do a lot of things, in an anxious or disorganized way). We waited for what seemed like hours. I heard what sounded like fireworks. He does mountain biking and skiing, and stuff like that. I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson. This sounded suspiciously like an attempt to get rid of me. The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics. Don’t let Dad hear you talking like that (=expressing things in a particular way). He held my arm like a vice. Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
They get on well together because they are of like mind. Try to buy two fish of like size. What I like about the job is that it’s never boring. Why did you speak to him? You usually avoid him like the plague (=try hard to avoid him). Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). She was screaming like a banshee. She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. She looks a bit like my sister. You’re not a bit like your brother. They’re like chalk and cheese, those two. I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely).· I enjoy cooking at the weekend.
· I feel like crying every time I think about that day.
(=cry a lot and without control)· I cried like a baby when I heard the news.
I would dearly like to know what she said. A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes. Don’t let him treat you like a doormat. (=seem unreal)· That summer was so wonderful it seemed like a dream.
My flatmate Cherry drinks like a fish (=regularly drinks a lot of alcohol). (=eat a lot)· She eats like a horse but never puts on any weight!
(=eat very little)· Ever since she was a child, Jan had always eaten like a bird.
Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. She tries to be exactly like her older sister. (=a very angry expression)· The boss had a face like thunder when he arrived this morning.
I felt like I’d really achieved something. It’s nice fabric – it feels like velvet. It’s been a year since her daughter died, but to her, it still feels like yesterday. I know this dress is going to fit you like a glove (=fit you very well). (=seems to be enjoyable)· The picnic sounded like fun.
The idea went down like a lead balloon (=was not popular or successful). I can’t go on like this for much longer. (=a very strong grip)· Victor took hold of her wrist in an iron grip.
After a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox. the city he had grown to love Becoming a doctor never interested him. It was too much like hard work (=it would involve too much work). informal (=hurt very much) My shoulder hurts like hell.
My shoulder hurts like hell. (=people who share the same opinions)· The message board is a forum where like-minded individuals can communicate.
I grew up here; I know the place like the back of my hand (=I know it very well). a chance to meet like-minded people (=it seems likely that) It looks as if it might rain later. It looks like they won’t be needing us anymore.
It looks as if it might rain later. It looks like they won’t be needing us anymore. He looked as if he hadn’t washed for a week. What did the man look like? My sister doesn’t look anything like me. (=think that something bad has happened or will happen because of something’s appearance) We should turn back now. It’s getting dark and I don’t like the look of those rain clouds.
We should turn back now. It’s getting dark and I don’t like the look of those rain clouds. It’s the law so you can like it or lump it. He drives like a madman. She drew men to her like a magnet. He drove like a maniac to the hospital. (=forget things very easily)· I'm sorry, I have a memory like a sieve. I forgot you were coming today!
I’m not surprised she left. He treated her like muck (=very badly). literary (=with a lot of energy or violence)
· ‘He's been completely irresponsible.’ ‘I wouldn’t put it quite like that.’
I quite like Chinese food. (=rain appears likely because there are dark clouds in the sky)· We ate indoors because it looked like rain.
Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British English At school the other children treated them like royalty. He picked up the child and ran like hell (=ran very quickly, especially in order to escape). We were all running around like headless chickens (=trying to do a lot of things, in an anxious or disorganized way). We waited for what seemed like hours. (=be shaking a lot because you are nervous or frightened)· Diana was shaking like a leaf when she got up to give her talk.
· I have liked him since we first met.
(also sleep like a baby) informal (=sleep very well)· I was exhausted and slept like a log.
I heard what sounded like fireworks. (=spread extremely quickly)· The news spread like wildfire through the town.
He does mountain biking and skiing, and stuff like that. I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson. This sounded suspiciously like an attempt to get rid of me. informal (=sweat a lot) basketball players sweating buckets
basketball players sweating buckets The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics. Don’t let Dad hear you talking like that (=expressing things in a particular way). informal (=very badly and with no respect)· He treated this wife like dirt.
He held my arm like a vice. Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.· Little attempt is made to treat like situations in a like manner or to act consistently within a framework of judicial analysis.· Her own four daughters held their dolls in a like manner when they first began to play with them.· The other four domes are supported in a like manner and short barrel vaults connect one dome to another.· In like manner the suffrage of women prior to 1918 was a claimed moral right.· And in like manner buyers will fence, and pretend to be less eager than they really are.· In like manner, but without the risk, Bloomsbury chipped away at the standards inherited from Victorians.
· A belief in criticism was an affirmation to be made in earnest assemblies of like minds.· We found women of like mind.· The people of the village are of like mind. 5.· The Vicosinos were of like mind and thus Supported the project to purchase the land and liberate these families from serfdom.· She says that it's the bringing together of like minds.· When it comes to minding their own business, Montanans are of a like mind.· Michael came to mountaineering through its literature and found some one of a like mind who was also keen to start.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► not anything like/near► be like a bear with a sore head► like getting blood out of a stone► feel/look like a million bucks► like a cat on hot bricks► like the cat that got the cream► look like something the cat dragged/brought in► like Darby and Joan► look/feel like death warmed up► like a dog with two tails► look/feel etc like nothing on earth► like father like son► fight like cat and dog► a voice like a foghorn► like fury► be like gold dust► hold/hang on for/like grim death► have eyes like a hawk► be (like) banging/bashing etc your head against a brick wall► like a rabbit/deer caught in headlights► like hell/the hell► something is like herding cats► need/want something like a hole in the head► be selling/going like hot cakes► get on/along like a house on fire► how about that!/how do you like that!► feel like/turn to jelly► like a lamb to the slaughter► go down like a lead balloon► like mad► like magic/as if by magic► make like► be of one mind/of the same mind/of like mind► be (like) a morgue► be (like) a mother to somebody► like a mother hen► need something like a hole in the head► like looking for a needle in a haystack► be/feel like a new man/woman► like new/as good as new► as if/as though/like you own the place► like two peas in a pod► turn up like a bad penny► rise like a phoenix from the ashes► (like) rats leaving the sinking ship► sell like hot cakes► like sheep► work/run/go like stink► be like talking to a brick wall► come down on somebody like a ton of bricks► work like a Trojan► a vice-like grip► like water► like water off a duck’s back► what's not to like/love?► work like magic/work like a charm► for all the world as if/as though/like
1[only before noun] similar in some way: - But already she knew what it was like to be going home.
- Had we forgotten what it was like to be young?
- He'd enjoyed that, letting the good alderman know what it was like to be awoken just before dawn.
- I could even imagine what it must be like to have a baby.
- Leonie knew what it was like to have to give up your baby, never to see your child grow up.
- People in Britain tend to have strong feelings about what it is like to live in rural or urban areas.
- We were learning what it was like to be legionnaires.
- Tom only left last week and I already miss him like anything.
- But like anything else worthy of our attention, it takes a little educating.
- I mean, eight singles hardly seems like anything at all.
- If it was like anything, thought Henry, it was probably like the art of eating out.
- It may not be perfect, and it may not even be like anything we have seen before.
- Somewhat softened by wind erosion, the surface none the less looked more like the lunar highlands than like anything on Earth.
- The interior is nothing like anything I've seen before.
- They would probably worry like anything.
- To intense, hardworking young Taylor, the practice could scarcely have seemed like anything but the most shameless sloth.
- Does Brenda look anything like her mother?
- I drove like a bat out of hell to the hospital.
- They took off like a bat out of hell for Tan Son Nhut.
- We're going to have to work like blazes to win this time!
- You could lean into the wind and it was raining like blazes.
- Politically, he often behaved like a bull in a china shop.
- You're not going to go storming in there like a bull in a china shop again?
- They may fight like a lion or go at something like a bull at a gate.
- Our new accounting system works like a charm.
- A slap on the hand or the behind works like a charm for one parent-child combination.
- But let me first applaud the coupling: it works like a charm.
- However, the schmaltzy parts, near the end, work like a charm.
- This time, the setup worked like a charm.
- She's only thirteen and she already smokes like a chimney.
- My granddad, who smoked like a chimney and lived to 97, was lucky enough never to encounter a promoter.
- The only sadness was that they all appeared to smoke like chimneys.
- Little legs going like the clappers.
- Male speaker Inside you are going like the clappers because you are nervous and the tension is building up.
- A universe that ran like clockwork also evinced design.
- And if Lais and Leonore created the promised diversion the plan would go like clockwork.
- Sometimes it ran like clockwork, sometimes-as I wrote at the time-it ran like the movie Clockwise.
- Then we had been surprised when our ascent of the nearby Jankopiti had gone like clockwork.
- Whereas Prost had been delayed as the Ferrari mechanics fiddled with the right-rear wheel, Senna's stop went like clockwork.
- At 6:30 every evening, like clockwork, Ari went out to milk the cows.
- The charity event was well organized and ran like clockwork.
- These mosquito bites on my leg are itching like crazy.
- We ran like crazy to the bus stop.
- They rang the doorbell and ran like the devil.
- He holds me like the devil himself.
- Hencke heard one canister bounce off the outer hull with a dull echo like the Devil knocking at the door.
- It glared and it floated and it flew like the Devil.
- Not screaming, although some of them must have fought like the devil not to.
- The hitchhiker keeps showing up, like a bad dream, like the devil himself.
- They scampered off, barking like the devil.
- Very good, Thérèse conceded afterwards: just like the Devil would do.
- L.M. True - like a dose of salts!
- The new car drives like a dream.
- But elsewhere Dream Stuff does not soothe.Life is like a dream because it is beyond control.
- He kept talking about it, like a dream.
- It is like a dream come true.
- Others, like dreams of fame or wealth, are egocentric.
- Some, like dreams of providing a great service, are altruistic.
- These tiresome but, one hopes, isolated problems aside, our Metro 1.1S is still running like a dream.
- Those few short months with Tony seemed sometimes like a dream to her.
- Players from both teams are dropping like flies.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
- At 17 he was a drug addict.
- Casodex is a drug that blocks the release of testosterone, a hormone that is linked to prostate cancer.
- I would have loved a drink, but I thought it might be drugged.
- Of those held in federal rather than state prisons, 60 % are drug offenders with no history of violence.
- The more complete descriptive term is drug elimination half-life.
- The most worrisome cross-border export, however, is drugs.
- The robber bridegroom could be a drug pusher in-stead of a homicidal cannibal, for instance.
- Tobacco is a drug and addicts should be given a chance to ease off gradually.
- She's taken to her new position like a duck to water.
- My mother had eyes like a hawk.
- She's been spending money like it's going out of fashion.
- I just don't feel like doing anything tonight.
- Joe says he feels like Mexican food.
- But the whole thing feels like a retread.
- He feels like the captain of a sleeping ship, alone at the helm, steering his oblivious crew through dangerous seas.
- I hang up, feeling like a wind-up toy.
- She felt like screaming at him, but she was determined not to lose her self-control.
- The careful procession into the Hall had felt like a kind of funeral.
- They stepped forward, and his muscles stiffened until they felt like bone.
- You made me feel like I was your family, a part of you.
- I felt like a fish out of water.
- In his first interview since the move, he still looks like a fish out of water.
- The computer can sort and edit a mailing list in a flash.
- He also had a nature that went violent in a flash.
- If he knew what I wanted he'd be out of the car and away in a flash of shock.
- It's all done in a flash these days.
- It was over in a flash.
- Shelby chooses the green chair for her dad, then like a flash, she's off to the house.
- The lesson seemed to pass in a flash.
- Two shots, they stop in a flash.
- We went by the tower like a flash and landed on the red cross near the newly set-up hospital tent.
- Grocer profits While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits.
- Our kids are dropping like flies.
- The men were dying like flies, of fever.
- They should be dropping like flies, but that hasn't been the case.
- "I'm going to Barbara's house." "Like fun you are! Come and finish your chores first."
- Fraser's historical novels are selling like gangbusters.
- All I had to do was got to know his taste in food.
- Come to think of it, he'd seemed rather a decent chap, some one it might be worth getting to know.
- He got to know Bill Clinton quite well when they were together at Oxford as Rhodes scholars.
- I would like to get to know customers well 8.
- It was one of Brian's three daughters, Karen, who got to know Kirsty.
- Mrs Nowak and Taczek must have got to know most of the truth and stuck by the cover story.
- She had seen a leaflet about the YCs and thought that this would provide a good way of getting to know people.
- So I got, I sort of got to know her.
- They expect the bill to move through Congress like greased lightning.
- The following passage exemplifies, for Rees, macho characteristics: Clogger moved like greased lightning.
- Parents should watch their kids like a hawk for sunburns.
- And it's putting me off, having you watching me like a hawk all the time.
- He seemed to be watching her like a hawk, waiting for some reaction.
- Kruger is watching them like a hawk!
- They're watching me like hawks here.
- Today, more than usual, he had been watching them like a hawk.
- The arcade section is hideous, featuring computer-controlled players running around like headless chickens and never attempting a tackle.
- He looks like hell and sounds awful, but then, as he's the first to admit, he always did.
- In that case I would peak earlier and higher and then feel like hell for the rest of the day.
- I know he lost his legs first, and then his fingers-he died alone and it hurt like hell.
- I remember running like hell, knowing I was being pursued and looking back for Sarah, who didn't join me.
- I was able to breathe only with the utmost difficulty, and my arm hurt like hell.
- Must have fought like hell to find its niche within the forest, to distinguish itself within the pack.
- My forehead hurt like hell and my body was bruised all over, but no bones were broken.
- Run, North, run; just run like hell.
- Spring sauntered north, but he had to run like hell to keep it as his traveling companion.
- We fought like hell for most of the time.
- First decide how you want to set up your directories.
- Is this how we want to spend our dotage?
- It's how we like to see ourselves.
- Live your life how you want.
- Oh, how I wanted to win!
- Oh, how she wanted him to.
- Remember how he wanted us to think he was a good guy at heart?
- You try reading this with only one eye and see how you like it.
- Lori seemed to go through men like a knife through butter.
- Suzie went off to school like a lamb today.
- He felt he had taken his only child like a lamb to the slaughter.
- I certainly don't like lamb for three meals running.
- March, according to the weather proverb, comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.
- While others were being lionised he conducted himself like a lamb or even a mouse.
- She was out like a light, as soon as we put her in bed.
- A minute later he went out like a light.
- Either it was the brandy or it was the heat, but she went out like a light.
- I went out like a light.
- Something hit me on the back of the head, here, and I went out like a light.
- Her foot slipped on the smooth tiles but Mitch moved like lightning and caught her before she fell.
- Somewhere a dog barked and, like lightning, the cat darted into some bushes.
- The cat ran up the tree like lightning.
- I first borrowed a bottle from work and it works like magic.
- The new layout and office furniture worked like magic.
- Insurance companies always make out like bandits.
- Salomon Brothers and my customer made out like bandits.
- Come on, Ragtime Cowboy Joe, take your medicine.
- Conradin hated her with all his heart, but he obeyed her quietly and took his medicine without arguing.
- He and his grandpa took their medicine together, at the same time.
- He hadn't been changed or taken his medicine.
- He shut his eyes, held his nose like a kid about to take his medicine, and started to drink.
- His major problem is that he misses taking his medicine, and he travels too much.
- Like some one recovering from the flu, she quit taking her medicine as soon as she felt better.
- Soon after she left the hospital, with a clearer mind, she again stopped taking her medicine.
- I felt like a million dollars.
- Based on one of Aesop's fables, it was as much like a limerick as one of Shakespeare's sonnets.
- For at school, the young man would be surrounded by men much like him-self.
- The space inside looked as much like a junkyard as the space outside.
- They like their bikes to be as much like cars as possible.
- What he wanted, of course, was for me to write as much like he did as I possibly could.
- Men and horses went down like ninepins before them, in a tangle of waving limbs, flailing hooves and broken lances.
- People are buying Internet stocks like nobody's business.
- There's nothing like a nice hot bath to help you relax.
- And there's nothing like a conversation when you smoke.
- Facing page: there's nothing like a brew to soothe aching limbs but where's the Kendal Mint cake?
- No, there's nothing like a good laugh to make you feel better about yourself.
- Second team or not, however, there's nothing like the first century.
- When the weather's good there's nothing like a luxurious dessert to give a special menu a final flourish.
- Certainly the lateral geniculate nucleus in rats looks nothing like the lateral geniculate nucleus in monkeys.
- It's classed as being a conifer but it looks nothing like one.
- Remember that the intermediate stored pattern may be pretty abstract, looking nothing like the input pattern.
- She insisted that I looked nothing like Majella.
- She looked nothing like her photograph.
- The problem is that in its juvenile form it looks nothing like the adult specimen.
- The zone blitz can fluster an offense because it looks nothing like a conventional blitz.
- This suspect looks nothing like Nichols, a slightly built, light-skinned man in his 40s with thinning hair.
- After five months in the hospital, I'm feeling like my old self again.
- I wish they'd turn off the heat. It's like an oven in here.
- It's like an oven in here. Let's open some windows.
- The heat of the day made the gymnasium feel like an oven.
- Makes it like an oven, spoiling the negatives.
- The room is like an oven already.
- Getting the kids to do their homework was like pulling teeth.
- Out in the field, we looked like a bunch of drowned rats.
- You were looking like a drowned rat after our little foray into Puddephat's rooms.
- I can read you like a book - some book I've read six times already.
- Naturally this was like a red rag to a bull and I refused to even consider such a course of action.
- But Cirrito is quick to point out that Rastafarianism is a religion, whereas reggae is a beat.
- If there is a theme here, it is religion.
- This form of witchcraft is a religion of the earth.
- We were packed like sardines on the train.
- On the other side of the building turtles are packed like sardines into more tanks.
- Clearly western painters said what they liked, how they liked.
- From now on he could do and say what he liked - they wouldn't raise a squeak.
- He could say what he liked, but she was now controlling the agenda.
- I can say what I like.
- If she just vanishes, Elizabeth Roisin can say what she likes, but there's nothing she can do!
- There must, he said, be a place where people are free to say what they like.
- We can do what we like and say what we like to whomever we like, without restriction.
- While manufacturers say what they like about themselves through advertising, favourable public opinion for their products or services is earned.
- I woke up with a hangover and felt like shit for the rest of the day.
- And it used to make me feel like shit to hear that.
- Everytime I am about to go to a cup match I imagine myself travelling back home feeling like shit.
- Here goes ... I expected to look like shit but this was ridiculous.
- I try to think of nice ways to comment on his appearance without saying he looks like shit.
- It's a terrible thing to be told that and then to do what the director says and it feels like shit.
- The school made you feel like shit.
- We really do look like shit.
- You looked like shit the other night.
- Everybody always treats me like shit.
- She slammed the phone down and was out of the room like a shot.
- He asked Jeter if he'd like a shot at it.
- I'd tell you like a shot if we ever got into a real jam.
- It is not a direct stimulant, like a shot of adrenaline.
- She'd be off to Legoland like a shot, to see that caretaker, if Henry said anything.
- Sometimes they fall over one another, like shots from a rapid-fire camera.
- The great majority, once they breach the system and hear the telltale whine, are out of there like a shot.
- Travis had left the door open - she seized her chance, and was through it like a shot.
- You'd better remind him about the party - he's got a memory like a sieve!
- Then turn the paper over and fold it, like so.
- Insignia has something like 100 engineers working on its line.
- You can't come to the restaurant dressed in jeans. You'd stick out like a sore thumb.
- For these reasons feminist values stand out like a sore thumb.
- Having a whole batch together should make an odd one stick out like a sore thumb.
- Having said that, in some of the bits of Shoreditch I passed through I stuck out like a sore thumb.
- I mean, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
- There's no cover, and - as happened to me - any stranger sticks out like a sore thumb.
- We stand out like sore thumbs.
- You stick out like a sore thumb in that ghastly uniform, Charles.
- "There's been a slight change in our plans." "I don't like the sound of that."
- I just did not like the sound of this woman.
- She did not like the sound of those words he was using.
- Initially nothing succeeds like success: but eventually success exceeds itself, and decline and despondency set in.
- But no one can blame Rush for telling it like it is.
- He tells it like it is.
- I try to tell it like it is.
- She tells it like it is, or seems to.
- She stood there with hands on her hips, glaring with a face like thunder.
- Ben drives like there's no tomorrow.
- I eat and drink like there's no tomorrow.
- The news of her accident hit me like a ton of bricks.
- And then the Alouette was spinning like a top and curving off over the Aegean.
- Obviously, any knock could send her mind spinning like a top.
- Throwing on a dressing-gown and swearing like a trooper, you stumble to answer it.
- Aerials sprout up like weeds on the roof.
- Cars were suffocating the roads like weeds.
- Flavor-of-the-month or program-du-jour comments crop up like weeds.
- Still, development had sprung up around the edges, like weeds encroaching on a garden.
- The eggplants flourished, and the next spring more of them popped up all over the garden like weeds.
- A light wind ruffled the leaves of the trees, but it was warm, not cold like the winds of winter.
- Cos it looks like the wind blew her face inside out.
- He swept towards me, like the wind raising a storm as soaring eagles raise dust.
- Something was sweeping through that massive arena like the wind moving through the top of the trees.
- The boy was driving like the wind when suddenly we hit something.
- We rode like the wind and by ten o'clock had come to the edge of the forest of Zenda.
- Will and I ran like the wind and only stopped when we reached the river.
The second dispute was sorted out in a like manner. They get on well together because they are of like mind. Try to buy two fish of like size.► see thesaurus at similar2be like to do something old use to be likely to do something