liable

liable

responsible: He’s liable for the damage to her car.; likely: She’s liable to bring a date.
Not to be confused with:libel – in law, defamation by written or printed words, pictures, or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures; anything that is defamatory or that maliciously or damagingly misrepresents

li·a·ble

L0146200 (lī′ə-bəl)adj.1. Legally obligated or responsible: liable to pay for damages; liable for negligence. See Synonyms at responsible.2. Subject to undergoing or suffering something, especially something unpleasant. Used with to: We did not use glass containers because they are liable to breakage.3. Likely. Often used with reference to an unfavorable outcome: People who are sleep deprived are liable to make mistakes.

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[Middle English, probably from Old French lier, to bind, from Latin ligāre; see leig- in Indo-European roots.]Usage Note: Liable, apt, and likely are used interchangeably in constructions with infinitives, as in Zach is liable to lose, Zach is apt to lose, and Zach is likely to lose, but the three words have subtle distinctions in meaning. A traditional rule holds that liable should be used only if the subject would be adversely affected by the outcome expressed by the infinitive. The rule therefore permits Tim is liable to fall out of his chair if he doesn't sit up straight but not The chair is liable to be slippery, though constructions of the latter type have long been common in reputable writing. · Apt usually suggests that the subject has a natural tendency enhancing the probability of an outcome and that the speaker is somewhat apprehensive about the outcome. Thus apt is more naturally used in a sentence like The fuel pump is apt to give out at any minute than in Even the clearest instructions are apt to be misinterpreted by those idiots (since the instructions are not at fault) or in The fuel pump is apt to give you no problems for the life of the car (since there is no reason that the speaker should regard such an outcome as unfortunate). · Likely is more general than either liable or apt. It ascribes no particular property to the subject that would enhance the probability of the outcome. Thus, while John is apt to lose the election may suggest that the loss will result from something John does or fails to do, John is likely to lose the election does not. Nor does it suggest anything about the desirability of the outcome from the point of view of either the speaker or the subject.

liable

(ˈlaɪəbəl) adj (postpositive) 1. (Law) legally obliged or responsible; answerable2. susceptible or exposed; subject3. probable, likely, or capable: it's liable to happen soon. [C15: perhaps via Anglo-French, from Old French lier to bind, from Latin ligāre] ˈliableness nUsage: The use of liable to to mean likely to was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable

li•a•ble

(ˈlaɪ ə bəl)

adj. 1. legally responsible: You are liable for the damage caused by your action. 2. subject or susceptible: to be liable to heart disease. 3. likely or apt: She's liable to get angry. [1535–45; < Anglo-French li(er) to bind (< Latin ligāre) + -able] usage: Some usage guides say that liable can be used only in contexts in which the outcome is undesirable: The picnic is liable to be spoiled by rain. This use occurs often in formal writing but not to the exclusion of use in contexts in which the outcome is desirable: The drop in unemployment is liable to stimulate the economy. See also apt, likely.

likely, liable - Use likely if you mean "probable, expected"; use liable if you mean "bound by law or obligation."See also related terms for obligation.

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	liable - at risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant; "he is apt to lose"; "she is liable to forget"aptlikely - has a good chance of being the case or of coming about; "these services are likely to be available to us all before long"; "she is likely to forget"; "a likely place for a restaurant"; "the broken limb is likely to fall"; "rain is likely"; "a likely topic for investigation"; "likely candidates for the job"
	2.	liable - subject to legal action; "liable to criminal charges"nonexempt - (of persons) not exempt from an obligation or liability
	3.	liable - (often followed by `to') likely to be affected with; "liable to diabetes"nonimmune, nonresistant, unresistantsusceptible - (often followed by `of' or `to') yielding readily to or capable of; "susceptible to colds"; "susceptible of proof"
	4.	liable - held legally responsible; "men between the ages of 18 and 35 were liable for military service"responsible - worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable; "a responsible adult"; "responsible journalism"; "a responsible position"; "the captain is responsible for the ship's safety"; "the cabinet is responsible to the parliament"

liable

adjective1. likely, tending, inclined, disposed, prone, apt Only a small number are liable to harm themselves or others.2. vulnerable, subject, exposed, prone, susceptible, open, at risk of These women are particularly liable to depression.3. responsible, accountable, amenable, answerable, bound, obligated, chargeable The airline's insurer is liable for damages.

liable

adjective1. Legally obligated:accountable, amenable, answerable, responsible.2. Tending to incur:open, prone, subject, susceptible, susceptive, vulnerable.3. Having or showing a tendency or likelihood:apt, disposed, given, inclined, likely, prone.

Translations

可能受法律惩处易遭受...的有义务的有可能的有责任的

liable

(ˈlaiəbl) adjective1. (with to) tending to have, get, suffer from etc. This road is liable to flooding; He is liable to pneumonia. 易遭受...的 易遭受...的2. possibly or probably about (to do something or to happen). Watch the milk – it's liable to boil over. 有可能的 有可能的3. legally responsible (for). The airline is liable to you for any damage to your luggage. 依法應負責的 有责任的，有义务的 4. likely to get (a fine, a punishment). Do not litter! Offenders are liable to fines of up to $100. 可能蒙受…的(罰鍰、處罰等) 可能受法律惩处ˌliaˈbility noun 應負責任 倾向