open1 adjectiveopen2 verbopen3 noun
openo‧pen1 /ˈəʊpən $ ˈoʊ-/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective 
WORD ORIGINopen1
Origin:
Old EnglishEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A book lay open on the table.
- an open carriage
- an open sewer
- an open staircase
- Ben was staring at her with his mouth wide open.
- Bill's white shirt was open at the collar.
- Carrie stood in front of the open window.
- Diana's very easy to talk to because she's so open.
- Do you know you left the window wide open all night?
- Emily realised that her handbag was open and her money gone.
- frank and open discussions
- Greg has always been very open about his sexuality.
- He's a nice looking young man with a open, honest smile.
- He had a very open nature.
- Her blouse came open in front of a nationwide TV audience!
- Highway 5 is blocked by snow, but Route 35 remains open.
- I'm sorry, but the doctor doesn't have anything open for this afternoon.
- I am bothered by your open admiration of these criminals.
- I try to be open and honest with my employees and let them know exactly what's going on.
- I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open.
- As her mouth fell innocently open and her body relaxed, Ludovico Castelfranco examined her closely.
- He would lie there quietly, eyes wide open, taking from her skin what he needed.
- Like a foot in the door, they can leave a channel stuck open.
- Only then, in the shock of the open air at last, did we break ranks and go our separate ways.
- Outside, in the open air, it was glorious.
- She lay on her stomach, tangled in sheets, eyes closed and mouth open.
- The inquest jury returned an open verdict because of conflicting evidence.
- The result is a more free-flowing, open sound.
THESAURUSnot hiding the truth or the facts
saying what you really think and not hiding the truth or the facts: · I’m going to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me.· an honest answer· To be honest, I didn’t think his speech was very good.
informal honest and saying what you really think: · I can’t help you if you’re not straight with me.· I need a straight answer.
willing to talk about what you think, feel etc in an honest way, rather than trying to hide it: · People have become more open about their feelings.· She’s very easy to talk to because she’s so open.
speaking honestly and directly about something, especially something that people find difficult to discuss: · In his book, he’s brutally frank about his experience with his illness.· a frank discussion about sex
saying exactly what you think in an honest clear way, even when this might annoy or upset people: · Not everyone liked his direct manner.· She can be very direct.
speaking in a completely honest way, even if it upsets people, when it would be better to be more careful or polite: · Sorry if I was a bit blunt with you.· His hard tone and blunt words were hurtful.· She didn’t reply and I knew I had been too blunt.
[not before noun] informal talking and behaving in an honest way, even when it is difficult to do this, in a way that people respect: · It’s best to be upfront about your financial problems.· You have to be upfront with kids.
expressing your opinions publicly in a very direct way, which may offend or annoy some people: · an outspoken critic of the government· He was known for his outspoken views on various controversies.
formal saying exactly what what you think, without being afraid of what other people will think: · The opposition have not come up with a clear forthright statement of their policies.· At times, Helena was a little too forthright.
formal honest about the facts, or about your opinions and feelings, even if other people disapprove of them: · He’d always been completely candid about his past.· It was an unusually candid admission for a politician.
Longman Language Activatorto open a door, window, box etc · It's very hot in here. Do you mind if I open the window?· The drawer's locked - you need a key to open it.open something wide · He opened the door wide, and gestured for me to come in.
to turn the a key in the lock on a door, drawer, cupboard etc so that you can open it: · Unlock the door! We can't get out!· Which of these keys unlocks the safe?· "Come and see", Jo said, unlocking a huge iron gate.
to open a drawer, window, cupboard etc by using force, often with a tool: force something/it open: · The door's stuck - we'll have to force it open.force open something: · The burglars had forced open the window with an iron bar.· It looked as though the shed had been forced open.
to open a container by using force, so that it is damaged: break open something: · We managed to break open the crate with an axe.break something/it/them open: · There's no key for the suitcase - we'll have to break it open.· Gulls carry shellfish into the air, then drop them onto hard surfaces to break them open.
British /pry open American to open something by forcing one part of it away from the other part, using a tool: prise something/it/them open: · All the flats were boarded up, but we managed to prise a few boards open.prise open something: · Laura leaned forward to pry open the crate.prise the lid off (=remove the lid to open it): · I picked up the coffee tin and, using a knife, prised the lid off.
to try to open a door or window in order to see if it is locked: · I knocked, then tried the door. It was open, but the room was empty.· I went around the back to try the windows, but they were all locked.
to completely break a locked door in order to get into a room or building: break down something: · Firemen had to break the door down.break something/it down: · Open the door now or we'll break it down!
British to open a car window, especially by turning a handle: wind/roll down something: · The driver wound down his window and asked us the way to the stadium.wind/roll something down: · Mom, will you roll your window down a little please?
spoken use this to tell someone to open a door: · Open up - it's the police!
when a door or window opens · The train doors open and close automatically.· The door slowly opened and a small boy entered the room.· After a short discussion with the customs officers, the gates opened and the truck moved off.
to open very suddenly - used especially in stories or descriptions: · Before Mr Carey could speak, the door burst open and Mr Watson rushed into the room.· Every time we go round a corner, the passenger door flies open.
an open door or window · Carrie stood in front of the open window.· The office door was open, and I could hear everything they said.push/slide/kick etc something open · In the mirror, she saw him slide open one of his drawers.wide open · Do you know you left the window wide open all night?
a door that is ajar is slightly open - used in written English: · She had left her bedroom door ajar and could hear her parents talking downstairs.slightly ajar: · To his right was a large walk-in cupboard, its door slightly ajar.
to open a bottle, can, jar to open a bottle, box, or other container by removing or lifting its top or lid: · Ask the waiter to open another bottle of champagne.· a little gadget that helps you to open jars
to remove the top or lid of a bottle or container by turning it: · Robyn unscrewed a jar of moisturiser and smoothed it over her face.· Pills are stored in containers with tops that are difficult for children to unscrew.
to open a bottle of alcohol: crack open something: · Let's crack open a bottle of champagne.crack something/it open: · We cracked a few cans of beer open and sat down to watch the game.
to open a bottle of wine by removing the cork. The cork is a piece of wood which is put in the top of the bottle: · Ray uncorked the bottle and offered me a glass of wine.
to open a packet or something that is folded or rolled · Aren't you going to open your letter?· Judy opened another pack of cigarettes.· When I received the parcel, it had already been opened.
to open a package by removing the paper that is wrapped around it: · I just love unwrapping Christmas presents!· Sarah sat down and unwrapped her sandwiches.
to open something that was folded, such as a piece of paper or cloth: · They unfolded the tablecloth and set out the picnic.· The receipt had been folded and unfolded so many times that it was almost in pieces.
to spread out something that was rolled up, so that it lies flat: · He unrolled the map and spread it on the table.· While we were admiring the rugs, the shopkeeper started to unroll a splendid carpet.
to open your eyes or mouth · She opened her eyes and sat up in bed.open (your mouth) wide · The dentist told me to open my mouth a little wider.· Open wide. I need to look at the back of your throat.
when your mouth or eyes are open: · She sleeps with her eyes half open.can hardly keep your eyes open: · I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open.wide open (=open as much as possible): · Ben was staring at her with his mouth wide open.
if someone's mouth is gaping , it is wide open, especially because they are very shocked or surprised: · Flies crawled over the gaping mouth of the injured man.
when a shop, bank, restaurant etc opens if a shop, bank, restaurant etc opens at a particular time in the day, people can use it from that time: · "What times do the banks open?" "Normally at around 9.30."· On Saturdays, the restaurant opens at 7 p.m.open early/late: · Unknown to me, the office had opened early, and all the tickets had been sold.
if a shop, bank, restaurant etc is open , it is available for people to use: · The World Café is open from 10 a.m. till 11 p.m.
when people do not try to hide the truth · I try to be open and honest with my employees and let them know exactly what's going on.· Some of her former supporters are now expressing open hostility to her leadership.
when a job is available not being done by anyone at the moment and therefore available: · Our company only has one or two vacant positions at the moment.· When the post became vacant it was offered to Wendy Brooks.fall vacant (=become vacant) British: · He applied for the job of Eliot's personal secretary, which had just fallen vacant.
an available job: · There are over 3 million people unemployed and only 400,000 vacancies.· I'm sorry, the firm has no vacancies at the moment.fill a vacancy: · Barnhart will fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission.
a job that is open , especially a job that needs a lot of skill, is still available because it has not yet been given to anyone else: · Is that job you told me about last week still open?open to: · The position is open to graduates in any subject.come open: · When the job finally came open, I was the first to apply.
an available job: · I was wondering if there were any job openings at your company.fill an opening: · We expect to fill most of the openings through internal promotion.
a job or position that is unfilled is available because an employer has not yet decided who should do it, or cannot find someone suitable for it: · About 13,000 of the unfilled positions are for software engineers.· It's hard to understand the unemployment figures when so many jobs go unfilled.
to be criticized · The unions came in for strong criticism from the government after the strike.· Caro came in for a lot of criticism for his biography of the late president.
to be severely criticized, especially in public: · Banks are under attack for their refusal to reduce interest rates on loans to small businesses.come under attack/fire: · His theories came under attack from other scientists.· The police department has come under fire for the recent rise in violent crime.
informal to be criticized a lot for something: · Ferguson's been getting a lot of flak for the team's poor performance recently.· The immigration department is taking a lot of political flak for not moving faster to help the refugees.
if someone or something is open to criticism , there are good reasons for criticizing them: · The general is open to criticism for his handling of the war.· Current reforms in the legal system may be open to criticism if they appear to be undemocratic.
British /be on the firing line American to be the person who is most likely to be criticized for something, even if you are not the only person who is responsible for it: · As head of the police department, Hall is constantly on the firing line.· When you're in the firing line, it's tempting to avoid making difficult decisions.
an organization, person in authority etc that is criticized, especially by a lot of people: target of: · Kay was the target of a noisy demonstration in which 54 people were arrested.target for: · The Communist Party has become the main target for critical attack among left-wing intellectuals.
when someone has not yet decided · "Are you selling your house?" "We haven't decided yet."have not decided what/how/whether etc · I haven't decided what I'm going to get my brother for his birthday.· Steve hasn't made up his mind whether he's in favour of the idea or not.
someone who is undecided has not yet decided about something, especially something important: · "Is Fred going to take the job?'' "He's still undecided.''be undecided about/as to: · A third of the voters remain undecided about how they will vote.be undecided what/ which/whether etc: · He hesitated, undecided whether to go or stay.
to deliberately avoid or delay making an important decision so that you are free to decide later: · New technology's getting cheaper and better all the time, so if I were you I'd keep my options open for a while.· Some presidential candidates keep their options open about policy issues in order to avoid losing any voters.
when something can be discussed before a decision is made an offer, price, agreement etc that is negotiable can be discussed and changed before being agreed on: · We are looking for an experienced journalist to join the news team. The salary is negotiable.· The offer is negotiable, so feel free to suggest changes.· The contract is for a period of six months, and is not negotiable.
if something is open to discussion or negotiation , it has not yet been officially decided and you are allowed to discuss it and suggest changes: · Which company gets the franchise is open to negotiation.· My father's orders were not open to discussion.
to unfasten something to open the two sides of a piece of clothing, bag, belt etc: · It was hot in the waiting-room, so I unfastened my coat.· Jack unfastened his seatbelt and stepped out of the car.
to unfasten clothes or unfasten buttons, zips etc on clothes: · My fingers were so cold that I couldn't undo the buttons.· Rosie undid her necklace and put it on the bedside table.
to unfasten the buttons on a piece of clothing: · She slowly unbuttoned her blouse.· Father Poole began to unbutton his overcoat.
to unfasten clothes, bags etc by unfastening a zip: · She unzipped the case and took out a thick file.· He unzipped his jacket and flung it on a chair.
to unfasten the knot that fastens shoes, a tie, a scarf etc: · He untied his right shoe first.· Amy untied her apron and folded it neatly.
to unfasten clothes a little in order to make yourself more comfortable: · I'd eaten so much that I had to loosen my belt.· Carter took off his jacket and loosened his tie.
a shirt, bag etc that is open is not fastened: · It was very hot and the men had their shirts open to the waist.· Emily realised that her handbag was open and her money gone.come open (=become open accidentally): · Her blouse came open in front of a nationwide TV audience!
activities or actions that are not restricted · This computer program assures the free movement of facts, figures, and text between files.· Bulgaria's first free elections were held in 1990.free market (=a system in which prices and trade are not controlled by the government) · Things like health and education cannot be left to the free market.free speech (=the right to say or write what you want) · All Americans have the right of free speech.a free press (=when newspapers are not controlled by the government) · Activists were calling for a free press and political reforms.
not restricted by any rules or orders: · Reporters were later given unrestricted access to the evidence in the case.· The U.N. demanded unrestricted searches for weapons within the country.· Most countries do not permit unrestricted immigration.
if an activity or event is open , anyone can take part in it: · The military government has agreed to hold open elections next year.· We are holding an open competition to find a name for our new ship.
not restricted by time, length, subject etc: · The summit meeting was intended to be wide-ranging and open-ended.· As well as practice exercises, students should be encouraged to do more open-ended activities.
someone who tells the truth someone who is honest says what they really think or what is really happening, and does not try to hide the truth or deceive people: · You can always rely on Stewart to be honest.honest about: · I don't think she's being completely honest about what she knows.be honest with somebody: · All we are asking is that management be honest with us, even if the situation is difficult.honest answer/reply etc: · Tell me where you were - and I want an honest answer.
someone who is truthful does not lie: · As a child she was obedient and truthful.· Not everyone believes the government is being truthful.truthful about: · He has clearly not been truthful about the nature of their relationship.be truthful with somebody: · I hope we can be truthful with each other.truthful account/story/answer etc: · It is unlikely that a truthful account of conditions in the prison will ever be seen.
showing your true feelings and what you really believe: · She said she would love to come, but I wasn't sure if she was being sincere.· My client extends his sincere apologies to anyone who may have been hurt by his actions.
talking in an honest and direct way, especially about subjects that are difficult to talk about: · I'll be frank with you - I don't think you're doing a very good job.· Parents should not be afraid to have frank discussions about sex with their children.frank about: · Graham was surprisingly frank about his feelings.be frank with somebody: · The doctor was very frank with me and told me how serious my condition was.
honest, friendly, and happy to tell other people the truth, especially about things that other people might be embarrassed to talk about: · Diana's very easy to talk to because she's so open.· He's a nice looking young man with an open, honest smile.open about: · Greg has always been very open about his sexuality.
saying exactly what you think in an honest, clear way, even though this may sometimes annoy or upset other people: · People were often scared of my father, who was very direct.· With her direct manner and good head for business she was soon promoted.
honest and willing to tell the truth, even if the truth is unpleasant: · He's always up front and willing to admit his mistakes.up front about: · The company's directors have been surprisingly up front about their financial problems.be up front with somebody: · Karen is always very up front with her boyfriends.
especially spoken honest and likely to tell people exactly what you think or what is happening, without trying to hide anything: · Tony Blair stated that he was 'a pretty straight kind of guy'.be straight with somebody: · I don't care what you've done, Mike - just be straight with me.straight answer: · I've asked several people what happened, but no one will give me a straight answer.
especially written honest about your opinions and feelings, even if other people disapprove of them: · Lena is amusingly candid when she talks about the men in her life.candid about: · The management team has been very candid about the problems the company is now facing.candid discussion/conversation/comment etc: · She led a candid discussion about race relations in the city.
when most people know something especially spoken say this when you think most people know something and you would be surprised if someone did not know it: · Haven't you heard Anja's pregnant? I thought everyone knew.everyone knows (that): · Everyone knows that for a democracy to truly work, everyone has to get involved in some way.everyone knows how/what/why etc: · Surely everyone knows how to change a light bulb!
use this about facts and ideas that most people know about, or that all the people in a particular group know about: · Her views on the single European currency were well known.it is well known that: · It is well known that people who smoke are more likely to get lung diseases.· It was well known that Mr. Walters was interested in our mother.
if information about someone is common knowledge , a lot of people know about it, even when that person would prefer to keep it a secret: · It's common knowledge here in Miami that this whole operation was paid for with cocaine money.be common knowledge that: · It's already common knowledge that their marriage is breaking up.
if an unpleasant fact is no secret , everyone knows about it: · Everyone knows they hate each other, it's no secret.be no secret that: · It was no secret that Morrison was with the CIA, but nobody knew exactly what he did.
if something is an open secret , it is supposed to be secret but most people know about it: · Her relationship with a French millionaire is pretty much an open secret around here.be an open secret that: · It's an open secret that organized crime has been financing films here for years.
when a government allows people to know what is in official government records, documents etc: · Freedom of information should be a basic right in a democracy.
not inside a building · When I woke up it was still dark outside.· It's such a nice day. Why don't you play outside?· Outside, joggers in shorts and t-shirts ran by.
: out in/under/there etc · Parents stood out in the rain waiting to collect their children from school.· We camped and slept out under the stars every night.· What's that dog doing out there in our yard?
not inside any buildings - use this especially to talk about pleasant or healthy things that you do outside: · We often eat outdoors on summer evenings.· Kids should spend as much time out of doors as possible.· Move the pots outdoors as soon as there is no more danger of frost.
not inside a building, but outside where the air is fresh: · Mexicans traditionally dry chillies in the open air.out in the open air: · It was nice to be out in the open air after being stuck in the office all day.
when you are in a situation where there are risks to get into a situation where something very unpleasant might happen to you as a result of something you do: · Many refugees risk death or arrest in their attempts to flee persecution.risk doing something: · I don't want to risk offending your parents.risk your life: · The Carnegie Hero awards are given to those who risk their lives to save others.
to be in a situation where something bad might happen to you, especially because of something you do: · The people who use these drugs are often unaware of the risks they are running.run a risk of doing something: · Men run a greater risk of dying from heart disease than women.· Rather than running the risks of using harmful pesticides in your garden, try using natural or organic methods of pest control.
to be in a situation in which you risk being harmed or losing something very important or valuable: · The children were removed from the family because their father was violent and they were believed to be at risk.be at risk ofalso + for American: · Those with fair skin are more at risk of skin cancers than those with dark skin.· Some firms provide health checks for employees who are at risk of back injury.
to be in a situation in which something harmful might happen, often caused by your own actions: · The test helps identify pregnant women who are in danger of miscarriage.be in danger of doing something: · The Democrats are in danger of alienating their traditional supporters.· If the team doesn't start winning, Coach Sanders could be in danger of losing his job.
likely to be in particular danger of something bad happening, or likely to involve greater risks than usual: · high-risk occupations such as construction work· The AIDS awareness campaign was targeted mainly at high-risk groups, especially drug users and prostitutes.
also leave yourself open to American to do or say something that makes it likely that people will blame you, criticize you etc: · He has left himself open to charges of racism.· Any journalist who writes a story without checking his facts is simply laying himself open to criticism.
to talk about a particular subject when there is a risk that you may offend, annoy, or or upset someone: · A boss who puts his arm around an employee is on dangerous ground and could risk charges of harassment.· I realized I was in dangerous territory, and steered the conversation away from his business interests.
someone who usually shows what they feel and think someone who is open does not try to hide what they are feeling or thinking: · He had a very open nature.· My New Year resolution is to be more honest and open towards other people.open about: · Julia was quite open about her disappointment.· So I'll lose my job, just for being open about my beliefs.
someone who is demonstrative shows feelings of friendliness or love clearly and without being embarrassed, for example by kissing or touching: · His parents were never very demonstrative towards him, so he finds it hard to show his own feelings.· She's not a very demonstrative person, but her friends are important to her.
when there are several different opinions about something: it is debatable whether · It is debatable whether these alternative medical treatments actually work.a debatable point · Whether or not the government was right to arrest the protesters is an extremely debatable point.
something that is questionable seems doubtful and is likely to be wrong or untrue: · The conclusions of the survey are questionable because the research was based on a very small sample of people.it is questionable whether: · It is questionable whether the advertisements will increase sales.
something that is open to question or open to debate seems doubtful and needs to be checked or discussed: · Many people feel that the safety of the drug is now open to question.· Just why the guerrillas decided to shoot down the unarmed plane remains open to debate.it is open to question/debate whether: · It is open to debate whether the new government is any better than the old one.
something that different people have different opinions about: · I'm not sure that bringing in computers has made our job easier. It's a moot point.· Whether or not increasing taxes will result in a fairer society remains a moot point.
WORD SETSanorak, nounarm, nounascot, nounBabygro, nounbalaclava, nounbandanna, nounbaseball cap, nounbasque, nounbathing cap, nounbathing costume, nounbathing suit, nounbathing trunks, nounbathrobe, nounbath towel, nounbeachwear, nounbeading, nounbeanie, nounbearskin, nounbell-bottoms, nounbelt, nounbelted, adjectiveberet, nounbespoke, adjectivebib, nounbikini, nounblack-tie, adjectiveblazer, nounblouse, nounblue jeans, nounboa, nounbobble, nounbobble hat, nounbobby socks, nounbodice, nounbody, nounbody stocking, nounbody suit, nounboiler suit, nounbolero, nounbolo tie, nounbomber jacket, nounbonnet, nounboob tube, nounboot, nounbootee, nounbootlace, nounbottom, nounboxer shorts, nounbra, nounbraid, nounbrassiere, nounbreeches, nounbritches, nounbrogue, nounBurberry, business suit, nounbustle, nouncaftan, nouncagoule, nouncamiknickers, nouncamisole, nouncap, nouncape, nouncardigan, nouncare label, nouncarpet slipper, nouncassock, nouncast-offs, nouncasual, adjectivecat suit, nounchemise, nounchinos, nounchinstrap, nouncloak, nouncloche, nounclog, nouncloth cap, nouncoat, nouncoattails, nouncocked hat, nouncony, nouncoonskin, adjectivecope, nouncorset, nouncourt shoe, nouncouture, nouncowboy hat, nouncowl, nouncowl neck, nouncrew neck, nouncrinoline, nouncuff, nounculottes, nouncummerbund, nouncut, noundeck shoe, noundeerstalker, noundelicates, nounderby, noundicky, noundinner jacket, noundog collar, noundonkey jacket, noundouble-breasted, adjectivedoublet, noundrainpipe trousers, noundrawstring, noundress, noundressing gown, noundress shirt, noundress uniform, noundrip-dry, adjectivedry-clean, verbdry cleaner's, nounduffel coat, noundungarees, nounduster, nounearmuffs, nounelbow, nounensemble, nounespadrille, nounevening dress, nounfalsies, nounfashion, nounfashion show, nounfastener, nounfeather boa, nounfeathered, adjectivefez, nounfishnet stockings, nounfitting, nounfitting room, nounflannel, nounflannelette, nounflat, adjectiveflat cap, nounfleece, nounflip-flops, nounflipper, nounfloor-length, adjectiveflounce, nounflounced, adjectivefly, nounfootwear, nounformal, nounfox, nounfray, verbfrilly, adjectivefrock, nounfrock coat, nounfull, adjectivefull dress, nounfur, nounfuzz, noungabardine, noungaiter, noungaloshes, noungarment, noungarter, noungarter belt, noungather, verbgather, noungathering, noungauntlet, noungear, noungetup, noungirdle, nounglove, noungloved, adjectivegown, noungreatcoat, nounG-string, noungumboot, noungusset, noungym shoe, noungymslip, nounhaberdasher, nounhaberdashery, nounhalter, nounhand-me-down, nounhanger, nounhankie, nounhard-wearing, adjectivehat, nounhatpin, nounhatter, nounheadband, nounheaddress, nounheadscarf, nounhem, nounhem, verbhemline, nounhip pocket, nounhobnailed, adjectivehomburg, nounhooded, adjectivehook and eye, nounhose, nounhosiery, nounhot pants, nounhousecoat, nouninformal, adjectiveinsole, nouninstep, nouniron, nouniron, verbironing, nounjackboot, nounjacket, nounjammies, nounjeans, nounjerkin, nounjersey, nounJockey shorts, nounjockstrap, nounjodhpurs, nounjogging suit, nounjumper, nounjumpsuit, nounkaftan, nounkerchief, nounkhakis, nounkilt, nounkimono, nounknee breeches, nounknickerbockers, nounknickers, nounlace, nounlace-up, nounlapel, nounleg, nounleggings, nounleotard, nounlinen, nounloafer, nounloincloth, nounlong, adjectivelong johns, nounlounge suit, nounlow, adjectivelow-cut, adjectiveLycra, nounmac, nounmackintosh, nounmantle, nounmasquerade, nounmatinée jacket, nounmenswear, nounmilliner, nounmillinery, nounmini, nounminiskirt, nounmink, nounmitt, nounmitten, nounmob cap, nounmoccasin, nounmoleskin, nounmonogram, nounmoon boot, nounmorning coat, nounmorning dress, nounmorning suit, nounmourning, nounmuff, nounmuffler, nounmukluks, nounmule, nounmuu-muu, nounname-tape, nounnational costume, nounnational dress, nounneck, nounneckerchief, nounnecktie, nounnegligee, nounnightcap, nounnightclothes, nounnightdress, nounnightgown, nounnightie, nounnightshirt, nounnightwear, nounnon-iron, adjectiveoff-the-peg, adjectiveoilskin, nounone-piece, adjectiveopen, adjectiveopen-necked, adjectiveouterwear, nounoutfitter, nounoutsize, adjectiveoverall, nounovercoat, nounoverdressed, adjectiveovershoe, nounoxford, nounpadded, adjectivepanama hat, nounpanel, nounpantaloons, nounpanties, nounpants, nounpantyhose, nounparka, nounpatch, nounpatch, verbpatent leather, nounpeak, nounpencil skirt, nounpetticoat, nounpillbox, nounpinafore, nounpinny, nounpith helmet, nounpj's, nounplimsoll, nounplus fours, nounpolo neck, nounpolo shirt, nounponcho, nounpre-shrunk, adjectivepull-on, adjectivepullover, nounputtee, nounpyjamas, nounraglan, adjectiveraincoat, nounrainproof, adjectiveready-to-wear, adjectiveregalia, nounrevealing, adjectiverobe, nounrobed, adjectiverubber boot, nounruff, nounruffle, nounrun, verbrun, nounsable, nounsaddle shoe, nounsailor suit, nounsandal, nounsari, nounsarong, nounsartorial, adjectivesash, nounsatchel, nounscarf, nounschool tie, nounscoop neck, nounseamed, adjectiveseamless, adjectiveseparates, nounshawl, nounshell suit, nounshirt, nounshirtfront, nounshirt tail, nounshoe, nounshoehorn, nounshoelace, nounshoemaker, nounshoestring, nounshoulder, nounshoulder strap, nounshowerproof, adjectivesinglet, nounskin-tight, adjectiveskirt, nounskull cap, nounslicker, nounslingback, nounslip, nounslip-ons, nounslipper, nounsmock, nounsmoking jacket, nounsmuggling, nounsnap, nounsnappy, adjectivesneaker, nounsnowshoe, nounsnug, adjectivesock, nounsole, nounsole, verbsombrero, nounsou'wester, nounsox, nounsporran, nounsport coat, nounsport jacket, nounsports coat, nounsport shirt, nounsports jacket, nounsports shirt, nounsporty, adjectivestay, nounStetson, nounstiletto, nounstocking, nounstole, nounstone-washed, adjectivestraitjacket, nounstrip, nounstud, nounsuit, nounsundress, nounsun hat, nounsurplice, nounsuspender belt, nounsweatband, nounsweater, nounsweatpants, nounsweatshirt, nounsweat suit, nounswimming costume, nounswimming trunks, nounswimsuit, nounswimwear, nountailcoat, nountank top, nountee shirt, nounten-gallon hat, nounTerylene, nounthermal, adjectivethong, nounthree-piece suit, nountights, nountoga, nountop, nountopcoat, nountopee, nountop hat, nountopi, nountopper, nountracksuit, nountrain, nountrench coat, nountrilby, nountrousers, nountrouser suit, nounT-shirt, nountube top, nountuck, verbtuck, nountunic, nounturban, nounturtleneck, nountutu, nountuxedo, nountweed, nountwinset, nountwo-piece, adjectiveunderclothes, noununderdressed, adjectiveundergarment, noununderpants, nounundershirt, noununderwear, nounundies, noununiform, noununiformed, adjectiveunion suit, nounupper, nounveil, nounvelour, nounvelvet, nounvisor, nounvoluminous, adjectivewaist, nounwaistband, nounwaistcoat, nounwaistline, nounwardrobe, nounwashing, nounwaterproof, nounwear, nounwedding dress, nounwellie, nounwellington, nounwelly, nounwet-look, adjectivewet suit, nounwimple, nounwind breaker, nounwing collar, nounwingtip, nounwool, nounwoollen, adjectivewoollens, nounwoolly, adjectivewoolly, nounworsted, nounwrap, nounwrap-around, adjectivewrinkle, nounwristband, nounY-fronts, nounyoke, nounzoot suit, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
He threw the door open and ran down the stairs. The gates swung silently open. The bar door flew open and a noisy group burst in. All the windows were wide open (=completely open). I was so sleepy, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. He was fast asleep with his mouth wide open. open spaces such as parks and gardens At weekends people want to leave the town for open countryside. A shoal of fish swam past heading for the open sea (=part of the sea away from land). The car’s performance is good, especially going fast on the open road (=a road without traffic where you can drive fast). Many of the tombs had been robbed and left open to the sky. After the security alert, most of the firms affected were open for business on Monday morning. In many schools, governors’ meetings are not open to the public. The discussion was then thrown open for the audience’s questions. The men’s race appears wide open (=anyone could win it). The painting would fetch several hundred dollars on the open market (=a market in which anyone can buy or sell). So what other options are open to us? The party was calling for more open government (=when the government makes information freely available). The case will be tried in open court (=in a court where everything is public). It is an open secret (=it is supposed to be secret, but most people know about it) that she is having an affair with another man. The matter remains an open question. Officers investigating her death are keeping their options open. The magazine’s editor is open to criticism in allowing the article to be printed. He has left himself open to accusations of dishonesty. We try to keep the mountain roads open all through the winter. It’s important to keep an open mind as you study the topic.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES A self-monitoring tax system is clearly open to abuse (=able to be used wrongly). I’d like to open a bank account. A sudden draught blew the door shut. They’re planning to open a branch in St. Louis next year. I just don’t know what to do – every solution I can think of would just open up a whole new can of worms. She opened the door a crack and peeped into the room. She flipped the lid of the box open and looked inside. She tried to keep the door shut but the man forced it open. These questions are often an opening gambit (=the thing you say first) for a negotiation. The landscape is a mixture of open ground and woodland. I had my eyes half-closed. Janice likes to have the window open. She had her back to the door. Just then, the heavens opened (=it started to rain heavily). What exactly the author meant by that statement is open to interpretation (=able to be understood or explained in different ways). She jerked open the car door and got out. Not to have taken action would have laid the department open to charges of negligence. I wish you’d stop leaving the door open. The book lay open on the table. Handguns are freely available on the open market (=for anyone to buy). large areas of open moorland a navy V-necked sweater The new church was officially opened on July 5th. He kept open house for a wide range of artists and writers. We’re having an open house Sunday, noon to 5 pm. The painting would fetch millions of dollars if it was sold on the open market. The jury returned an open verdict. He said there was some doubt over the way Grant had died, and recorded an open verdict. The lid popped open and juice spilled all over the floor. Can we prop the window open with something? She pulled open the door and hurried inside. I slowly pushed the door open. Impatiently, Sue ripped the letter open. Congressman Saunders fired the opening salvo during a heated debate on capital punishment. A quick way to seal awkward gaps is to use a foam filler. He slid open the door of the glass cabinet. Guy slit open the envelope. She snapped her briefcase shut. One of the boxes had split open. The force of the blow nearly split his head open. The gate sprang shut behind them. The kitchen door stood open so she went in. The heavy door swung shut. She drew the curtains and threw open the windows. Exchange programs open up new vistas for students. His family welcomed me with open arms (=in a very friendly way). We would welcome any advice or suggestions with open arms. Spiro spread his arms wide in a welcoming gesture. Leonora’s eyes opened wide in horror. The windows had been opened wide and she could feel a slight breeze. The pit yawned open in front of them. Olsen zipped the bag shut. He zipped open the case (=unfastened it).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
He threw the door open and ran down the stairs. The gates swung silently open. The bar door flew open and a noisy group burst in. All the windows were wide open (=completely open). I was so sleepy, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. He was fast asleep with his mouth wide open. open spaces such as parks and gardens At weekends people want to leave the town for open countryside. A shoal of fish swam past heading for the open sea (=part of the sea away from land). The car’s performance is good, especially going fast on the open road (=a road without traffic where you can drive fast). Many of the tombs had been robbed and left open to the sky. After the security alert, most of the firms affected were open for business on Monday morning. In many schools, governors’ meetings are not open to the public. The discussion was then thrown open for the audience’s questions. The men’s race appears wide open (=anyone could win it). The painting would fetch several hundred dollars on the open market (=a market in which anyone can buy or sell). So what other options are open to us? The party was calling for more open government (=when the government makes information freely available). The case will be tried in open court (=in a court where everything is public). It is an open secret (=it is supposed to be secret, but most people know about it) that she is having an affair with another man. The matter remains an open question. Officers investigating her death are keeping their options open. The magazine’s editor is open to criticism in allowing the article to be printed. He has left himself open to accusations of dishonesty. We try to keep the mountain roads open all through the winter. It’s important to keep an open mind as you study the topic. A self-monitoring tax system is clearly open to abuse (=able to be used wrongly). (=that you do not try to hide)· Her father looked at her in open admiration.
· The customs officer opened my bag.
I’d like to open a bank account. (=the first bid)· The opening bid was only $10.
A sudden draught blew the door shut. (=start allowing people to cross)· After fifty years the border was finally opened.
(=get rid of solid waste from your body)
They’re planning to open a branch in St. Louis next year. (=one without a roof, used for showing tourists a town etc)· We took a tour on an open-topped bus.
I just don’t know what to do – every solution I can think of would just open up a whole new can of worms. (=at the beginning or end of a special event)· I stayed for the closing ceremony.
(=the first chapter)· There’s a short introductory chapter giving an outline of the subject matter.
(=open with a short hard sound)· I heard the gate at the front of the house click open.
(=involving everyone in a group)· The system is aimed at creating trust and open communication.
(=a situation that offers anyone a chance to be successful)· We welcome open competition in the software market.
(=that everyone can take part in)· An open competition is to be held at the tennis club.
(=used to say who can enter a competition)· The competition is open to artists between 16 and 25 years old.
· Clapton thrilled fans at a huge outdoor concert in New York.
(=that has been opened or that does not have a lid)· Don't keep food in open containers in the fridge.
(=that you do not try to hide)· Her expression was one of open contempt.
(=away from towns, and with few buildings, walls, trees etc)· We left the city and headed towards the open country in the north.
(=with few buildings, walls, trees etc)· The farmhouse has views over open countryside.
She opened the door a crack and peeped into the room. (=be willing or able to accept it)· Management have decided this and I don't think they're open to criticism.
(=that you do not try to hide)· The children were staring at her with open curiosity.
(=open them)· Would you mind opening the curtains?
· Cut open the avocado and remove the stone.
(=not covered)· The horse had to jump over an open ditch.
· I opened the door and Dad was standing there.· Can you close the door as you go out?
· We were still waiting for the train doors to open.
(=opens very suddenly and quickly)· Then the door burst open and two men with guns came in.
(=moves forward to open or backwards to shut)· The door swung shut behind me.
(=moves smoothly to the side or back again)· The lift doors slid open and we got in.
· Jonathan opened the drawer and took out a fork.
(=open it)· He pulled open drawers until he found the papers.
· I opened the envelope, pulled out the document and read it.
(=open it quickly and roughly)· My fingers trembled as I tore open the envelope.
(=open it by cutting it)· I quickly slit open the envelope.
(=an evening when an institution invites the public to come in and see the work that is done there)· We went to the open evening to find out more about the course.
· I slowly opened my eyes.
· Suddenly his eyes opened.
(=prevent them from closing)· I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open.
· The company has just opened a new factory in Swindon.
· I saw a fox run across the open field.
· Click on the icon to open the file.
(=a fire in a room that is not inside a stove etc)· Sophie warmed herself by the open fire.
(=not enclosed with a cover)· Never use a naked flame near spray paint.
She flipped the lid of the box open and looked inside.· As the weather gets warmer, the flowers open.
She tried to keep the door shut but the man forced it open. These questions are often an opening gambit (=the thing you say first) for a negotiation.· He heard Jack open the gate.
· Someone left the gate open, and the dog got out.
(=one that has not yet been covered in earth)· He wept by her open grave.
The landscape is a mixture of open ground and woodland. I had my eyes half-closed. Janice likes to have the window open. She had her back to the door. Just then, the heavens opened (=it started to rain heavily). (=hostility that is clearly shown) They eyed each other with open hostility.
They eyed each other with open hostility. What exactly the author meant by that statement is open to interpretation (=able to be understood or explained in different ways). (=an invitation to do something at any time you like)· Phillip kindly gave me an open invitation to stay at his villa in Tuscany.
She jerked open the car door and got out.· The largest key unlocks the front door.
(=land on which there are no buildings)· In the middle of the city are several hundred acres of open land.
Not to have taken action would have laid the department open to charges of negligence. I wish you’d stop leaving the door open.· Bill opened the letter and read it.
The book lay open on the table.· She opened her mail as she ate her breakfast.
Handguns are freely available on the open market (=for anyone to buy). (=begin it)· There was disagreement about opening the meeting with a prayer.
(=that anyone can go to)· A public meeting was held to discuss the proposal to build a new school.
large areas of open moorland· He opened his mouth wide so the doctor could examine his throat.
(=in surprise)· ‘Me?’ she said, her mouth dropping open.
· He chews with his mouth open.
a navy V-necked sweater (=start negotiations)· They have entered into negotiations to acquire another company.
(=be able to be discussed)· The price is usually open to negotiation.
(=be willing to discuss something)· The president signalled that he is open to negotiation on the budget.
The new church was officially opened on July 5th. He kept open house for a wide range of artists and writers. We’re having an open house Sunday, noon to 5 pm. The painting would fetch millions of dollars if it was sold on the open market. The jury returned an open verdict. He said there was some doubt over the way Grant had died, and recorded an open verdict.· The course also provides an opportunity to study Japanese.
(=a particular choice is available to someone)· Giving a prison sentence is only one of the options open to the judge.
(=to not limit what you can choose to do later)· Studying a broad range of subjects helps to keep your options open.
· On the open plains of east Africa are zebras, antelopes, and gazelles.
(=its performances start)· The play opens in San Francisco on Wednesday for a three-week run.
The lid popped open and juice spilled all over the floor. (=make a new opportunity available)· His recent performance opens up the possibility for him to compete in the Olympic Games.
· Can we open our presents now?
(=one where prisoners are not restricted as much as usual)· He was transferred to an open prison.
Can we prop the window open with something? She pulled open the door and hurried inside. I slowly pushed the door open. (=not dealt with)· At this point a key question remains unanswered.
(=not be certain or definitely true)· Whether he will survive politically is open to question.
(=rebellion that is clear and not hidden)· Algiers was in open rebellion.
(=not hidden or secret)· She faced open revolt from her Cabinet colleagues.
Impatiently, Sue ripped the letter open. (=a road without much traffic or anything to stop you getting somewhere)· This car is at its best on the open road.
(=it is not closed or blocked)· We try to keep the mountain road open for most of the year.
Congressman Saunders fired the opening salvo during a heated debate on capital punishment.· Government actions should be more open to public scrutiny.
(=the part of the sea that is far away from land)· Rescuers are trying to drive the stranded whales back out into the open sea.
A quick way to seal awkward gaps is to use a foam filler. (=something that a lot of people know, but do not talk about because it is supposed to be a secret)· It was an open secret that he was having an affair.
(=a large area of sky)· They lay on the ground under the open sky.
He slid open the door of the glass cabinet. Guy slit open the envelope. She snapped her briefcase shut. One of the boxes had split open. The force of the blow nearly split his head open. The gate sprang shut behind them. The kitchen door stood open so she went in. (=be willing to listen to suggestions)· We don’t have a firm plan yet, so we’re open to suggestions.
The heavy door swung shut.· She tore open the envelope.
She drew the curtains and threw open the windows. (=officially begins)· The trial opened 5 weeks ago.
British English (=stating that the facts about someone’s death are not known)· The inquest jury recorded an open verdict because of conflicting evidence.
Exchange programs open up new vistas for students. His family welcomed me with open arms (=in a very friendly way). We would welcome any advice or suggestions with open arms. Spiro spread his arms wide in a welcoming gesture. Leonora’s eyes opened wide in horror. The windows had been opened wide and she could feel a slight breeze.· I opened the window and breathed in the fresh air.
· A breeze from the open window lifted her hair.
· The dragon spread its wings and gave an experimental flap.
(=one where the skin has not yet healed)· Sports players should not continue to play with open wounds.
The pit yawned open in front of them. Olsen zipped the bag shut. He zipped open the case (=unfastened it).· Nominating procedures were now more open and participatory than they had ever been before.· Air circulates more readily through a more open tree.· The economy is now both more open and more competitive.· There was no more open country now; we camped always on dark, ploughed fields.· Nevertheless, in many schools enhanced staffing stirred up traditional structures and assumptions to produce a more open and reflective professional climate.· When we read or listen with this attitude, we are more open to what some one else has to say.· They should have played a more open game and allowed us to see Bangor scoring lots of goals.· Bring more groups from the United States, they say, so we can have more open communication.
· It is, for canal enthusiasts, a fascinatingly varied and interesting route, all of it still open.· In addition, the selection of these 10 battles, clearly subjective, is still open to question.· Lily's door was still open.· The case is still open, and Tampa police have no leads.· The shops and cafés were still open.· The shops were still open: the butcher, the greengrocer, the fishing-tackle shop.· He would have to wait until Monday to find out if the offer was still open.· At the same time wind scooped all his maps out of the cockpit, which was still open.
· These are still very early days and the options are wide open.· By building a computerized society, the United States has left itself wide open to electronic attack.· It leaves them wide open for dismissal by anybody with a basic knowledge of debating tactics.· As I drew level with the two vehicles I saw that Carla's front door was wide open.· She leaves her door wide open to the dark.· He left the field wide open for whatever the other players in this charming charade might suggest.· Being summer, the window is wide open.· The door to Suzy's bedroom was wide open and her partly clothed body was spreadeagled on the bed.
NOUN· The world, her world, no longer accommodated pleasure parties in the open air.· Outside, in the open air, it was glorious.· There are at present opportunities to undertake agricultural and horticultural work in the open air at 23 young offender institutions.· They passed through another set of doors and out into the open air.· The verdant setting of these open air concerts was ideal.· She eased it free, allowing it to stand proudly erect in the open air.· I held the bars until the nausea left me, pouring out through the restraining iron and into the open air.· After the singing of another hymn the congregation adjourned to the open air for the unveiling of the Memorial stones.
· And now they had left the city behind and were heading out into the open country.· He navigates the chaos to head into open country.· The Park is a large area of open country with rocky outcrops, ancient buildings and a small river.· There was no more open country now; we camped always on dark, ploughed fields.· In open country, trees becomes sites for breeding colonies which may also facilitate synchronization of breeding.· Well, maybe only once in a while in open country.· I was badly hurt, but I escaped and ran into the open country.· To fly over open country, to fly just for the sake of flying, is to know freedom.
· They crossed Dalmeny bridge and were in open countryside when the attackers struck.· However, we were told an application for a house in the open countryside in Montgomeryshire had just been called in.· It opens on to open countryside and is easy to get to.· Not all barns are in open countryside.· Much of the open countryside is subject to special control.· Head through here and out again into open countryside.· They cleared the thick, wooded hills of Oxford and went down into the open countryside.
· This is the day the case is called in open court.· Of the prospective jurors questioned, only six were dismissed in open court.· It's a question that lawyers representing the two Hitachi employees wanted to pursue in open court.· He also has sealed transcripts of the entire jury selection process, even the sessions held in open court.· The hearing was in chambers and judgment was delivered in open court.· He was interviewed by Judge Patrick King in his chambers, but did not testify in open court.· The summons was heard in chambers but judgment was given in open court at the request of the parties.· I am giving this judgment in open court at the request of all parties.
· They ran their own open day for local businesses, which was a great success.· The station will be opened in June and there will also be a series of open days.· Open doors: Teesside's new £20m law courts complex is having an official open day on June 27.· Opening success: More than 1000 people visited Middlesbrough botanic centre's open day.· It is holding open days in its Stanley, Middlesbrough and Washington stores, supposedly in support of the Rokermen.· Admission to the clinic open day is free - all welcome.· The Wirral Heart Support Centre has an open day tomorrow.
· Ruth knocked on the now open door and then stepped into the suite.· One eye on the open door, Bernstein decided to shoot for the moon.· The only open door led to a broom cupboard.· We were taken into a long room and ordered to undress while the guards watched through the open door.· He was passing the open door, caught the odour of cigarette smoke.· He sees the present as the open door to an efficacious future.· A chill wind came through the open doors to the balcony.· Richard was waiting on the steps of our converted house, a dim shape by the open door.
· Outside was very pleasant with views over open fields and a local park.· They all crossed the road and hurried down an open field, and then he jumped another fence.· At the end of the kitchen garden, by the stile to the open fields, he had looked back.· The Aug. 24-Sept. 3 trek covers Cape Province wineries, private gardens, open fields and a flower show.· A hedgerow in open fields was no place to remain all day.· The open fields were covered with wounded and stragglers, going to the rear.· Here the open fields survived until 1872.· The wrecked Wellington bomber still smouldered in the open field.
· There are two comfortable lounges with open fires, one with a large collection of books for guests to read.· Clothes are hung from nails, and cooking is done over an open fire.· The cosy bar has an open fire.· Purists believe that roasting means exposing food to the direct heat of a hot, open fire.· Any kind of open fire needs a considerable volume of fuel to keep it alight.· Always put out an open fire before going to bed.· Put guards on all open fires.· Do not try to draw up an open fire with a sheet of newspaper.
· Was not the citizens charter supposed to be all about open Government?· Paradoxically, these secret arrangements created what was probably the most open government in history.· Additionally, bargaining is a closed, private activity which sits uneasily astride the current emphasis on open government and public participation.· Still, Watler and other Texas open government advocates are generally upbeat.· Those who have read it must agree that it is an exercise in open government.· The Government say that they believe in open government.· Freedom of information legislation and open government will improve competition and encourage informed debate.· A fuller acceptance of the concept of open government would stimulate discussion of public policy inside and outside Parliament.
· Some were hanging on the brambles and a few flat, wet clots were lying well out in open ground beyond the clump.· Now, out into the open ground they burst....· She took several deep breaths, then broke cover and sprinted in a zigzag weave across the open ground.· As he passed to the open ground on my left, I joined him.· This prevents any escape across the open ground and many of the rabbits will become entangled in the net.· There, I found open ground without trees.· The skeletal trees that grew close to the chapel rattled their branches in the wind, which whipped across the open ground.
· People begin to arrive uninvited, so that Howard and Felicity find themselves keeping more or less open house.· Philips Plaza ring in the consumerist season with a holiday open house.· It's open house at the Maxwells'.· Free open house runs from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. at most Northwest stations.· When it became open house, more people were touched and inspired.· Easy enough to keep open house when some one else pays, isn't it?· Additionally, an open house for those interested in participating in the training class is planned for sometime in late spring.
· I extend to the hon. Gentleman an open invitation to join me on any subsequent occasion.· The wizards designing Macintosh considered it an open invitation to childlike play, and judged that ability among its chief attributes.· The latter is not an open invitation to intervention or a threat to sovereignty.· Is there an open invitation to abuse even in some of the innocent parts?· In my opinion, a skip should be regarded as an open invitation to selective plundering.· The Carter team feared that the remark and the attitude it conveyed would be an open invitation to execute Kim.· An open invitation was also agreed for any District Council representative to join meetings.· It would also have been an open invitation to civic disturbance.
· The Gooner also carries an articulate open letter to David Dein, Arsenal's cultured vice-chairman.· The arrests came soon after they had sent an open letter to Sassou Nguesso calling for multiparty democracy.· There they were, open letters, two bundles, neat as folded handkerchiefs.
· Yet open markets still command intense loyalty.· In addition, the resulting change in reserves can be predicted precisely and open market operations are readily reversible.· The money supply can be reduced directly by using open market operations.· Economic development in open market economies has always been punctuated by crises.· The Bank could, and did, make Bank Rate effective by open market operations.· Where properties are untenanted, Retirement Assured has valued them at open market value with vacant possession.· Britain became probably the most open market in the world.
· Until the Profitboss makes a decision, he keeps an open mind as to what that decision might be.· And later she was going to try to get herself to that meeting with an open mind.· Before he resolves a problem, he keeps an open mind on how that problem might be resolved.· I think you should keep an open mind and enjoy being with people.· Still, it was as well to keep an open mind.· We must keep an open mind about the possible presence of ores.· Police say they're keeping an open mind.· Greater is the irony that twenty years earlier the open mind for this view was well established in economic circles.
· She had not killed him, she was leading him away from the open mouth of the cave and towards the distant city.· He turned the open mouth of the urn toward the light and peered in.· Fire came from its open mouth.· She began to thrust at him with her body; their mingled breaths merged, their open mouths met, tongues touching.· Sylvia watched, mesmerised, as Estelle peed over the man's face and into his open mouth.· Lightly falling raindrops splashed into her open mouth and eyes, skittering across her taut, shiny face.
· Whether this is a failure in the interpretation of the evaluation of Wilkins' ideas is an open question.· Where and what kinds they will be is an open question that is, at best, an educated guess.· Working with a partner, A asks B open questions, which B tries to answer as briefly as possible.· How well this works in reducing absence is an open question.· Whether California will continue to lead science is an open question.· Whether his claim was genuine or not is an open question.· But whether these effects translate into clearer thought, better writing, or more creativity is an open question.
· On the open road, it's no use pretending that the Bentley handles with the agility of a Porsche.· We ate in the fields or on the open road.· If your equipment has to go outside on open roads or gravelled surfaces, remember castors are not always suitable.· The current barrier was installed in 1972, after residents submitted a petition saying the open road caused traffic hazards.· Do you relish the prospect of the open road?· Daniel Boone heard it: the siren song of the open road, beckoning him to pack up and go.· Racing on open roads was subsequently banned and the great Paris races came to an end.
· Ideally on the open sea you should carry a flare pack.· Stultz relinquished the controls to Gordon, and Slim headed northeast across the open sea.· A thirty-pound tuna swam past, heading for the open sea.· Rescuers have tried unsuccessfully to drive them out into the open sea using a line of boats with their engines running.· The other side faced the open sea.· Lake Saimaa is a fresh water lake and has flatter water and lighter, more fluky winds than on the open sea.· But the call of the open sea is irresistible.
· The photographer's glance alights on small details of foliage or suddenly sweeps upwards to the open sky.· But Janir seemed content, even fascinated, to be under the open sky.· Now Jaq understood the function of that helmet he had seen the Governor wearing out at the spaceport under the open sky.· Now I can see rooftops outside the windows as well as open sky.· He has been a staunch advocate of the open skies policy which has helped to open up regional aviation.· Place high up against open sky and moving clouds and it is something else again.· For above him was an open sky.
· Its use will be confined to that of a village public open space, with parking of vehicles absolutely prohibited.· It reached the ledge, and rested for a moment on the narrow open space.· He presented the open space of Warley Woods to the city of Birmingham.· They were certainly the first means of crossing wide open spaces that are still vast and untamed, even today.· And dragonfly flight corridors have been created by providing open space on the sides of burns.· The surrounding open space will be as intriguing as the new lake.· Berlin has a surprising amount of open space including the beautiful Grunewald Forest.· The Apache used to call this the land of open spaces, little water, and many deer.
· By comparison, social class, the system of stratification in capitalist industrial society, provides an example of an open system.· The chameleon on the mirror is a completely open system.· Before the rise of open systems there were five factors which precluded migration to Unix, he argues.· Unicenter is an open systems equivalent to its current mainframe software for data centre management.· Tumin suggests, however, that even relatively open systems of stratification erect barriers to the motivation and recruitment of talent.· Integrated-systems digital-networks, open systems interconnections and 1992 are popular subjects of conversation at the moment.· Unix, House believes, will dominate the open systems market for the next five years.
· In the summer, open windows and in the winter, turn on the heating so it is warm and welcoming.· It grunted, turned and hurtled through the living room, out an open window and into the night.· Some one reached through an open window and stabbed Bastidas in the back.· She spun around on the porch and glared back at the open window.· Claire sits in the open window of John's kitchen, a cup of jasmine tea warming her hands.· Topside, the snow softened the air and a cold wind spits flakes through an open window on the bridge.· Drifting out of an open window, riding over a choppy bassline, comes the distinctive voice of Omar.· A branch came through the open window and caught me on the side of the head.
· The caterers, Mr and Mrs Sharpstone, were the sort of people you could lay on an open wound.· Mr Barraza wrapped the towel around my shoulders, like a medic covering an open wound.· A man playing cards had an open wound in his forehead, blood dripping on to the crib board.· Healthy people can contract necrotizing fasciitis, but people with chronic illnesses or open wounds are more susceptible.· Open years are proving to be open wounds for Lloyd's.· I grew as red in the face as an open wound.· In one case a woman waited three quarters of an hour with her child screaming with an open wound.· It was a city of open wounds, of explosive politics and feelings.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► open to somethingPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► high-collared/open-collared/fur-collared etc► crack open a bottle► fling something open► first night/opening night► throw something open► wedge something open/shut
- And later she was going to try to get herself to that meeting with an open mind.
- Before he resolves a problem, he keeps an open mind on how that problem might be resolved.
- But officially as least the police are still keeping an open mind.
- He insists he has an open mind on the players he wants to keep.
- In interviews after their inaugural meeting last Thursday, all vowed to keep an open mind on whoever comes before the panel.
- Police say they're keeping an open mind.
- Until the Profitboss makes a decision, he keeps an open mind as to what that decision might be.
- While keeping an open mind, most archaeologists remain extremely doubtful.
- The authenticity of the relics is open to doubt.
- Their motives are open to question.
- But whether Republicans want to cooperate is open to question.
- Even if, as is open to question, screen violence really does invite emulation, that is the wrong approach.
- In particular, the significance of the small number who say their work has been deskilled is open to question.
- It also is open to question how well equipped courts are to make this kind of determination-about the workings of economic markets.
- The entire business of basing regulations on animal tests is open to question.
- The President acceded to the Chancellor's request for two reasons, both of which were open to question.
- Whether the yeast could ever be as abundant as this is open to question.
- Whether this kind of Labour Party is capable of winning a general election is open to doubt.
- And if the turnout was any indication, the parish was welcoming them with open arms.
- Did I welcome him with open arms?
- He greeted Riley with open arms.
- He welcomed them with open arms, talked freely, played draughts with the younger and learned tables from the elder.
- Mind, I welcomed them with open arms because it meant I could stay off school.
- Now we welcome death with open arms, especially when we are old.
- Would you welcome them with open arms?
- An unlocked car is an open invitation to thieves.
- I extend to the hon. Gentleman an open invitation to join me on any subsequent occasion.
- If a thief steals it, you could be giving him an open invitation to your home!
- In my opinion, a skip should be regarded as an open invitation to selective plundering.
- Is there an open invitation to abuse even in some of the innocent parts?
- It would also have been an open invitation to civic disturbance.
- The Carter team feared that the remark and the attitude it conveyed would be an open invitation to execute Kim.
- The latter is not an open invitation to intervention or a threat to sovereignty.
- The wizards designing Macintosh considered it an open invitation to childlike play, and judged that ability among its chief attributes.
- I'd always thought of Jeff as an open book.
- Our foreign dealings are an open book generally a check book.
- To them my future was an open book.
- After that, panic ... He was shouting, the door is opened, somebody puts a rifle barrel through the window.
- Fitted wardrobes can have internal lights worked by pressure switches that operate when the door is opened.
- He is reported to flee from class when the door is opened.
- Improve it and the door is open to summer invasions like that of the Lake District.
- All of you - walk around Pentonville and keep your ears open.
- By then keeping her eyes open was less of an effort.
- Go back to bed only when you can no longer keep your eyes Open.
- Remembering his duty, he strode briskly up the stairs, keeping his eyes open for any suspicious signs.
- Swing the boat south, keep her eyes open.
- The basic rules of self-defence are quite simple: keep your eyes open and you can usually avoid trouble.
- The daily firings produced by the withering economy offered loopholes of opportunity for a young man who kept his eyes open.
- You know how to keep your eyes open and your mouth shut.
- The cheese is only lightly pressed, which explains its slightly open texture.
- The inevitably open texture of such a document leaves a great degree of discretion in the hands of the judiciary.
- An 1874 picture by one Dudley P.. Flanders shows a circus performing in the open air in Tucson.
- Discomfort in the open air was far preferable to him.
- For example in the open air or where a temporary problem necessitates urgent remedy.
- Generally the passengers camped and sat out in the open air.
- It sometimes comes on in the open air.
- Some continued to preach in the open air, in streets or in the fields.
- The two of them were sitting at a table in the open air.
- The world, her world, no longer accommodated pleasure parties in the open air.
- My new in-laws accepted me with open arms.
- We welcomed Henry's offer with open arms.
- And if the turnout was any indication, the parish was welcoming them with open arms.
- He greeted Riley with open arms.
- Newspapers welcome with open arms a regular, efficient news service on which they can rely.
- Not that the profession was necessarily going to welcome me into the fold with open arms.
- Now we welcome death with open arms, especially when we are old.
- The Greenpeace support was welcomed with open arms.
- When Cara got out of the car Mrs Hendry stepped forward with open arms and embraced her new daughter-in-law.
- You walk in here and you expect to be welcomed with open arms.
- The door burst open and the kids piled into the house.
- But then the door bursts open and yet more soldiers push into the room.
- Douglas burst open the door into the first, where somebody had lit a lamp.
- She says the door bursts open just when they reach the cages and the monster comes through.
- The bedroom door had burst open and Peter was striding into the room.
- The door of the shuddering carriage burst open, and Fedorov tumbled out, struggling with the woman.
- Then the door'd burst open and Albert Swift and his gang had walked in.
- Two bags of paper money hurtled on to the road and burst open.
- As she reached the doors they came open, the button pressed by two people outside.
- His heart felt it would come loose in his body, so wildly was it beating.
- Some ropes had come loose and were swinging wildly in the wind.
- Then she felt something on her arm and discovered her scarf had come undone.
- Then sprinkle on water and re-trowel in come loose-use an emulsion paint brush.
- Think of all the things that come loose around the house.
- When the Thayer principalship came open in the summer of 1981, Littky applied and reentered the educational world.
- As a practical matter, the wisdom of tax-cutting is open to debate.
- In Alcove 1, everything was open to debate.
- It is open to debate whether the office should be performed by a police officer or by a prosecutorial figure.
- Jospin's conclusions may be open to debate, but the way he has formulated them is laudable.
- The actual number of words that are necessary is open to debate.
- This concept is open to debate, in that at least some Ediacaran fossils can be compared with known metazoans.
- Whether a further wave of takeovers in the brewing industry would benefit consumers is open to debate.
- Whether civil liberties or freedom of expression really languished in this period is open to debate.
- How far Blake and Mouton were pioneers in this field is open to dispute.
- Whether this revolution has improved medical care or worsened it is open to dispute.
- But the political and military efficacy of the pacts was always open to doubt.
- But whether that amounts to a positive incentive for companies to boost production and revive investment plans is open to doubt.
- Faith is something which is merely believed, so it must always expect to be open to doubt.
- Further, and more important, it was open to doubt whether the nobility was properly trained for war.
- Of course, even if accurately transmitted the reliability of this poetry is still open to doubt.
- Whether it will ever be finished is now open to doubt.
- Whether it will help in breaking two-party politics is open to doubt.
- Whether this kind of Labour Party is capable of winning a general election is open to doubt.
- All of you - walk around Pentonville and keep your ears open.
- They had a kid copper keeping his ears open.
- Always keeping an eye out in case of thieves.
- And we had to keep an eye open for police patrols.
- For months, he kept an eye out.
- He will keep an eye out, but he can not promise anything.
- Male speaker All you got to do is keep an eye open and watch the break lights.
- Though he works hard with all the kids, he keeps an eye out for the special ones.
- Valueoriented consumers should keep an eye out for the name FabreMontmayou.
- They went into the deal with their eyes open.
- And we lie there, with our eyes open, waiting for the sun.
- He was just lying there looking at her as if he was dreaming with his eyes open.
- She lies there in the dark, with her eyes open, keeping watch.
- She lies with her eyes open, listening to his noisy jerking-off and then his snores.
- The young man was gazing straight ahead, as if asleep with his eyes open.
- There are some people who get bored who can just fall asleep, standing up with their eyes open.
- They will be tough with you, so that you go into self-employment with your eyes open.
- Three days after that, I learned that I could begin the ascent with my eyes open.
- Any change in the law could open the floodgates to increased immigration.
- A move like this will open the floodgates.
- California's first execution may open the floodgates.
- Its authors say the motorway has opened the floodgates for development on a scale planners hadn't envisaged.
- So he opened the floodgates of the South Platte River and unleashed 96 million gallons of rushing water.
- The case could open the floodgates for thousands of similar claims worldwide.
- The score that opened the floodgates came out of nothing after 62 minutes.
- This easing of restrictions opened the floodgates for commercial Internet access.
- There were cupboards hanging open, mattresses overturned and a bottle of sour milk stood in the sink.
- Leaving the car unlocked is just an open invitation to thieves.
- The Carter team feared that the remark and the attitude it conveyed would be an open invitation to execute Kim.
- Krushchev laid bare Stalin's crimes.
- New bricks were removed, laying bare the old foundations.
- And he has laid himself wide open to the kind of criticism that will cloak him in a dark shroud of misery.
- If he had said he was acting under his own authority, he would have laid himself open to ridicule.
- Is it something you should do, or do you lay yourself open to terrible legal proceedings?
- It is not difficult to see how this approach lays itself open to abuse and drastic criticism.
- It is not only those who dismiss the arts as self-indulgent who lay themselves open to such a charge.
- Not to have taken action, she said, would have laid her department open to a charge of negligence.
- The Evangelicals have become a powerful influence in the land and this lays them open to the wooing of politicians.
- This would amount to a breach of their contract of employment and lay them open to disciplinary proceedings.
- If you can get people to relax, they're more likely to open their mouths and talk.
- Angrily she opened her mouth to protest but at that moment the door opened and David appeared.
- Even I wouldn't realise until they opened their mouths - which was only to sing the malai national anthem.
- He stared, he threw back his head in glad greeting and opened his mouth.
- He would croak if he opened his mouth, so he kept it shut.
- I opened my mouth to shout for help, but nothing came out.
- If you have to be sure before you dare open your mouth, most people are going to stay quiet.
- She stumbled to her feet, clutching the eiderdown around her, and opened her mouth to call to them.
- The baby robins, scrub jays, finches, sparrows and starlings opened their mouths wide in anticipation.
- Berryhill is back on the open market.
- HaL is unlikely to sell its chips on the open market.
- I hadn't been on the open market for so long.
- If the Bank wishes to reduce the money supply it will sell securities through its broker on the open market.
- It is likely to be some years before such a product is on the open market.
- It will sell the rest on the open market.
- Priced on the open market, they would sell for tens and tens of billions of dollars.
- They sell bonds on the open market.
- In the press, it seems to be open season on overpaid executives.
- It is open season for criticising UDCs for lack of planning, lack of strategic thinking and short termism.
- Payroll allocations can be changed only during an open season.
- That's the West Coast Trail, limited to 8,000 hikers during its open season from mid-April to the end of September.
- The grin meant it was open season.
- There would be an open season on scattered singletons.
- She took off her open-toed shoes.
- There are also these artificial plastic toes that you fit over your artificial foot, so you can wear open-toed sandals.
- Those who did were mostly long-haired, bearded and dressed in open-toed sandals.
- Again the opening up of public procurement procedures should result in a significant increase in intra-EC trade and industry re-structuring.
- By 1895 she had attained the opening up of Lincoln's Inn Fields to the poor.
- Over the next generation the first phase of the opening up of inland industrial Britain proceeded.
- Searching out high-quality old timber is a big factor in the opening up of pristine forests.
- Taylor said the opening up of opportunities for minorities in television would lead to more opportunities in films.
- The combination of these influences has encouraged the opening up of the airwaves to competition.
- At the end of the season, I will keep my options open.
- Either way, you can keep your options open.
- Flexibility is key, keeping your options open.
- Many young people want to keep their options open.
- Some companies are keeping their options open on retaining or dumping anachronistic names.
- We must expect to be surprised in the future, and we must keep our options open.
- You need to keep your options open in order to change courses at a moment's notice.
- I've opened Pandora's box.
- The internet has opened a Pandora's box of threats: its demons have been loosed on us all.
- This could be the opening salvo of a campaign to get the arena built elsewhere.
- Clinton fired the opening salvo last month when he included tax cuts in his proposed 1997 budget.
- Desktop publishing was only the opening salvo of a fusillade of developments that would change the way people worked.
- Earlier legislation paved the way by limiting the use of custody as a penalty for offenders under the age of twenty-one.
- He believes the Government has missed the opportunity to pave the way for badly needed investment.
- He gave as an example some of the early work in genetics which has paved the way for biotechnological developments.
- She would pave the way for a much more slender ideal: the flapper.
- Such developments are paving the way to rapprochement between conventional and complementary medicine.
- Was he paving the way for another referendum?
- When Ken wants to give his girlfriend a kiss he first calls in a construction team to clear the way.
- He sat with his legs wide apart.
- It was 3 a.m., but I was wide awake.
- The door was wide open when we got here.
- After an hour, though still wide awake, I crimped the page and turned off the light.
- But from what I gathered at the arts fair, the field is pretty wide open.
- My big worry is that the Monster will come wide awake and ruin things with its gross demands.
- The doors of the Conch cafe were wide open with no sign of Huong or Anna; they had probably evacuated.
- The main door stood wide open making a through draught.
- These are still very early days and the options are wide open.
- They were certainly the first means of crossing wide open spaces that are still vast and untamed, even today.
- Turning the corner into Polly's road, Jack noticed suddenly that the door to her house was wide open.
- After the stale fug in the tiny cabin, she gulped down the clean sea air, the car window wide open.
- His eyes seemed darker blue and more wide open than usual.
- Leave the window wide open in winter; turn off the airconditioning in summer.
- Some of the villa front doors were wide open to him.
- The snap showed Jennifer with eyes closed and mouth wide open.
- Their eyes are wide open as they pass the object round.
- When I came into the hall, his eyes were wide open, staring straight at me.
- Seeing my ex-boyfriend opened some old wounds.
- In her innocent curiosity, Cissie had opened old wounds.
- Whatever the outcome, Marcos's death has opened old wounds.
WORD FAMILYnounthe openopeneropeningopennessadjectiveopenopeningunopenedverbopenadverbopenly
1door/container etc not closed, so that things, people, air etc can go in and out or be put in and out OPP closed, shut: He threw the door open and ran down the stairs. an open window The gates swung silently open. The bar door flew open and a noisy group burst in. All the windows were wide open (=completely open). She looked at the open suitcase with surprise. There was an open bottle of wine on the table.2eyes/mouth not closed, so that your eyelids or your lips are apart: I was so sleepy, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. He was fast asleep with his mouth wide open.3not enclosed [only before noun] not enclosed, or with no buildings, walls, trees etc: There was open ground at the end of the lane. open spaces such as parks and gardensopen countryside/country At weekends people want to leave the town for open countryside. A shoal of fish swam past heading for the open sea (=part of the sea away from land). The car’s performance is good, especially going fast on the open road (=a road without traffic where you can drive fast).4not covered without a roof or cover: The president was riding with his wife in an open car. Martin was struggling with the sails on the open deck. an open drainopen to the sky/air/elements Many of the tombs had been robbed and left open to the sky.5the open air outdoorsin the open air The dancing was outside, in the open air. Jane wanted to rush to the door and get out into the open air. → open-air6business/building etc [not before noun] ready for business and allowing customers, visitors etc to enter OPP closed, shut: The museum is open daily in the summer months. The offices are also open at weekends. After the security alert, most of the firms affected were open for business on Monday morning. The villagers are anxious that their local school is kept open. I declare this exhibition open (=officially say that it is now open).7not restricted allowing everyone, or everyone in a group, to take part in something, know about something, or have a chance to win somethingopen to The competition is open to all readers in the UK. In many schools, governors’ meetings are not open to the public. The discussion was then thrown open for the audience’s questions. an open meeting The men’s race appears wide open (=anyone could win it). The painting would fetch several hundred dollars on the open market (=a market in which anyone can buy or sell).8opportunity [not before noun] if an opportunity, a possible action, a job etc is open to you, you have the chance to do it: The job is being kept open for her.open to The 1960s was a period when greater opportunities were open to women. So what other options are open to us? There is only one course of action open to the local authority.9not secret [only before noun] actions, feelings, intentions etc that are open are not hidden or secret: Her father watched her with open admiration. open hostility between the two nations The party was calling for more open government (=when the government makes information freely available). The case will be tried in open court (=in a court where everything is public). It is an open secret (=it is supposed to be secret, but most people know about it) that she is having an affair with another man.10honest honest and not wanting to hide any facts from other peopleopen with The couple are quite open with each other about their feelings.open about She was quite open about her ambitions. his friendly, open manner► see thesaurus at honest11clothes not fastened: the open neck of his shirt She was wearing an open jacket.12not yet decided needing more discussion or thought before a decision can be made: The matter remains an open question.open to The new rates of pay are open to negotiation. The test results are open to interpretation.keep/leave your options open Officers investigating her death are keeping their options open.13open to something a)likely to suffer from something or be affected by something: The magazine’s editor is open to criticism in allowing the article to be printed. The regulations are open to abuse by companies. He has left himself open to accusations of dishonesty. b)willing to consider something new or to accept something new: Teachers need to be open to children’s ideas. The committee is open to suggestions. The owners of the building want to sell and are open to offers.14not blocked if a road or line of communication is open, it is not blocked and can be used: We try to keep the mountain roads open all through the winter.15spread apart spread apart instead of closed, curled over etc: At night the flowers were open. Johnson raised an open hand. He was sitting in bed with a book lying open (=with its pages apart so it can be read) on his knees.16an open mind if you have an open mind, you deliberately do not make a decision or form a definite opinion about something: It’s important to keep an open mind as you study the topic.17be open to question/doubt if something is open to question, there are doubts about it: Whether the new situation is an improvement is open to question.18welcome/greet somebody/something with open arms to be very pleased to see someone or something: Mike will be welcomed back into the team with open arms.19an open invitation a)an invitation to visit someone whenever you like b)something that makes it easier for criminals to steal, cheat etcopen to The lack of security measures provides an open invitation to crime.20be an open book to be something that you know and understand very well: The natural world was an open book to him.21the door is open there is an opportunity for someone to do somethingopen to Schoolgirls are being told that the door is open to them to pursue careers in science.22keep your eyes/ears open to keep looking or listening so that you will notice anything that is important, dangerous etc23open weave/texture cloth with an open weave or texture has wide spaces between the threads → keep an eye open (for something) at eye1(14), → with your eyes open at eye1(19), → open-eyedopen1 adjectiveopen2 verbopen3 noun
openopen2 ●●● S1 W1 verb VERB TABLE
open
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | open |
| he, she, it | opens | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | opened |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have opened |
| he, she, it | has opened | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had opened |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will open |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have opened |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am opening |
| he, she, it | is opening | |
| you, we, they | are opening | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was opening |
| you, we, they | were opening | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been opening |
| he, she, it | has been opening | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been opening |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be opening |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been opening |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "What times do the banks open?" "Normally at around 9.30."
- Open the file called Templates.
- Open your books to page 63.
- a little gadget that helps you to open jars
- A permanent exhibition of Moore's work will open next year.
- After a short discussion with the customs officers, the gates opened and the truck moved off.
- Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical will open later this year.
- Aren't you going to open your letter?
- Ask the waiter to open another bottle of champagne.
- Did you open the mail?
- Don't open another Coke - you can have the rest of mine.
- He opened the door wide, and gestured for me to come in.
- Heche opened the news conference by announcing his retirement.
- How do you open this umbrella?
- It's very hot in here. Do you mind if I open the window?
- Judy opened another pack of cigarettes.
- On Saturdays, the restaurant opens at 7 p.m.
- Police have opened an investigation into the girl's disappearance.
- Runyan plans to open a casino.
- That window doesn't open.
- Doors open 15 minutes before the start of each performance.
- He opened and shut the drawers and the flap and found what he expected.
- It provides start-up dialogues, macro dialogues and exit dialogues to open and close applications.
- The animals were fasted for 24 hours and then their abdomen was opened and the stomach exposed under light ether anaesthesia.
- The driver whipped round the front of the car and opened my door.
- The moment before he had opened it, he had known what would be inside.
THESAURUS
used about a door, window, container, package, letter, your eyes, or your mouth: · I opened the door quietly.· She was nervous about opening the letter.· Open your mouth wide.
to open a door, drawer, box etc with a key: · You need a key to unlock the safe.
to open a lid on a bottle, container etc by turning it: · I carefully unscrewed the lid of the jar.
to open a drawer, window, cupboard etc using force: · The door was locked so we had to force it open.
to open a package by removing the paper that covers it: · The children were busy unwrapping their Christmas presents.
to make something no longer fastened or tied, for example a seat belt or a piece of clothing: · He unfastened the top button of his shirt.· I was so full I had to undo my belt.
Longman Language Activatorto open a door, window, box etc · It's very hot in here. Do you mind if I open the window?· The drawer's locked - you need a key to open it.open something wide · He opened the door wide, and gestured for me to come in.
to turn the a key in the lock on a door, drawer, cupboard etc so that you can open it: · Unlock the door! We can't get out!· Which of these keys unlocks the safe?· "Come and see", Jo said, unlocking a huge iron gate.
to open a drawer, window, cupboard etc by using force, often with a tool: force something/it open: · The door's stuck - we'll have to force it open.force open something: · The burglars had forced open the window with an iron bar.· It looked as though the shed had been forced open.
to open a container by using force, so that it is damaged: break open something: · We managed to break open the crate with an axe.break something/it/them open: · There's no key for the suitcase - we'll have to break it open.· Gulls carry shellfish into the air, then drop them onto hard surfaces to break them open.
British /pry open American to open something by forcing one part of it away from the other part, using a tool: prise something/it/them open: · All the flats were boarded up, but we managed to prise a few boards open.prise open something: · Laura leaned forward to pry open the crate.prise the lid off (=remove the lid to open it): · I picked up the coffee tin and, using a knife, prised the lid off.
to try to open a door or window in order to see if it is locked: · I knocked, then tried the door. It was open, but the room was empty.· I went around the back to try the windows, but they were all locked.
to completely break a locked door in order to get into a room or building: break down something: · Firemen had to break the door down.break something/it down: · Open the door now or we'll break it down!
British to open a car window, especially by turning a handle: wind/roll down something: · The driver wound down his window and asked us the way to the stadium.wind/roll something down: · Mom, will you roll your window down a little please?
spoken use this to tell someone to open a door: · Open up - it's the police!
when a door or window opens · The train doors open and close automatically.· The door slowly opened and a small boy entered the room.· After a short discussion with the customs officers, the gates opened and the truck moved off.
to open very suddenly - used especially in stories or descriptions: · Before Mr Carey could speak, the door burst open and Mr Watson rushed into the room.· Every time we go round a corner, the passenger door flies open.
an open door or window · Carrie stood in front of the open window.· The office door was open, and I could hear everything they said.push/slide/kick etc something open · In the mirror, she saw him slide open one of his drawers.wide open · Do you know you left the window wide open all night?
a door that is ajar is slightly open - used in written English: · She had left her bedroom door ajar and could hear her parents talking downstairs.slightly ajar: · To his right was a large walk-in cupboard, its door slightly ajar.
to open a bottle, can, jar to open a bottle, box, or other container by removing or lifting its top or lid: · Ask the waiter to open another bottle of champagne.· a little gadget that helps you to open jars
to remove the top or lid of a bottle or container by turning it: · Robyn unscrewed a jar of moisturiser and smoothed it over her face.· Pills are stored in containers with tops that are difficult for children to unscrew.
to open a bottle of alcohol: crack open something: · Let's crack open a bottle of champagne.crack something/it open: · We cracked a few cans of beer open and sat down to watch the game.
to open a bottle of wine by removing the cork. The cork is a piece of wood which is put in the top of the bottle: · Ray uncorked the bottle and offered me a glass of wine.
to open a packet or something that is folded or rolled · Aren't you going to open your letter?· Judy opened another pack of cigarettes.· When I received the parcel, it had already been opened.
to open a package by removing the paper that is wrapped around it: · I just love unwrapping Christmas presents!· Sarah sat down and unwrapped her sandwiches.
to open something that was folded, such as a piece of paper or cloth: · They unfolded the tablecloth and set out the picnic.· The receipt had been folded and unfolded so many times that it was almost in pieces.
to spread out something that was rolled up, so that it lies flat: · He unrolled the map and spread it on the table.· While we were admiring the rugs, the shopkeeper started to unroll a splendid carpet.
to open your eyes or mouth · She opened her eyes and sat up in bed.open (your mouth) wide · The dentist told me to open my mouth a little wider.· Open wide. I need to look at the back of your throat.
when your mouth or eyes are open: · She sleeps with her eyes half open.can hardly keep your eyes open: · I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open.wide open (=open as much as possible): · Ben was staring at her with his mouth wide open.
if someone's mouth is gaping , it is wide open, especially because they are very shocked or surprised: · Flies crawled over the gaping mouth of the injured man.
when a shop, bank, restaurant etc opens if a shop, bank, restaurant etc opens at a particular time in the day, people can use it from that time: · "What times do the banks open?" "Normally at around 9.30."· On Saturdays, the restaurant opens at 7 p.m.open early/late: · Unknown to me, the office had opened early, and all the tickets had been sold.
if a shop, bank, restaurant etc is open , it is available for people to use: · The World Café is open from 10 a.m. till 11 p.m.
when you have the chance to do something a situation in which it is possible for you to do something enjoyable, useful, or exciting, or something that you want to do: chance to do something: · I never got the chance to thank him for all his help.· It's a beautiful building - you should go and see it if you have a chance.give somebody a/the chance to do something: · I wish he'd just give me the chance to explain.take the chance to do something (=use a chance when you have it): · You should take the chance to travel while you are still young.chance for somebody to do something: · "Back to School Night" will be a chance for parents to meet their child's teacher.somebody's last chance (=when you will not have another chance): · It was her last chance to see him before she left town.
a chance to do something, especially something that is important or useful to you, or something that you want to do very much: · It was too good an opportunity to pass up.opportunity to do something: · All he needs is an opportunity to show his ability.opportunity of doing something: · After they had refused him the opportunity of improving his position, he resigned.opportunity for somebody to do something: · We see this as an exciting opportunity for our companies to work together.have an/the opportunity (to do something): · She was delighted to have an opportunity to talk with someone who shared her interest in classical music.equal opportunities (=the same opportunities as other people): · All over the world women are demanding equal opportunities.
informal a sudden or unexpected chance to do something, especially to be successful in your job: · Gary wants to work in television. He's just waiting for a break.lucky break: · Seeing that advertisement in the paper was a lucky break for me.big break: · Nimoy's big break in television came in the mid-'60s, when he won the role of Spock on "Star Trek".
· I got a grant from my university to study in the USA for a year. It's a golden opportunity!a golden opportunity (for somebody) to do something · The management course is being paid for by the company and it's a golden opportunity to improve your skills.
the chance to do something very exciting or important that you might never be able to do again: · This job is the chance of a lifetime. You'd be a fool not to take it.· If you don't hurry up and make a decision, you could miss the chance of a lifetime.
a chance to do things you want to do, in the way that you want to do them. Scope is more formal than room: · He refused the post because he felt it didn't offer him much scope.room/scope for: · There will always be room for debate and disagreement in this class.· I have two jobs, which doesn't leave much room for socializing.· Despite our recent success, there is still scope for improvement.room/scope to do something: · We've left the course deliberately vague, so there's room to concentrate on your particular areas of interest.· Better paid labour means greater scope to increase the company's profits.
the chance of being successful at something in the future, especially your job: · He had no job, no family, no home, no prospects.· Employers are now offering more jobs with quality training and excellent career prospects.prospects for: · The prospects for an alliance between the two nations do not look good.
the chance to do something: possibility for: · The possibilities for improvement are endless.· We need to investigate all possibilities for helping these children.
to give someone an opportunity to do something, for example the opportunity to do a particular job: · My experience in the Peace Corps really opened doors for me when I started looking for a job.· Alice Coachman's Olympic success opened the door for generations of African-American track athletes.
things you do with a computer to put information into a computer by pressing the keys: · When you have entered your credit card information, go to the next screen.
to make a file, program etc that is exactly the same as another one: · Copy the files into a new folder.
to make a computer keep the work that you have done in its memory or on a disk: · Save your work and close down any applications that are open.
to remove a piece of information from a computer's memory: · Delete any files that end in ".tmp".
to use the mouse to choose words or pictures on a computer screen, usually making them change colour: · To create parallel columns, press Alt-F7 and select option 4.
to move up or down through a document on a computer: scroll up/down: · Scroll down to see when the website was last updated.
also do a search to look for information on a computer or on the Internet: search for: · I did a search for any articles by Varenqe on the web, and I found quite a few.search by: · To find a book on our site, you can search by author, title, or subject.search something for something: · You can search the document for particular words or phrases, in order to get directly to the information you need.
to make a document or computer program ready to use: · Open the file called Templates.
to do the things you have to do when you want to stop using a document or a computer program: · Close all applications before shutting down your computer.
to press a button on a mouse in order to choose something on the screen and make the computer perform a particular action: · Click on 'next' when you have finished filling out the form.
to remove a piece of information from one place in a computer program or document and put it in a different place instead: · It's easier if you just cut and paste the information from one page to another.
to mark words in a computer document in a different colour so that you can see them easily or to separate it from the rest of the document: · To delete a block of text, highlight it and then press Del.
to move something on a computer screen by pulling it along with the mouse: · You can delete the files by dragging them into your "trash" folder.
to secretly and often illegally find a way to reach the information on someone else's computer system so that you can use, change, or damage it: · A criminal gang hacked into a credit card company's most secure files.
to make you remember unpleasant experiences from the past if someone drags up or rakes up things from the past that you would prefer to forget, they start talking about them and make you remember them: drag/rake something up: · I said I was sorry, so I don't want you to keep raking it up again.drag/rake up something: · I don't know why you insist on dragging the past up every time we get together.
if an event or course of action opens old wounds , it reminds someone of an unpleasant experience from the past: · I'd prefer not to see my ex-wife - it will just open old wounds.· The spy trial has reopened old wounds in the immigrant community.
to fire a gun or other weapon to point a gun towards someone or something, and make bullets come out of it in order to kill or injure them: · If you move, I'll shoot.· Make sure you hold the gun steady and shoot straight.shoot at: · Armed robbers who shot at a security guard are still being hunted by police. · We used to shoot at empty bottles for practice.shoot to kill (=in order to kill someone): · The Defence Minister had ordered troops to shoot to kill if attacked.
to make bullets come out of a gun, or send an explosive object towards someone or something: · He regained his balance, took aim, and fired.fire into: · The police fired into the air to make the crowd break up.fire at: · As soon as we crossed the border, enemy troops started firing at us.fire a shot/bullet/round: · Kendrick fired three shots at the President's car.fire a gun/weapon/pistol etc: · Suddenly the car stopped, and the passenger got out and fired a Kalashnikov rifle at the police car.
to start shooting: · The colonel gave the order for the soldiers to open fire.open fire on: · Troops opened fire on a group of unarmed demonstrators in the city centre.
to shoot once at someone or something, hoping to hit them: · Agent Cooper stood back and took a shot at the lock on the door.· The police claim that someone took a shot at them, and they had to withdraw for their own safety.
to shoot at someone or something, especially from far away, without aiming carefully: · A bird flew out of the tree and Harry took a potshot at it.· Somebody was taking potshots at us from behind the bushes.
to shoot at enemy soldiers, cities etc in a war, using large guns that can shoot from long distances: · British warships began shelling German positions along the coast.· Border towns have been shelled by enemy aircraft for the past two months.
to shoot at a place using a lot of large guns all firing at the same time: · The allied forces bombarded the enemy trenches for weeks.bombard somebody/something with something: · Cromwell's men had been bombarding the fort with their artillery for several days.
to stop being shy to become less shy and more willing to talk to people, especially as the result of an experience that has made you more confident: · When he first joined the company he was very quiet but now he's come out of his shell a lot.· Her manner is a little diffident, but she'll soon come out of her shell with a little encouragement.
to make someone less shy and more willing to talk to other people: · Emma was always such a shy girl, but these drama classes have really brought her out of her shell.· If Nick stayed with you this vacation, perhaps it would bring him out of his shell a little.
to gradually stop being shy, and become more willing to talk about yourself: · On our third date Melissa began to open up and told me about her family and about the years she spent in Italy.open up to: · Many people find it easier to open up to a trained professional, such as a counsellor.
to start a new business or organization to start a new business or organization: · Luigi's family came here in 1966 and started up a chain of restaurants.· John decided to start his own textile business shortly after the war.
to start a business that provides services to the public, such as a shop, restaurant, or hotel: · They just opened a new supermarket on Van Nuys Boulevard.· The rail company plans to open several new lines over the next five years.
to start a new business by making all the necessary arrangements, buying equipment etc: · Kate and her partner are setting up their own printing business.set up in business (=to start to run your own business): · The Enterprise Center runs courses for people who want to set up in business on their own.set up as: · Dad set up as a builder in 1990 and now he employs over twenty men.
to start an important organization that is intended to be permanent, or that continues for a very long time: · The company was established in 1899.· Most of the money will be used to establish local industries and mobilize the work-force.
to start an organization, school, hospital etc, especially by providing the money for it - use this especially about something that was started a long time ago: · Who originally founded the college?· The bank was founded 60 years ago in Munich.
formal the start of an organization, institution, or programme: · Within a few years of its inception, the charity was involved in aid projects all around the world.· Not long after their inception, the welfare programs were under attack.
to make something start happening to make something start happening: · The police have already started an investigation.· The referee couldn't start the game because there were fans on the field.· A 'safe neighbourhood' campaign has been started by local residents.
: launch an attack/appeal/inquiry etc to start a public or military activity, when there is a clear aim that you want to achieve: · Rebel forces launched an attack on the capital.· Police are launching a major murder inquiry.· The local hospital has launched a campaign to raise money for new X-ray equipment.
: open an investigation/inquiry to start an official process of gathering information about a particular problem, in order to find out what caused it or to find a solution: · Police have opened an investigation into the girl's disappearance.· The Football Association are to open an inquiry into recent crowd trouble.
formal to start something such as an official process or discussion about something important: · Peace talks have been initiated in an attempt to avert full scale war.· The couple plan to initiate legal proceedings against the police.
to make something happen, especially something serious, difficult, or important: · The murder sparked off a wave of protests in the city.· Recent freak weather conditions have sparked off renewed fears about the effects of global warming.
also set into motion American to start a process or series of events that will continue for a long time even if you take no further action: · A few months later the divorce procedure was set in motion.· The government had already set into motion a series of reforms.· Wait's actions had set in motion a chain of events that would eventually result in his dismissal.
informal to start a meeting, discussion, event etc by doing something in order to encourage other people to take part in it as well: · Mark stood up and asked the first question to get the ball rolling.· To start the ball rolling, the government was asked to contribute £50,000 to the new charity.
to make a process start by doing or arranging the first part of it, after which it will become easier: · Change is certainly needed and the new headteacher needs to get things moving quickly.· Once we got things moving, the deal went through very quickly.
spoken use this to say that you now want to start something that you have been planning: · Are you all packed and ready? Right, let's get this show on the road.· We're having another meeting next week, hopefully to really get this show on the road.
to start happening begin is more formal than start , and is used especially in written English: · Do you know what time our first class starts?· My day starts at 5 or 6 o'clock, when the baby wakes up.· The movie was just beginning when Richard and James arrived.· Work on the new bridge will begin next year.
if a play or show opens , it starts being shown to the public: · Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical will open later this year.· A permanent exhibition of Moore's work will open next year.
informal if a planned event such as a game or a meeting kicks off , it starts: · If the meeting kicks off on time, we should be finished by 12 o'clock.kick off with: · The carnival kicked off with a wonderful firework display.
WORD SETSabsolute advantage, aggregate demand, AGM, nounagribusiness, nounairline, nounappurtenance, nounassessment, nounbad debt, nounbalance sheet, nounbankroll, verbbankrupt, adjectivebankrupt, verbbankrupt, nounbankruptcy, nounbargain, verbbargain basement, nounbaron, nounbill of sale, nounbiz, nounblack market, nounblack marketeer, nounboom, nounboom and bust, nounboom town, nounbrown goods, nounbubble, nounbudget surplus, business card, nounbusiness cycle, business hours, nounbuyout, nouncapital, nouncapital-intensive, adjectivechamber of commerce, nounclerical, adjectiveconsumer, nounconsumer goods, noundisposable income, noundownturn, noundrive-through, nouneconomically, adverbfinancial, adjectiveflat, adjectivefree enterprise, noungiveaway, adjectiveincrement, nounindustry, nouninflate, verbinflated, adjectiveinflation, nouninflationary, adjectiveinsolvent, adjectiveinstitution, nouninterest, nounintroduction, nounlivery, nounlow season, nounlucrative, adjectiveMBA, nounmemo, nounmentoring, nounnegotiable, adjectivenegotiate, verbnegotiation, nounnon-profit, adjectiveopen, verboperational research, nounowner-occupied, adjectivepack, nounpackage, nounpaperwork, nounpatron, nounpatronage, nounpatronize, verbpay, verbpcm, peppercorn rent, nounpersonal assistant, nounplanned obsolescence, nounpp., quarter, nounquarter day, nounquota, nounquote, verbready-made, adjectivereal estate, nounrebate, nounredeem, verbredevelop, verbrefund, nounrent, nounshutdown, nounsliding scale, nounsubcontract, verbsubcontractor, nountariff, nounundercut, verbundersubscribed, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The centre has been a great success since it opened its doors a year ago. The peace treaty promises an end to war and opens the borders between the two countries.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES A self-monitoring tax system is clearly open to abuse (=able to be used wrongly). I’d like to open a bank account. A sudden draught blew the door shut. They’re planning to open a branch in St. Louis next year. I just don’t know what to do – every solution I can think of would just open up a whole new can of worms. She opened the door a crack and peeped into the room. She flipped the lid of the box open and looked inside. She tried to keep the door shut but the man forced it open. These questions are often an opening gambit (=the thing you say first) for a negotiation. The landscape is a mixture of open ground and woodland. I had my eyes half-closed. Janice likes to have the window open. She had her back to the door. Just then, the heavens opened (=it started to rain heavily). What exactly the author meant by that statement is open to interpretation (=able to be understood or explained in different ways). She jerked open the car door and got out. Not to have taken action would have laid the department open to charges of negligence. I wish you’d stop leaving the door open. The book lay open on the table. Handguns are freely available on the open market (=for anyone to buy). large areas of open moorland a navy V-necked sweater The new church was officially opened on July 5th. He kept open house for a wide range of artists and writers. We’re having an open house Sunday, noon to 5 pm. The painting would fetch millions of dollars if it was sold on the open market. The jury returned an open verdict. He said there was some doubt over the way Grant had died, and recorded an open verdict. The lid popped open and juice spilled all over the floor. Can we prop the window open with something? She pulled open the door and hurried inside. I slowly pushed the door open. Impatiently, Sue ripped the letter open. Congressman Saunders fired the opening salvo during a heated debate on capital punishment. A quick way to seal awkward gaps is to use a foam filler. He slid open the door of the glass cabinet. Guy slit open the envelope. She snapped her briefcase shut. One of the boxes had split open. The force of the blow nearly split his head open. The gate sprang shut behind them. The kitchen door stood open so she went in. The heavy door swung shut. She drew the curtains and threw open the windows. Exchange programs open up new vistas for students. His family welcomed me with open arms (=in a very friendly way). We would welcome any advice or suggestions with open arms. Spiro spread his arms wide in a welcoming gesture. Leonora’s eyes opened wide in horror. The windows had been opened wide and she could feel a slight breeze. The pit yawned open in front of them. Olsen zipped the bag shut. He zipped open the case (=unfastened it).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
The centre has been a great success since it opened its doors a year ago. The peace treaty promises an end to war and opens the borders between the two countries. A self-monitoring tax system is clearly open to abuse (=able to be used wrongly). (=that you do not try to hide)· Her father looked at her in open admiration.
· The customs officer opened my bag.
I’d like to open a bank account. (=the first bid)· The opening bid was only $10.
A sudden draught blew the door shut. (=start allowing people to cross)· After fifty years the border was finally opened.
(=get rid of solid waste from your body)
They’re planning to open a branch in St. Louis next year. (=one without a roof, used for showing tourists a town etc)· We took a tour on an open-topped bus.
I just don’t know what to do – every solution I can think of would just open up a whole new can of worms. (=at the beginning or end of a special event)· I stayed for the closing ceremony.
(=the first chapter)· There’s a short introductory chapter giving an outline of the subject matter.
(=open with a short hard sound)· I heard the gate at the front of the house click open.
(=involving everyone in a group)· The system is aimed at creating trust and open communication.
(=a situation that offers anyone a chance to be successful)· We welcome open competition in the software market.
(=that everyone can take part in)· An open competition is to be held at the tennis club.
(=used to say who can enter a competition)· The competition is open to artists between 16 and 25 years old.
· Clapton thrilled fans at a huge outdoor concert in New York.
(=that has been opened or that does not have a lid)· Don't keep food in open containers in the fridge.
(=that you do not try to hide)· Her expression was one of open contempt.
(=away from towns, and with few buildings, walls, trees etc)· We left the city and headed towards the open country in the north.
(=with few buildings, walls, trees etc)· The farmhouse has views over open countryside.
She opened the door a crack and peeped into the room. (=be willing or able to accept it)· Management have decided this and I don't think they're open to criticism.
(=that you do not try to hide)· The children were staring at her with open curiosity.
(=open them)· Would you mind opening the curtains?
· Cut open the avocado and remove the stone.
(=not covered)· The horse had to jump over an open ditch.
· I opened the door and Dad was standing there.· Can you close the door as you go out?
· We were still waiting for the train doors to open.
(=opens very suddenly and quickly)· Then the door burst open and two men with guns came in.
(=moves forward to open or backwards to shut)· The door swung shut behind me.
(=moves smoothly to the side or back again)· The lift doors slid open and we got in.
· Jonathan opened the drawer and took out a fork.
(=open it)· He pulled open drawers until he found the papers.
· I opened the envelope, pulled out the document and read it.
(=open it quickly and roughly)· My fingers trembled as I tore open the envelope.
(=open it by cutting it)· I quickly slit open the envelope.
(=an evening when an institution invites the public to come in and see the work that is done there)· We went to the open evening to find out more about the course.
· I slowly opened my eyes.
· Suddenly his eyes opened.
(=prevent them from closing)· I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open.
· The company has just opened a new factory in Swindon.
· I saw a fox run across the open field.
· Click on the icon to open the file.
(=a fire in a room that is not inside a stove etc)· Sophie warmed herself by the open fire.
(=not enclosed with a cover)· Never use a naked flame near spray paint.
She flipped the lid of the box open and looked inside.· As the weather gets warmer, the flowers open.
She tried to keep the door shut but the man forced it open. These questions are often an opening gambit (=the thing you say first) for a negotiation.· He heard Jack open the gate.
· Someone left the gate open, and the dog got out.
(=one that has not yet been covered in earth)· He wept by her open grave.
The landscape is a mixture of open ground and woodland. I had my eyes half-closed. Janice likes to have the window open. She had her back to the door. Just then, the heavens opened (=it started to rain heavily). (=hostility that is clearly shown) They eyed each other with open hostility.
They eyed each other with open hostility. What exactly the author meant by that statement is open to interpretation (=able to be understood or explained in different ways). (=an invitation to do something at any time you like)· Phillip kindly gave me an open invitation to stay at his villa in Tuscany.
She jerked open the car door and got out.· The largest key unlocks the front door.
(=land on which there are no buildings)· In the middle of the city are several hundred acres of open land.
Not to have taken action would have laid the department open to charges of negligence. I wish you’d stop leaving the door open.· Bill opened the letter and read it.
The book lay open on the table.· She opened her mail as she ate her breakfast.
Handguns are freely available on the open market (=for anyone to buy). (=begin it)· There was disagreement about opening the meeting with a prayer.
(=that anyone can go to)· A public meeting was held to discuss the proposal to build a new school.
large areas of open moorland· He opened his mouth wide so the doctor could examine his throat.
(=in surprise)· ‘Me?’ she said, her mouth dropping open.
· He chews with his mouth open.
a navy V-necked sweater (=start negotiations)· They have entered into negotiations to acquire another company.
(=be able to be discussed)· The price is usually open to negotiation.
(=be willing to discuss something)· The president signalled that he is open to negotiation on the budget.
The new church was officially opened on July 5th. He kept open house for a wide range of artists and writers. We’re having an open house Sunday, noon to 5 pm. The painting would fetch millions of dollars if it was sold on the open market. The jury returned an open verdict. He said there was some doubt over the way Grant had died, and recorded an open verdict.· The course also provides an opportunity to study Japanese.
(=a particular choice is available to someone)· Giving a prison sentence is only one of the options open to the judge.
(=to not limit what you can choose to do later)· Studying a broad range of subjects helps to keep your options open.
· On the open plains of east Africa are zebras, antelopes, and gazelles.
(=its performances start)· The play opens in San Francisco on Wednesday for a three-week run.
The lid popped open and juice spilled all over the floor. (=make a new opportunity available)· His recent performance opens up the possibility for him to compete in the Olympic Games.
· Can we open our presents now?
(=one where prisoners are not restricted as much as usual)· He was transferred to an open prison.
Can we prop the window open with something? She pulled open the door and hurried inside. I slowly pushed the door open. (=not dealt with)· At this point a key question remains unanswered.
(=not be certain or definitely true)· Whether he will survive politically is open to question.
(=rebellion that is clear and not hidden)· Algiers was in open rebellion.
(=not hidden or secret)· She faced open revolt from her Cabinet colleagues.
Impatiently, Sue ripped the letter open. (=a road without much traffic or anything to stop you getting somewhere)· This car is at its best on the open road.
(=it is not closed or blocked)· We try to keep the mountain road open for most of the year.
Congressman Saunders fired the opening salvo during a heated debate on capital punishment.· Government actions should be more open to public scrutiny.
(=the part of the sea that is far away from land)· Rescuers are trying to drive the stranded whales back out into the open sea.
A quick way to seal awkward gaps is to use a foam filler. (=something that a lot of people know, but do not talk about because it is supposed to be a secret)· It was an open secret that he was having an affair.
(=a large area of sky)· They lay on the ground under the open sky.
He slid open the door of the glass cabinet. Guy slit open the envelope. She snapped her briefcase shut. One of the boxes had split open. The force of the blow nearly split his head open. The gate sprang shut behind them. The kitchen door stood open so she went in. (=be willing to listen to suggestions)· We don’t have a firm plan yet, so we’re open to suggestions.
The heavy door swung shut.· She tore open the envelope.
She drew the curtains and threw open the windows. (=officially begins)· The trial opened 5 weeks ago.
British English (=stating that the facts about someone’s death are not known)· The inquest jury recorded an open verdict because of conflicting evidence.
Exchange programs open up new vistas for students. His family welcomed me with open arms (=in a very friendly way). We would welcome any advice or suggestions with open arms. Spiro spread his arms wide in a welcoming gesture. Leonora’s eyes opened wide in horror. The windows had been opened wide and she could feel a slight breeze.· I opened the window and breathed in the fresh air.
· A breeze from the open window lifted her hair.
· The dragon spread its wings and gave an experimental flap.
(=one where the skin has not yet healed)· Sports players should not continue to play with open wounds.
The pit yawned open in front of them. Olsen zipped the bag shut. He zipped open the case (=unfastened it).· The revamped centre was officially opened by the Duke of Edinburgh on June 26.· The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path was opened officially in May, 1970, after many years of tricky negotiations.· The most advanced bomb disposal centre in the world has been officially opened by the Duke of Kent.· The gallery was officially opened by arts minister Timothy Renton.
· The need for analogue computers will grow with the realization that whole new fields will be opened up by evolutionary computing.· It opens up with the sound of a mosquito and gets louder and louder.· She was friendly and easy to talk to and, after a while, I opened up my heart.· If a new market opened up, new jobs could be created to serve it.· And it's five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates.· At that point, small arms and automatic weapons opened up.· The thugs pounced as Tony McLoughlin prepared to open up the school shortly after 7am.· Schoolteacher made one open up my back, and when it closed it made a tree.
NOUN· Only those people who live near by are allowed to open accounts.· Everyone who could simply had to open a checking account and a savings account.· Formal Invitation should open his account in the Corvedale Novices' Hurdle.· The band will need to open a bank account, if they haven't done so already.· All you need to open the account is £1 and every six months interest is added to your account.· Newcomers needed help navigating the unknown world of capitalism, from opening a checking account to writing a resume.
· Joan and her sister Ruth appeared early in the saga, and young Paul opened the very first book of the series.· Slowly she would open the book and begin the story.· He opened a book with his thumbnail, as if afraid of dirtying his fingers.· She opens a book, hands it to me, points to a passage.· She opened her cookery book, and after a while she boiled a chicken, and she sang.· I looked over and saw that Gordon had opened a book.· Is there any point in opening a book on who our Howard will drop to make way for rodders.· He turned the chair around, positioning himself with his back to the window, and opened the book.
· The atmosphere when they opened the bottle seemed to Albert to improve no end.· To regain her composure, she opened the wine bottle in the kitchen and took a sip.· Then open a chilled bottle of Guinness Original and pour it slowly into a glass.· He opened a tiny bottle and offered me a hit of poppers.· I opened two bottles that I retrieved from the sticky mess on the cabin floor.· Ordinarily, I would have opened another bottle.· She was still very active and made me feel so welcome, especially when she opened the sherry bottle.· She opened a bottle of wine.
· After building your own machine you certainly will not be worried about opening the box!· Then you open the box and see.· Now he opened his box and took out the sun's ray.· New investigative techniques have opened up the black box of the brain and have begun to shed light on its inner workings.· She opened a wicker sewing box, looked inside, shook her head and closed the box again.· He opened the cardboard box and took out each item, greeting each like an old friend.· Peter didn't open the box containing the Archives of Emor.· Fakhru pulled out his own key and pretended to be opening the box just above that of the bank.
· Until 1994, the federal McFadden Act of 1927 prevented banks from crossing state lines to open up new branches.· A firm looking to expand will not simply contemplate recruiting new partners or opening up new branch offices.· Peabody became the owner of Lumber Mart in 1982, opening a branch in Grand Forks in 1993.· Meanwhile, last September they opened a branch of their New York gallery in Berlin.· The company plans to open seven branches over the coming months.· Branching out: A northern store chain is helping to open branches of a different kind.
· Asked again to pay for it, he opened the can and started to drink the lager.· Helen opened every can in the cupboard.· I opened another can and wondered what to do next.· Still, it requires a lot more work than opening a couple of cans.· Before that, though, I opened a can of whole chicken and ripped off a leg dribbling with jelly.· In early December, Aesop cut his finger opening a can of cling peaches.· Our naive arrangements, it seemed, had opened a social can of worms.· But when he got home and opened the can, it held gritty mashed potatoes.
· He pulled the door open slowly.· You have to tug a little to break the seal, and then the door opens.· He went into one of the empty bedrooms and left the door open.· About 6: 20 p. m., the door opened and the witnesses took their positions.· Frankie stared through the banisters, willing the kitchen door to open.· One of the doors opened on to a new life for Alvin.
· They ask callers detailed questions about their problems and open up an electronic file.· Stok opened the file and signed the corners of eight sheets of paper.· They just open their mail and click on the icon to open the file.· On occasion you may begin to open a file and find that you would prefer to rename the file or delete it.· For example, so-called spring-loaded folders open up to receive files as the user drags an item over them.· The following example opens a file and prints to it via the Printer Filter.· He opened the file out and spread the papers across his lap.
· George climbed over the gate while Willie opened and shut it neatly behind him.· It also works to create a disposition of self-confidence and thus to keep gates open to new possibilities.· The gate swings open behind me.· So, programmers kept the electronic gates to mail servers open and letters came from anywhere, were processed and sent on.· He passed through the archway in the garden wall of Sea House, opening the white iron gate and leaving it open.· Iron gates open to a courtyard filled with pots of geraniums and ivy tucked next to rusted bistro tables and chairs.· At the touch of a button a huge gate opens and I am confined in a small area between fences.· The gate opened and dressed-up children spilled into the street, bright beads from a broken string.
· After the war, black GIs came home with opened eyes and hearts full of pride.· She was friendly and easy to talk to and, after a while, I opened up my heart.· She felt guilty, always guilty, thinking how she should be opening her whole heart to him.· But incredulity it was that popped my eyes open and stopped my heart, swept away my slightest consciousness of pain.· He was close to tears when he started to read a statement in which he opened his heart as never before.· We opened our hearts and wept.
· Why had she ever opened that letter?· So, programmers kept the electronic gates to mail servers open and letters came from anywhere, were processed and sent on.· I opened the letters from Giulia.· A police spokesman said if the man had gone much further in opening the letter, he could have been killed.· When the twig tore the pocket open the letter had dropped out.· That involved bureau agents surreptitiously opening and photographing letters destined for the mission before allowing them to be delivered.· He opened the letter, saw the name at the bottom, and smiled for the first time that day.· I sit at the table tired and discouraged, dutifully opening and closing letters.
· Skeen said the jets will be used partly to open new markets and to provide better service to current destinations.· It might also include more state help in opening up foreign markets.· Promises to open markets and promises that trade surpluses will shortly disappear have been made too often to be believed.· Despite all this, competition for licenses in newly opened markets is intense.· Each was as anxious as the families and the Managing Director about the opening of their markets.· This is seen as an opportunity for developing software and technological industries and providers through the stimulus of opening up education markets.
· He looked from her to his brother, his mouth open, about to speak.· A furnace got its mouth open somewhere, licks tip somebody.· Soon her mouth would be opened by the lector-priest and her purification ministered by the Sem-priest.· His tongue traveled gently over her lips until gradually her mouth opened slightly, just wide enough for his tongue to enter.· If she pressed very hard then her mouth would not open to scream.· He sat on the crate with his mouth open a little, his tongue protruding slightly.· Sam, silenced, stood with his mouth open.· Her mouth opened wider; and longer and louder words fell out of it.
· A firm looking to expand will not simply contemplate recruiting new partners or opening up new branch offices.· Two months ago, his company opened a Cambridge office that employs seven workers.· It is opening an office in San Francisco to be run by its founder and president Jacques Quelene.· In Sanchersville, she opened a storefront law office perforating the heart of the ghetto.· Having worked as a freelance for a while, she had recently opened an office in Geneva.· The company recently opened an office in Yardley after Horowitz moved to Richboro three years ago.· An account can be opened at any post office with a minimum of £5.· At first, the business sold just prints and posters to companies opening up new offices.
· No list can be exhaustive, but it can give you an idea of the range of opportunities open to you.· By seizing an opportunity she opened up a new and totally unexpected position for the future.· A host of new opportunities were opened up, once again revitalising the market.· The hope was sustained by faith that the doors of opportunity would be opened by education.· The most tantalising of opportunities has thus opened up for Mr Takeshita: the chance to be prime minister again.· On all sides, opportunities for growth are opening up for the revolutionary movement.· The following chapters explain in general the opportunities open to you in an average agency.· Foreign nationals, women, and minorities will find greater opportunities open to them than ever before.
· If you do not know exactly what is going to happen it is well to keep your options open.· Flexibility is key, keeping your options open.· In both of these cases you have kept your centre-line turned to face the opponent and so left your options open.· I want to keep all of my options open.· I thought about the options open to us.· With customary caution, he is keeping his options open while the issue is still in the political incubator.· And there are still just as many options open to them when looking for a loan.· Some companies are keeping their options open on retaining or dumping anachronistic names.
· The Children Act could also open up much wider possibilities, affecting whole groups of travellers.· It also works to create a disposition of self-confidence and thus to keep gates open to new possibilities.· If successful, the technique open up enormous possibilities for controlling viral infections.· The possibility of a new way of looking opens up exciting possibilities for the re-evaluation of many genres of photography.· This opens many possibilities for users.· While not relaxing our critical standards and emphasis on observational success, it could open fresh possibilities.· The Children Act has opened up many possibilities and obligations to make the relationship between travellers and social work services more productive.
· A forty-minute drive will take you to Haworth Lane, home of the Brontë sisters now open to the public.· Voice over Eleven gardens in North Moreton will open to the public on Saturday.· Tennis and golf are both available, and the Olympic bob-sleigh run is also open to the public.· It will be opened to the public in the next few years, once essential maintenance is completed.· Mill at work: The only working watermill in Cleveland opens to the public tomorrow.· And at long last, the five hundred acres of Woodchester Park are to be opened to the public.
· We shall be opening the season with the Baron.· The Panthers open next season at Orem.· When I opened my own season in Ulm with Tannhäuser, I had in my head an entirely new sound concept.· Trotter opened his season with interception return for a touchdown in a 41-14 win over Dallas and went from there.· What happened last year was the Broncos opened the season with 12 wins in their first 13 games.
· She'd go back home to Oz and open a shop, maybe two.· He opens a surfer shop in Ames, Iowa, right down the street from the tractor repair shop.· He is thinking of opening a small shop.· They moved there the following year and opened a leather shop.· A Newcastle school aims to open a shop to sell pupils' bright ideas.· He had just bought a sewing machine in Warsaw and he intended to open his own shop in their small town.· Cop shop: Police have opened their own cop shop at Darlington police station to sell personal attack alarms and security devices.· The company, which operates 235 stores nationwide, plans to open 80 new shops by 2000.
· There was a single narrow window opening on a shaded garden and when the door was closed it was difficult to see.· Painting Decorate in the spring and summer so you can work with the windows open.· It was a hot, still night, and I left the windows open.· Traditionally the first window should have been opened this morning.· It had the dusty smell of an apartment whose windows were rarely opened.· Parr kept his window open, and while he waited on the line, let the sounds from outside wash his consciousness.· Even with the car windows left open a crack, the temperature inside can reach 120 degrees in less than 30 minutes.
VERB· She forced her eyes open, and at once her heart was pounding.· I forced myself to open my fingers, to relax my vigilance, to fall asleep.· So they send one of their servants down to force it open, but he never comes back.· And it does not force school districts to open and close schools, as District 4 does in East Harlem.· More and more shops will be forced to open illegally, to protect their market share.· I forced my eyes open and woke up.· She gulped in a lungful of air and forced her eyelids open.
· She says there are logical arguments for keeping Standish open.· Flexibility is key, keeping your options open.· You know how to keep your eyes open and your mouth shut.· The daily firings produced by the withering economy offered loopholes of opportunity for a young man who kept his eyes open.· If you do not know exactly what is going to happen it is well to keep your options open.· Kissinger argued that more good could be obtained by keeping lines open to the Soviets than by closing them.· He told Sir Bryan to get the Chief Constable on the line immediately and to keep it open in the meantime.· With customary caution, he is keeping his options open while the issue is still in the political incubator.
· It also plans to open the original shop and a petrol station.· The company is planning to open its first standalone store in London's West End next year.· The city plans a huge grand opening party, including free skating and soccer, food and professional demonstrations.· It plans to open one new store a week and is investing heavily in new technology as competition gets stiffer.· California regulators plan to open the industry to competition in 1998.· Burger King, which did not have a single franchise until last year, plans to open more than 100.· It plans to open just one traditional free-standing branch in 1996
· He pulled the door open slowly.· I pulled up, opened the door for her, made sure she was buckled in.· She reached for the door and started to pull it open, but Nicolo's hand closed around her forearm.· Keeping in mind the penalties for knocking thought up by these sixth graders, I pull open the door and slip inside.· He slammed the milk bottle down on top of the bedside cabinet, pulling the drawer open.· He pulls open the top of his shirt with his finger.
· Soldiers were pushing it open and Rostov saw that the whole inner yard was a clever device to protect the city.· Then the Jesuit volunteers pushed open the shelter doors and the worshipers followed the cross into a misty rain.· With a familiar feeling of dread, he pushed the door open.· As the piston is pushed the near side opens and the air pressure closes the back flap.· Then he pushed it open and walked into the room.· Half way down the corridor he unlocks a door, pushes it open and turns on the light.
· Mrs. Bidwell, meanwhile, had thrown open the lid of the laundry-basket.· Suddenly the tall man threw open the back door and ran down the street.· He could hear her frantic progress up the uncarpeted stairs and along the top corridor until she threw the door open.· Instead, the friendly green thumbs at Tucson Botanical Gardens choose to throw open their gates for free.· She threw the door open, catching it before it could strike the wall.· He marched straight to the front door and threw it open.· I went across and threw it open, exasperated that my holy moment had been so brutally shattered.· Then Eddie stepped to the rear of the cabin and threw open the door.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► open something ↔ up► open something ↔ upPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► high-collared/open-collared/fur-collared etc► crack open a bottle► fling something open► first night/opening night► throw something open► wedge something open/shut
- A similar procedure is followed for all other open accounts.
- Instead, they buy these items on open account from their suppliers on whatever credit terms are available.
- Now such sales are on open account and paid mainly by cheque.
- Only £1 is needed to open an account.
- Only those people who live near by are allowed to open accounts.
- Our friend Joan strolls into the bank and plops down $ 100 to open an account.
- Roosevelt Principal Mike Price opened an account, and the checks went directly to the bank.
- To open an account, children need just £1.
- Clothes are hung from nails, and cooking is done over an open fire.
- He is charged with ordering his subordinates to open fire on Tangi-Chu.
- Never stand over an open fire as Victorian fathers used to do.
- No wonder they had opened fire.
- Rebels hiding in jungle outside the village opened fire, killing one policeman.
- The battery... ascends the hill towards the Henry house and opens fire at close range.
- Then he opened fire at point-blank range, first at Cha, then at Park, severely wounding them both.
- There are two comfortable lounges with open fires, one with a large collection of books for guests to read.
- He lifts open the door to throw in another pine slab.
- I opened the door to find Mrs Puri standing to attention outside.
- Lonnie Ali opens the door to the kitchen.
- Once you open the door to things that are not related to the Holocaust, where do you draw the line?
- She opened the door to the living room.
- This design decision was taken to open the door to integration of hypermedia mail, news, and information access.
- This was when somebody opened the door to the inner sanctum where the support band was playing.
- His speech really opened my eyes to the way big corporations operate.
- He opened his eyes to make the words stop.
- His voice sounded oddly strangled, and she opened her eyes to find his face unexpectedly close to hers.
- I opened my eyes into a black web.
- I gave a little meow to get his attention and he opened his eyes.
- Jim opened his eyes and looked at Karen.
- Soon he could not move or speak, or open his eyes.
- When he opened his eyes again he was staring at a pinkish whirlpool running into the drain.
- When I opened my eyes, I looked out to the stake and saw his ball fall right near it again.
- As the days go by open your mind to what is going on around you - what are other people's goals?
- He opened his mind to the sounds of the city.
- If you open your mind, then you see it really does have feeling.
- Television is a powerful force to bring people together to entertain, to educate, to open our minds and hearts.
- The overall influence of Seattle opened his mind on a few things.
- Very soon the research opened my mind to more subtle ideas.
- We are duty-bound to search, question, open our minds.
- We must break down the barriers of conditioning and open our minds to far higher goals.
- For her part, she felt that he was some one to whom she could open her heart and who would understand.
- He was close to tears when he started to read a statement in which he opened his heart as never before.
- Just allow your intuitive faculties to operate, open your heart and be honest with yourself and the landscape.
- Robbie opened his heart after a secret charity gig at London's Equinox club on Thursday.
- She thought about it and decided it was a sign, and what it meant was: open your heart.
- Three quarters of all the teenagers questioned would open their hearts at home.
- We opened our hearts and wept.
- As his relations carried him off to be buried, the sky suddenly darkened and the heavens opened.
- He'd come out without his anorak and if the heavens opened he'd get soaked.
- It went from bad to worse as the heavens opened and turned the circuit into one huge puddle.
- Just as we set off, would you believe it, the heavens opened.
- Unfortunately, the Heavens opened on finals day, ending the good weather and causing disruptions.
- My new in-laws accepted me with open arms.
- We welcomed Henry's offer with open arms.
- And if the turnout was any indication, the parish was welcoming them with open arms.
- He greeted Riley with open arms.
- Newspapers welcome with open arms a regular, efficient news service on which they can rely.
- Not that the profession was necessarily going to welcome me into the fold with open arms.
- Now we welcome death with open arms, especially when we are old.
- The Greenpeace support was welcomed with open arms.
- When Cara got out of the car Mrs Hendry stepped forward with open arms and embraced her new daughter-in-law.
- You walk in here and you expect to be welcomed with open arms.
- The door burst open and the kids piled into the house.
- But then the door bursts open and yet more soldiers push into the room.
- Douglas burst open the door into the first, where somebody had lit a lamp.
- She says the door bursts open just when they reach the cages and the monster comes through.
- The bedroom door had burst open and Peter was striding into the room.
- The door of the shuddering carriage burst open, and Fedorov tumbled out, struggling with the woman.
- Then the door'd burst open and Albert Swift and his gang had walked in.
- Two bags of paper money hurtled on to the road and burst open.
- As she reached the doors they came open, the button pressed by two people outside.
- His heart felt it would come loose in his body, so wildly was it beating.
- Some ropes had come loose and were swinging wildly in the wind.
- Then she felt something on her arm and discovered her scarf had come undone.
- Then sprinkle on water and re-trowel in come loose-use an emulsion paint brush.
- Think of all the things that come loose around the house.
- When the Thayer principalship came open in the summer of 1981, Littky applied and reentered the educational world.
- As a practical matter, the wisdom of tax-cutting is open to debate.
- In Alcove 1, everything was open to debate.
- It is open to debate whether the office should be performed by a police officer or by a prosecutorial figure.
- Jospin's conclusions may be open to debate, but the way he has formulated them is laudable.
- The actual number of words that are necessary is open to debate.
- This concept is open to debate, in that at least some Ediacaran fossils can be compared with known metazoans.
- Whether a further wave of takeovers in the brewing industry would benefit consumers is open to debate.
- Whether civil liberties or freedom of expression really languished in this period is open to debate.
- How far Blake and Mouton were pioneers in this field is open to dispute.
- Whether this revolution has improved medical care or worsened it is open to dispute.
- But the political and military efficacy of the pacts was always open to doubt.
- But whether that amounts to a positive incentive for companies to boost production and revive investment plans is open to doubt.
- Faith is something which is merely believed, so it must always expect to be open to doubt.
- Further, and more important, it was open to doubt whether the nobility was properly trained for war.
- Of course, even if accurately transmitted the reliability of this poetry is still open to doubt.
- Whether it will ever be finished is now open to doubt.
- Whether it will help in breaking two-party politics is open to doubt.
- Whether this kind of Labour Party is capable of winning a general election is open to doubt.
- All of you - walk around Pentonville and keep your ears open.
- They had a kid copper keeping his ears open.
- Always keeping an eye out in case of thieves.
- And we had to keep an eye open for police patrols.
- For months, he kept an eye out.
- He will keep an eye out, but he can not promise anything.
- Male speaker All you got to do is keep an eye open and watch the break lights.
- Though he works hard with all the kids, he keeps an eye out for the special ones.
- Valueoriented consumers should keep an eye out for the name FabreMontmayou.
- They went into the deal with their eyes open.
- And we lie there, with our eyes open, waiting for the sun.
- He was just lying there looking at her as if he was dreaming with his eyes open.
- She lies there in the dark, with her eyes open, keeping watch.
- She lies with her eyes open, listening to his noisy jerking-off and then his snores.
- The young man was gazing straight ahead, as if asleep with his eyes open.
- There are some people who get bored who can just fall asleep, standing up with their eyes open.
- They will be tough with you, so that you go into self-employment with your eyes open.
- Three days after that, I learned that I could begin the ascent with my eyes open.
- Any change in the law could open the floodgates to increased immigration.
- A move like this will open the floodgates.
- California's first execution may open the floodgates.
- Its authors say the motorway has opened the floodgates for development on a scale planners hadn't envisaged.
- So he opened the floodgates of the South Platte River and unleashed 96 million gallons of rushing water.
- The case could open the floodgates for thousands of similar claims worldwide.
- The score that opened the floodgates came out of nothing after 62 minutes.
- This easing of restrictions opened the floodgates for commercial Internet access.
- There were cupboards hanging open, mattresses overturned and a bottle of sour milk stood in the sink.
- Leaving the car unlocked is just an open invitation to thieves.
- The Carter team feared that the remark and the attitude it conveyed would be an open invitation to execute Kim.
- Krushchev laid bare Stalin's crimes.
- New bricks were removed, laying bare the old foundations.
- And he has laid himself wide open to the kind of criticism that will cloak him in a dark shroud of misery.
- If he had said he was acting under his own authority, he would have laid himself open to ridicule.
- Is it something you should do, or do you lay yourself open to terrible legal proceedings?
- It is not difficult to see how this approach lays itself open to abuse and drastic criticism.
- It is not only those who dismiss the arts as self-indulgent who lay themselves open to such a charge.
- Not to have taken action, she said, would have laid her department open to a charge of negligence.
- The Evangelicals have become a powerful influence in the land and this lays them open to the wooing of politicians.
- This would amount to a breach of their contract of employment and lay them open to disciplinary proceedings.
- If you can get people to relax, they're more likely to open their mouths and talk.
- Angrily she opened her mouth to protest but at that moment the door opened and David appeared.
- Even I wouldn't realise until they opened their mouths - which was only to sing the malai national anthem.
- He stared, he threw back his head in glad greeting and opened his mouth.
- He would croak if he opened his mouth, so he kept it shut.
- I opened my mouth to shout for help, but nothing came out.
- If you have to be sure before you dare open your mouth, most people are going to stay quiet.
- She stumbled to her feet, clutching the eiderdown around her, and opened her mouth to call to them.
- The baby robins, scrub jays, finches, sparrows and starlings opened their mouths wide in anticipation.
- Berryhill is back on the open market.
- HaL is unlikely to sell its chips on the open market.
- I hadn't been on the open market for so long.
- If the Bank wishes to reduce the money supply it will sell securities through its broker on the open market.
- It is likely to be some years before such a product is on the open market.
- It will sell the rest on the open market.
- Priced on the open market, they would sell for tens and tens of billions of dollars.
- They sell bonds on the open market.
- In the press, it seems to be open season on overpaid executives.
- It is open season for criticising UDCs for lack of planning, lack of strategic thinking and short termism.
- Payroll allocations can be changed only during an open season.
- That's the West Coast Trail, limited to 8,000 hikers during its open season from mid-April to the end of September.
- The grin meant it was open season.
- There would be an open season on scattered singletons.
- She took off her open-toed shoes.
- There are also these artificial plastic toes that you fit over your artificial foot, so you can wear open-toed sandals.
- Those who did were mostly long-haired, bearded and dressed in open-toed sandals.
- Again the opening up of public procurement procedures should result in a significant increase in intra-EC trade and industry re-structuring.
- By 1895 she had attained the opening up of Lincoln's Inn Fields to the poor.
- Over the next generation the first phase of the opening up of inland industrial Britain proceeded.
- Searching out high-quality old timber is a big factor in the opening up of pristine forests.
- Taylor said the opening up of opportunities for minorities in television would lead to more opportunities in films.
- The combination of these influences has encouraged the opening up of the airwaves to competition.
- At the end of the season, I will keep my options open.
- Either way, you can keep your options open.
- Flexibility is key, keeping your options open.
- Many young people want to keep their options open.
- Some companies are keeping their options open on retaining or dumping anachronistic names.
- We must expect to be surprised in the future, and we must keep our options open.
- You need to keep your options open in order to change courses at a moment's notice.
- I've opened Pandora's box.
- The internet has opened a Pandora's box of threats: its demons have been loosed on us all.
- This could be the opening salvo of a campaign to get the arena built elsewhere.
- Clinton fired the opening salvo last month when he included tax cuts in his proposed 1997 budget.
- Desktop publishing was only the opening salvo of a fusillade of developments that would change the way people worked.
- Earlier legislation paved the way by limiting the use of custody as a penalty for offenders under the age of twenty-one.
- He believes the Government has missed the opportunity to pave the way for badly needed investment.
- He gave as an example some of the early work in genetics which has paved the way for biotechnological developments.
- She would pave the way for a much more slender ideal: the flapper.
- Such developments are paving the way to rapprochement between conventional and complementary medicine.
- Was he paving the way for another referendum?
- When Ken wants to give his girlfriend a kiss he first calls in a construction team to clear the way.
- He sat with his legs wide apart.
- It was 3 a.m., but I was wide awake.
- The door was wide open when we got here.
- After an hour, though still wide awake, I crimped the page and turned off the light.
- But from what I gathered at the arts fair, the field is pretty wide open.
- My big worry is that the Monster will come wide awake and ruin things with its gross demands.
- The doors of the Conch cafe were wide open with no sign of Huong or Anna; they had probably evacuated.
- The main door stood wide open making a through draught.
- These are still very early days and the options are wide open.
- They were certainly the first means of crossing wide open spaces that are still vast and untamed, even today.
- Turning the corner into Polly's road, Jack noticed suddenly that the door to her house was wide open.
- After the stale fug in the tiny cabin, she gulped down the clean sea air, the car window wide open.
- His eyes seemed darker blue and more wide open than usual.
- Leave the window wide open in winter; turn off the airconditioning in summer.
- Some of the villa front doors were wide open to him.
- The snap showed Jennifer with eyes closed and mouth wide open.
- Their eyes are wide open as they pass the object round.
- When I came into the hall, his eyes were wide open, staring straight at me.
- Seeing my ex-boyfriend opened some old wounds.
- In her innocent curiosity, Cissie had opened old wounds.
- Whatever the outcome, Marcos's death has opened old wounds.
WORD FAMILYnounthe openopeneropeningopennessadjectiveopenopeningunopenedverbopenadverbopenly
1door/window etc [intransitive, transitive] to move a door, window etc so that people, things, air etc can pass through, or to be moved in this way: Jack opened the window. He opened the drawer of the desk. She heard a door open and then close.2container/package [transitive] to unfasten or remove the lid, top, or cover of a container, package etc: Louise opened a bottle of wine. He opened the letter and began to read it. The children were opening their presents. Mark was about to open a beer when the doorbell rang.3eyes [intransitive, transitive] to raise your eyelids so that you can see, or to be raised in this way: Barry was awake long before he opened his eyes. Carrie smelled coffee and her eyes opened reluctantly.4mouth [intransitive, transitive] to move your lips apart, or to be moved in this way: He opened his mouth but couldn’t think what to say.5start operating [intransitive, transitive] (also open up) if a place such as an office, shop, restaurant etc opens or is opened, it starts operating or providing a service: Sarah had recently opened an office in Genoa. French and Scandinavian offices are due to open in the autumn. The Forestry Commission has opened a plant centre selling rare plants. The centre has been a great success since it opened its doors a year ago.► see thesaurus at establish6shop/restaurant etc [intransitive] (also open up) to start business, letting in customers or visitors, at a particular time: What time do the banks open? The bakery opens early.7start an activity [transitive] to start an activity, event, or set of actions: The US attorney’s office has opened an investigation into the matter. An inquest into the deaths will be opened next week.8computer [transitive] to make a document or computer program ready to use: Click on this icon to open the File Manager.9meeting/event [intransitive, transitive] if a meeting etc opens or is opened in a particular way, it starts in that way: Hughes, opening the Conference, made a dramatic plea for peace.open with The concert opens with Beethoven’s Egmont Overture.10official ceremony [transitive] to perform a ceremony in which you officially state that a building is ready to be used: The new County Hall building was officially opened by the King.11spread/unfold [intransitive, transitive] to spread something out or unfold something, or to become spread out or unfolded: She opened her umbrella. John opened his hand to show her he wasn’t holding anything. The flowers only open during bright weather. I sat down and opened my book. She opened the curtains (=pulled the two curtains apart). Dave opened his arms (=stretched his arms wide apart) to give her a hug.12make a way through [transitive] to make it possible for cars, goods etc to pass through a place: They were clearing away snow to open the tunnel. The peace treaty promises an end to war and opens the borders between the two countries.13film/play etc [intransitive] to start being shown to the public: Paula and Rachael star as mother and daughter in the play, which opens tonight. The film opened yesterday to excellent reviews.► see thesaurus at start14open an account to start an account at a bank or other financial organization by putting money into it: Mary was in the bank to ask about opening a current account.15open fire (on something) to start shooting at someone or something: Troops opened fire on the rioters.16open the door/way to something (also open doors) to make an opportunity for something to happen: Research on genes should open the door to exciting new medical treatments. If the record is successful, it could open doors for my career.17open somebody’s eyes (to something) to make someone realize something that they had not realized before: The purpose of the training is to open managers’ eyes to the consequences of their own behaviour.18open your mind (to something) to be ready to consider or accept new ideas19open your heart (to somebody) to tell someone your real thoughts and feelings because you trust them20the heavens opened literary it started to rain heavily → open the floodgates at floodgateGRAMMAROpen belongs to a group of verbs where the same noun can be the subject of the verb or its object.• You can say: · She opened the door. In this sentence, ‘the door’ is the object of open.• You can say: · The door opened. In this sentence, ‘the door’ is the subject of open.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSTHESAURUSopen used about a door, window, container, package, letter, your eyes, or your mouth: · I opened the door quietly.· She was nervous about opening the letter.· Open your mouth wide.unlock to open a door, drawer, box etc with a key: · You need a key to unlock the safe.unscrew to open a lid on a bottle, container etc by turning it: · I carefully unscrewed the lid of the jar.force open to open a drawer, window, cupboard etc using force: · The door was locked so we had to force it open.unwrap to open a package by removing the paper that covers it: · The children were busy unwrapping their Christmas presents.unfasten/undo to make something no longer fastened or tied, for example a seat belt or a piece of clothing: · He unfastened the top button of his shirt.· I was so full I had to undo my belt.open onto/into something phrasal verb if a room, door etc opens onto or into another place, you can enter that other place directly through it: The door opens onto a long balcony.open out phrasal verb1if a road, path, or passage opens out, it becomes wideropen out into Beyond the forest the path opened out into a track.2British English if someone opens out, they become less shyopen up phrasal verb1opportunity if opportunities open up, or a new situation opens them up, they become available or possible: With a microscope, a whole new world of investigation opens up.open something ↔ up The new international agreement opens up the possibility of much greater co-operation against terrorism.2land open something ↔ up if someone opens up an area of land, they make it easier to reach and ready for development: The new road will open up 300 acres of prime development land.3door/container etc to open something that is closed, locked, or covered: Open up, this is the police!open something ↔ up He opened up his case and took out a clean sweater.4shop/office etc a)if a shop, office etc opens up or is opened up, someone starts it b)if a shop, office etc opens up at a particular time, it starts business at that time5disagreement/discussion open something ↔ up to start a discussion or argument: The article was written with the intention of opening up a public debate.6competition/race if someone opens up a lead in a competition or race, they increase the distance or number of points by which they are winning7talk to stop being shy and say what you really think: Last night was the first time that Ken had opened up about his feelings.8with a gun to start shooting9hole/crack etc if a hole, crack etc opens up or is opened up, it appears and becomes wideropen1 adjectiveopen2 verbopen3 noun
openopen3 noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- the US Open
THESAURUSActions when using a computer
to make a computer start working: · I’m having problems starting up my computer.
to start using a computer system by typing your name and password: · He logged on and read his emails.
to press a button on a computer mouse to choose a program, file etc from the screen: · When you click on the link, it sends you to the company’s website.
to add new software to a computer so that the software is ready to be used: · All users should install anti-virus software.
to move information, pictures, or music from the Internet onto your computer: · You can download MP3 files.
to move information, pictures, or music from your computer to a different computer across the Internet: · Sites such as YouTube allow you to upload your own videos.
to make a file or program ready to use: · Open a new file and type in the information.
to move information on a computer screen up or down so that you can read it: · Scroll down to read the questions and answers.
to type information into a computer: · The program requires you to enter a password.
to remove information from a computer: · I’ve deleted his email.· When you delete a file, it first gets moved to the recycle bin.
to remove information from one place and put it in another place: · Tutors are looking out for students who cut and paste their essays from the Internet.
to make a computer keep the work that you have done on it: · Make sure you save any work you do before you shut the computer down.
to stop having a file or program ready to use: · To close the window, click on the ‘X’ in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
to stop using a computer system by giving it particular instructions: · I get an error message when I log off.
to make a computer stop working: · Employees should shut their computers down at the end of each day.
to make a computer start working again: · Wait a few minutes before rebooting your computer.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY In the summer, we camped in the open. She never let her dislike for him come out into the open. All these concerns need to be brought out into the open.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES A self-monitoring tax system is clearly open to abuse (=able to be used wrongly). I’d like to open a bank account. A sudden draught blew the door shut. They’re planning to open a branch in St. Louis next year. I just don’t know what to do – every solution I can think of would just open up a whole new can of worms. She opened the door a crack and peeped into the room. She flipped the lid of the box open and looked inside. She tried to keep the door shut but the man forced it open. These questions are often an opening gambit (=the thing you say first) for a negotiation. The landscape is a mixture of open ground and woodland. I had my eyes half-closed. Janice likes to have the window open. She had her back to the door. Just then, the heavens opened (=it started to rain heavily). What exactly the author meant by that statement is open to interpretation (=able to be understood or explained in different ways). She jerked open the car door and got out. Not to have taken action would have laid the department open to charges of negligence. I wish you’d stop leaving the door open. The book lay open on the table. Handguns are freely available on the open market (=for anyone to buy). large areas of open moorland a navy V-necked sweater The new church was officially opened on July 5th. He kept open house for a wide range of artists and writers. We’re having an open house Sunday, noon to 5 pm. The painting would fetch millions of dollars if it was sold on the open market. The jury returned an open verdict. He said there was some doubt over the way Grant had died, and recorded an open verdict. The lid popped open and juice spilled all over the floor. Can we prop the window open with something? She pulled open the door and hurried inside. I slowly pushed the door open. Impatiently, Sue ripped the letter open. Congressman Saunders fired the opening salvo during a heated debate on capital punishment. A quick way to seal awkward gaps is to use a foam filler. He slid open the door of the glass cabinet. Guy slit open the envelope. She snapped her briefcase shut. One of the boxes had split open. The force of the blow nearly split his head open. The gate sprang shut behind them. The kitchen door stood open so she went in. The heavy door swung shut. She drew the curtains and threw open the windows. Exchange programs open up new vistas for students. His family welcomed me with open arms (=in a very friendly way). We would welcome any advice or suggestions with open arms. Spiro spread his arms wide in a welcoming gesture. Leonora’s eyes opened wide in horror. The windows had been opened wide and she could feel a slight breeze. The pit yawned open in front of them. Olsen zipped the bag shut. He zipped open the case (=unfastened it).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
In the summer, we camped in the open. She never let her dislike for him come out into the open. All these concerns need to be brought out into the open. A self-monitoring tax system is clearly open to abuse (=able to be used wrongly). (=that you do not try to hide)· Her father looked at her in open admiration.
· The customs officer opened my bag.
I’d like to open a bank account. (=the first bid)· The opening bid was only $10.
A sudden draught blew the door shut. (=start allowing people to cross)· After fifty years the border was finally opened.
(=get rid of solid waste from your body)
They’re planning to open a branch in St. Louis next year. (=one without a roof, used for showing tourists a town etc)· We took a tour on an open-topped bus.
I just don’t know what to do – every solution I can think of would just open up a whole new can of worms. (=at the beginning or end of a special event)· I stayed for the closing ceremony.
(=the first chapter)· There’s a short introductory chapter giving an outline of the subject matter.
(=open with a short hard sound)· I heard the gate at the front of the house click open.
(=involving everyone in a group)· The system is aimed at creating trust and open communication.
(=a situation that offers anyone a chance to be successful)· We welcome open competition in the software market.
(=that everyone can take part in)· An open competition is to be held at the tennis club.
(=used to say who can enter a competition)· The competition is open to artists between 16 and 25 years old.
· Clapton thrilled fans at a huge outdoor concert in New York.
(=that has been opened or that does not have a lid)· Don't keep food in open containers in the fridge.
(=that you do not try to hide)· Her expression was one of open contempt.
(=away from towns, and with few buildings, walls, trees etc)· We left the city and headed towards the open country in the north.
(=with few buildings, walls, trees etc)· The farmhouse has views over open countryside.
She opened the door a crack and peeped into the room. (=be willing or able to accept it)· Management have decided this and I don't think they're open to criticism.
(=that you do not try to hide)· The children were staring at her with open curiosity.
(=open them)· Would you mind opening the curtains?
· Cut open the avocado and remove the stone.
(=not covered)· The horse had to jump over an open ditch.
· I opened the door and Dad was standing there.· Can you close the door as you go out?
· We were still waiting for the train doors to open.
(=opens very suddenly and quickly)· Then the door burst open and two men with guns came in.
(=moves forward to open or backwards to shut)· The door swung shut behind me.
(=moves smoothly to the side or back again)· The lift doors slid open and we got in.
· Jonathan opened the drawer and took out a fork.
(=open it)· He pulled open drawers until he found the papers.
· I opened the envelope, pulled out the document and read it.
(=open it quickly and roughly)· My fingers trembled as I tore open the envelope.
(=open it by cutting it)· I quickly slit open the envelope.
(=an evening when an institution invites the public to come in and see the work that is done there)· We went to the open evening to find out more about the course.
· I slowly opened my eyes.
· Suddenly his eyes opened.
(=prevent them from closing)· I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open.
· The company has just opened a new factory in Swindon.
· I saw a fox run across the open field.
· Click on the icon to open the file.
(=a fire in a room that is not inside a stove etc)· Sophie warmed herself by the open fire.
(=not enclosed with a cover)· Never use a naked flame near spray paint.
She flipped the lid of the box open and looked inside.· As the weather gets warmer, the flowers open.
She tried to keep the door shut but the man forced it open. These questions are often an opening gambit (=the thing you say first) for a negotiation.· He heard Jack open the gate.
· Someone left the gate open, and the dog got out.
(=one that has not yet been covered in earth)· He wept by her open grave.
The landscape is a mixture of open ground and woodland. I had my eyes half-closed. Janice likes to have the window open. She had her back to the door. Just then, the heavens opened (=it started to rain heavily). (=hostility that is clearly shown) They eyed each other with open hostility.
They eyed each other with open hostility. What exactly the author meant by that statement is open to interpretation (=able to be understood or explained in different ways). (=an invitation to do something at any time you like)· Phillip kindly gave me an open invitation to stay at his villa in Tuscany.
She jerked open the car door and got out.· The largest key unlocks the front door.
(=land on which there are no buildings)· In the middle of the city are several hundred acres of open land.
Not to have taken action would have laid the department open to charges of negligence. I wish you’d stop leaving the door open.· Bill opened the letter and read it.
The book lay open on the table.· She opened her mail as she ate her breakfast.
Handguns are freely available on the open market (=for anyone to buy). (=begin it)· There was disagreement about opening the meeting with a prayer.
(=that anyone can go to)· A public meeting was held to discuss the proposal to build a new school.
large areas of open moorland· He opened his mouth wide so the doctor could examine his throat.
(=in surprise)· ‘Me?’ she said, her mouth dropping open.
· He chews with his mouth open.
a navy V-necked sweater (=start negotiations)· They have entered into negotiations to acquire another company.
(=be able to be discussed)· The price is usually open to negotiation.
(=be willing to discuss something)· The president signalled that he is open to negotiation on the budget.
The new church was officially opened on July 5th. He kept open house for a wide range of artists and writers. We’re having an open house Sunday, noon to 5 pm. The painting would fetch millions of dollars if it was sold on the open market. The jury returned an open verdict. He said there was some doubt over the way Grant had died, and recorded an open verdict.· The course also provides an opportunity to study Japanese.
(=a particular choice is available to someone)· Giving a prison sentence is only one of the options open to the judge.
(=to not limit what you can choose to do later)· Studying a broad range of subjects helps to keep your options open.
· On the open plains of east Africa are zebras, antelopes, and gazelles.
(=its performances start)· The play opens in San Francisco on Wednesday for a three-week run.
The lid popped open and juice spilled all over the floor. (=make a new opportunity available)· His recent performance opens up the possibility for him to compete in the Olympic Games.
· Can we open our presents now?
(=one where prisoners are not restricted as much as usual)· He was transferred to an open prison.
Can we prop the window open with something? She pulled open the door and hurried inside. I slowly pushed the door open. (=not dealt with)· At this point a key question remains unanswered.
(=not be certain or definitely true)· Whether he will survive politically is open to question.
(=rebellion that is clear and not hidden)· Algiers was in open rebellion.
(=not hidden or secret)· She faced open revolt from her Cabinet colleagues.
Impatiently, Sue ripped the letter open. (=a road without much traffic or anything to stop you getting somewhere)· This car is at its best on the open road.
(=it is not closed or blocked)· We try to keep the mountain road open for most of the year.
Congressman Saunders fired the opening salvo during a heated debate on capital punishment.· Government actions should be more open to public scrutiny.
(=the part of the sea that is far away from land)· Rescuers are trying to drive the stranded whales back out into the open sea.
A quick way to seal awkward gaps is to use a foam filler. (=something that a lot of people know, but do not talk about because it is supposed to be a secret)· It was an open secret that he was having an affair.
(=a large area of sky)· They lay on the ground under the open sky.
He slid open the door of the glass cabinet. Guy slit open the envelope. She snapped her briefcase shut. One of the boxes had split open. The force of the blow nearly split his head open. The gate sprang shut behind them. The kitchen door stood open so she went in. (=be willing to listen to suggestions)· We don’t have a firm plan yet, so we’re open to suggestions.
The heavy door swung shut.· She tore open the envelope.
She drew the curtains and threw open the windows. (=officially begins)· The trial opened 5 weeks ago.
British English (=stating that the facts about someone’s death are not known)· The inquest jury recorded an open verdict because of conflicting evidence.
Exchange programs open up new vistas for students. His family welcomed me with open arms (=in a very friendly way). We would welcome any advice or suggestions with open arms. Spiro spread his arms wide in a welcoming gesture. Leonora’s eyes opened wide in horror. The windows had been opened wide and she could feel a slight breeze.· I opened the window and breathed in the fresh air.
· A breeze from the open window lifted her hair.
· The dragon spread its wings and gave an experimental flap.
(=one where the skin has not yet healed)· Sports players should not continue to play with open wounds.
The pit yawned open in front of them. Olsen zipped the bag shut. He zipped open the case (=unfastened it).· The race is now wide open.· There, my own history cracked wide open.· The snap showed Jennifer with eyes closed and mouth wide open.· Leave the window wide open in winter; turn off the airconditioning in summer.· Turning the corner into Polly's road, Jack noticed suddenly that the door to her house was wide open.· I will say this only once and I hope your cars are wide open.· His eyes were wide open, but he was, apparently, dead.
NOUN· He left the bathroom door open, which Folly hated.· Back when me and my buddies were barricading the front door, who left the back door open?· I waited ten more minutes, then raised the latch and eased the door open until it bumped against his head.· They leave the refrigerator door open for hours at a time.
· She even laughed with her mouth open, so you could see the food in there, if you cared to.· They just sat there with their mouths open.
VERB· There, my own history cracked wide open.· The earth cracks wide open and people disappear in it.
· Savers must keep the account open for five years to qualify for the tax breaks.· White even tried to keep one branch open until midnight and to put a Laundromat in another.
· He left the bathroom door open, which Folly hated.· Back when me and my buddies were barricading the front door, who left the back door open?· But it's left open who decides this crop requirement.· They leave the refrigerator door open for hours at a time.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► high-collared/open-collared/fur-collared etc► crack open a bottle► fling something open► first night/opening night► throw something open► wedge something open/shut
1 in the open outdoors: - Let the seeds lie in the open for a day before planting them.
- Both animals were the only Rottweilers in the open class to gain a V rating.
- Everything was out in the open - political resistance, management failings and just sheer inertia.
- She had them out in the open now, where he could see them.
- That which is hidden away, the shadow, is out in the open!
- The tap-tap boy with the crooked gaze stood in the open doorway, grinning as usual.
- The typical retail pushcart is set up in the open areas of a shopping mall or strip mall.
- When the men made their appearance in the open, they were believed to be Union troops and were not fired upon.
- Both animals were the only Rottweilers in the open class to gain a V rating.
- Everything was out in the open - political resistance, management failings and just sheer inertia.
- She had them out in the open now, where he could see them.
- That which is hidden away, the shadow, is out in the open!
- The tap-tap boy with the crooked gaze stood in the open doorway, grinning as usual.
- The typical retail pushcart is set up in the open areas of a shopping mall or strip mall.
- When the men made their appearance in the open, they were believed to be Union troops and were not fired upon.
- My new in-laws accepted me with open arms.
- We welcomed Henry's offer with open arms.
- And if the turnout was any indication, the parish was welcoming them with open arms.
- He greeted Riley with open arms.
- Newspapers welcome with open arms a regular, efficient news service on which they can rely.
- Not that the profession was necessarily going to welcome me into the fold with open arms.
- Now we welcome death with open arms, especially when we are old.
- The Greenpeace support was welcomed with open arms.
- When Cara got out of the car Mrs Hendry stepped forward with open arms and embraced her new daughter-in-law.
- You walk in here and you expect to be welcomed with open arms.
- The door burst open and the kids piled into the house.
- But then the door bursts open and yet more soldiers push into the room.
- Douglas burst open the door into the first, where somebody had lit a lamp.
- She says the door bursts open just when they reach the cages and the monster comes through.
- The bedroom door had burst open and Peter was striding into the room.
- The door of the shuddering carriage burst open, and Fedorov tumbled out, struggling with the woman.
- Then the door'd burst open and Albert Swift and his gang had walked in.
- Two bags of paper money hurtled on to the road and burst open.
- As she reached the doors they came open, the button pressed by two people outside.
- His heart felt it would come loose in his body, so wildly was it beating.
- Some ropes had come loose and were swinging wildly in the wind.
- Then she felt something on her arm and discovered her scarf had come undone.
- Then sprinkle on water and re-trowel in come loose-use an emulsion paint brush.
- Think of all the things that come loose around the house.
- When the Thayer principalship came open in the summer of 1981, Littky applied and reentered the educational world.
- As a practical matter, the wisdom of tax-cutting is open to debate.
- In Alcove 1, everything was open to debate.
- It is open to debate whether the office should be performed by a police officer or by a prosecutorial figure.
- Jospin's conclusions may be open to debate, but the way he has formulated them is laudable.
- The actual number of words that are necessary is open to debate.
- This concept is open to debate, in that at least some Ediacaran fossils can be compared with known metazoans.
- Whether a further wave of takeovers in the brewing industry would benefit consumers is open to debate.
- Whether civil liberties or freedom of expression really languished in this period is open to debate.
- How far Blake and Mouton were pioneers in this field is open to dispute.
- Whether this revolution has improved medical care or worsened it is open to dispute.
- But the political and military efficacy of the pacts was always open to doubt.
- But whether that amounts to a positive incentive for companies to boost production and revive investment plans is open to doubt.
- Faith is something which is merely believed, so it must always expect to be open to doubt.
- Further, and more important, it was open to doubt whether the nobility was properly trained for war.
- Of course, even if accurately transmitted the reliability of this poetry is still open to doubt.
- Whether it will ever be finished is now open to doubt.
- Whether it will help in breaking two-party politics is open to doubt.
- Whether this kind of Labour Party is capable of winning a general election is open to doubt.
- All of you - walk around Pentonville and keep your ears open.
- They had a kid copper keeping his ears open.
- Always keeping an eye out in case of thieves.
- And we had to keep an eye open for police patrols.
- For months, he kept an eye out.
- He will keep an eye out, but he can not promise anything.
- Male speaker All you got to do is keep an eye open and watch the break lights.
- Though he works hard with all the kids, he keeps an eye out for the special ones.
- Valueoriented consumers should keep an eye out for the name FabreMontmayou.
- They went into the deal with their eyes open.
- And we lie there, with our eyes open, waiting for the sun.
- He was just lying there looking at her as if he was dreaming with his eyes open.
- She lies there in the dark, with her eyes open, keeping watch.
- She lies with her eyes open, listening to his noisy jerking-off and then his snores.
- The young man was gazing straight ahead, as if asleep with his eyes open.
- There are some people who get bored who can just fall asleep, standing up with their eyes open.
- They will be tough with you, so that you go into self-employment with your eyes open.
- Three days after that, I learned that I could begin the ascent with my eyes open.
- Any change in the law could open the floodgates to increased immigration.
- A move like this will open the floodgates.
- California's first execution may open the floodgates.
- Its authors say the motorway has opened the floodgates for development on a scale planners hadn't envisaged.
- So he opened the floodgates of the South Platte River and unleashed 96 million gallons of rushing water.
- The case could open the floodgates for thousands of similar claims worldwide.
- The score that opened the floodgates came out of nothing after 62 minutes.
- This easing of restrictions opened the floodgates for commercial Internet access.
- There were cupboards hanging open, mattresses overturned and a bottle of sour milk stood in the sink.
- Leaving the car unlocked is just an open invitation to thieves.
- The Carter team feared that the remark and the attitude it conveyed would be an open invitation to execute Kim.
- Krushchev laid bare Stalin's crimes.
- New bricks were removed, laying bare the old foundations.
- And he has laid himself wide open to the kind of criticism that will cloak him in a dark shroud of misery.
- If he had said he was acting under his own authority, he would have laid himself open to ridicule.
- Is it something you should do, or do you lay yourself open to terrible legal proceedings?
- It is not difficult to see how this approach lays itself open to abuse and drastic criticism.
- It is not only those who dismiss the arts as self-indulgent who lay themselves open to such a charge.
- Not to have taken action, she said, would have laid her department open to a charge of negligence.
- The Evangelicals have become a powerful influence in the land and this lays them open to the wooing of politicians.
- This would amount to a breach of their contract of employment and lay them open to disciplinary proceedings.
- If you can get people to relax, they're more likely to open their mouths and talk.
- Angrily she opened her mouth to protest but at that moment the door opened and David appeared.
- Even I wouldn't realise until they opened their mouths - which was only to sing the malai national anthem.
- He stared, he threw back his head in glad greeting and opened his mouth.
- He would croak if he opened his mouth, so he kept it shut.
- I opened my mouth to shout for help, but nothing came out.
- If you have to be sure before you dare open your mouth, most people are going to stay quiet.
- She stumbled to her feet, clutching the eiderdown around her, and opened her mouth to call to them.
- The baby robins, scrub jays, finches, sparrows and starlings opened their mouths wide in anticipation.
- Berryhill is back on the open market.
- HaL is unlikely to sell its chips on the open market.
- I hadn't been on the open market for so long.
- If the Bank wishes to reduce the money supply it will sell securities through its broker on the open market.
- It is likely to be some years before such a product is on the open market.
- It will sell the rest on the open market.
- Priced on the open market, they would sell for tens and tens of billions of dollars.
- They sell bonds on the open market.
- In the press, it seems to be open season on overpaid executives.
- It is open season for criticising UDCs for lack of planning, lack of strategic thinking and short termism.
- Payroll allocations can be changed only during an open season.
- That's the West Coast Trail, limited to 8,000 hikers during its open season from mid-April to the end of September.
- The grin meant it was open season.
- There would be an open season on scattered singletons.
- She took off her open-toed shoes.
- There are also these artificial plastic toes that you fit over your artificial foot, so you can wear open-toed sandals.
- Those who did were mostly long-haired, bearded and dressed in open-toed sandals.
- Again the opening up of public procurement procedures should result in a significant increase in intra-EC trade and industry re-structuring.
- By 1895 she had attained the opening up of Lincoln's Inn Fields to the poor.
- Over the next generation the first phase of the opening up of inland industrial Britain proceeded.
- Searching out high-quality old timber is a big factor in the opening up of pristine forests.
- Taylor said the opening up of opportunities for minorities in television would lead to more opportunities in films.
- The combination of these influences has encouraged the opening up of the airwaves to competition.
- At the end of the season, I will keep my options open.
- Either way, you can keep your options open.
- Flexibility is key, keeping your options open.
- Many young people want to keep their options open.
- Some companies are keeping their options open on retaining or dumping anachronistic names.
- We must expect to be surprised in the future, and we must keep our options open.
- You need to keep your options open in order to change courses at a moment's notice.
- I've opened Pandora's box.
- The internet has opened a Pandora's box of threats: its demons have been loosed on us all.
- This could be the opening salvo of a campaign to get the arena built elsewhere.
- Clinton fired the opening salvo last month when he included tax cuts in his proposed 1997 budget.
- Desktop publishing was only the opening salvo of a fusillade of developments that would change the way people worked.
- Earlier legislation paved the way by limiting the use of custody as a penalty for offenders under the age of twenty-one.
- He believes the Government has missed the opportunity to pave the way for badly needed investment.
- He gave as an example some of the early work in genetics which has paved the way for biotechnological developments.
- She would pave the way for a much more slender ideal: the flapper.
- Such developments are paving the way to rapprochement between conventional and complementary medicine.
- Was he paving the way for another referendum?
- When Ken wants to give his girlfriend a kiss he first calls in a construction team to clear the way.
- He sat with his legs wide apart.
- It was 3 a.m., but I was wide awake.
- The door was wide open when we got here.
- After an hour, though still wide awake, I crimped the page and turned off the light.
- But from what I gathered at the arts fair, the field is pretty wide open.
- My big worry is that the Monster will come wide awake and ruin things with its gross demands.
- The doors of the Conch cafe were wide open with no sign of Huong or Anna; they had probably evacuated.
- The main door stood wide open making a through draught.
- These are still very early days and the options are wide open.
- They were certainly the first means of crossing wide open spaces that are still vast and untamed, even today.
- Turning the corner into Polly's road, Jack noticed suddenly that the door to her house was wide open.
- After the stale fug in the tiny cabin, she gulped down the clean sea air, the car window wide open.
- His eyes seemed darker blue and more wide open than usual.
- Leave the window wide open in winter; turn off the airconditioning in summer.
- Some of the villa front doors were wide open to him.
- The snap showed Jennifer with eyes closed and mouth wide open.
- Their eyes are wide open as they pass the object round.
- When I came into the hall, his eyes were wide open, staring straight at me.
- Seeing my ex-boyfriend opened some old wounds.
- In her innocent curiosity, Cissie had opened old wounds.
- Whatever the outcome, Marcos's death has opened old wounds.
In the summer, we camped in the open.2 (out) in the open information that is out in the open is not hidden or secret: By now the whole affair was in the open. She never let her dislike for him come out into the open. All these concerns need to be brought out into the open.- voluptuary
- voluptuous
- voluptuously
- voluptuousness
- vomit
- Von Braun, Wernher
- von Bülow, Claus
- Vonnegut, Kurt
- von Trier, Lars
- voodoo
- voodoo economics
- voracious
- voraciously
- voracity
- vortex
- votary
- vote
- vote-getter
- vote of censure
- vote of confidence
- vote of no confidence
- vote of thanks
- voter
- voting booth
- voting machine