else
adverb /els/
/els/
used in questions or after nothing, nobody, something, anything, etc.Idioms - in addition to something already mentioned
- What else did he say?
- I don't want anything else, thanks.
- I'm taking a few clothes and some books, not much else.
- different
- Ask somebody else to help you.
- Haven't you got anything else to wear?
- Why didn't you come? Everybody else was there.
- Yes I did give it to her. What else could I do?
- (informal) if not synonym or else
- Keep your mouth shut, else we'll be in trouble.
Word OriginOld English elles, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch els and Swedish eljest.
Idioms
or else
- if not synonym otherwise
- Hurry up or else you'll be late.
- They can't be coming or else they'd have called.
- used to introduce the second of two possibilities
- He either forgot or else decided not to come.
- (informal) used to threaten or warn somebody
- Just shut up, or else!