INDEX:
1. to say that you will not do something
2. what you say when you refuse to do something
3. to refuse to give someone something
RELATED WORDS
to refuse to accept an offer, suggestion etc : ↑ REJECT
not accept someone for a job or course : ↑ REJECT
see also
↑ NO
↑ YES
↑ ACCEPT
↑ LET/ALLOW
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1. to say that you will not do something
▷ refuse /rɪˈfjuːz/ [intransitive verb]
to tell someone firmly that you will not do something they asked you to do :
▪ I asked Stevie if she would help us, but she refused.
refuse to do something
▪ If they refuse to leave, call the police.
▪ The church refused to give legitimacy to the new state.
flatly refuse
refuse without explanation in a way that seems unreasonable
▪ Mother flatly refused to see the doctor.
▷ refusal /rɪˈfjuːz ə l/ [countable noun usually singular]
when someone refuses to do something that they have been asked to do :
▪ He was upset by her refusal.
▪ His request for a bigger room met with a blunt refusal.
refusal to do something
▪ She must understand the consequences of her refusal to accept medical treatment.
▪ Refusal to do military service was a criminal offence.
▷ say no /ˌseɪ ˈnəʊ/ [verb phrase] especially spoken
to tell someone that you will not do what they asked you to do :
▪ I asked Dad to lend me some money, but he said no.
say no no
▪ They asked me so nicely, I couldn’t really say no to them.
▷ will not/won’t /ˌwɪl ˈnɒt, wəʊnt/ [modal verb] especially spoken
if someone will not or won’t do something that they have been asked to do or told to do, they are determined not to do it :
▪ He won’t do anything that I ask him to do.
▪ I won’t sign the contract unless they offer me more money.
▷ not be prepared to do something /nɒt biː prɪˌpeəʳd tə ˈduː something/ [verb phrase]
to refuse to do something - use this when you think it is wrong or unfair that anyone should expect you to do something :
▪ I’m not prepared to wait any longer.
▪ The landlord says that he is not prepared to pay for the repairs.
▷ draw the line /ˌdrɔː ðə ˈlaɪn/ [verb phrase]
to allow certain things, but feel that you must refuse when a particular point is reached :
▪ Our rules about time-keeping are fairly flexible, but we have to draw the line somewhere.
draw the line at
▪ I don’t mind your brother coming to stay, but I draw the line at him moving in!
▷ decline /dɪˈklaɪn/ [intransitive verb] formal
to politely refuse to do what someone has asked you to do, especially when they have asked for your opinion or asked for information :
▪ When asked to comment on details of the agreement, the President declined.
decline to do something
▪ A security officer at the factory, who declined to give his name, said he had seen two men leave the building.
▪ I asked Mr Hughes if he was satisfied with the jury’s verdict but he declined to comment.
2. what you say when you refuse to do something
▷ no /nəʊ/:
▪ ‘Can you come and help move these boxes?’ ‘No, sorry, I’m busy.’
▪ ‘You’re sick - you need to stay in bed.’ ‘No, I have to be at this meeting.’
▷ no way /ˌnəʊ ˈweɪ/ spoken
use this to firmly refuse to do something and say that nothing will change your mind :
▪ ‘Why don’t you phone him and apologize.’ ‘No way -- I haven’t done anything wrong!’
▪ No way am I going to look after all three children on my own!
▪ There’s no way I’m going to put up with rudeness like that!
▷ forget it /fəʳˈget ɪt/ spoken
use this to tell someone that there is no chance at all of you doing something :
▪ ‘Maybe things will sort themselves out in time.’ ‘Forget it, the relationship’s over.’
▪ As for the idea of going on holiday together, forget it!
▷ not likely /nɒt ˈlaɪkli/ British spoken
use this when you think that what someone has asked you to do is stupid or dangerous :
▪ ‘Are you coming to that lecture this evening?’ ‘Not likely - there’s free beer at the Queen’s Arms tonight!’
▷ and that’s flat British spoken that’s final American spoken /ən ˌðæts ˈflæt, ˌðæts ˈfaɪnl/
used after you have refused to do something, in order to show that you will not change your mind or discuss your decision :
▪ I’m not coming, and that’s flat. Now stop bothering me.
▪ There’s no way I’m helping Ted move again, and that’s final.
3. to refuse to give someone something
▷ refuse /rɪˈfjuːz/ [transitive verb]
refuse somebody something
▪ He was unable to attend the meeting in Moscow, because the Russian authorities had refused him a visa.
▪ You wouldn’t refuse an old friend a favour, would you?
refuse something to somebody
▪ Some banks are threatening to refuse loans to anyone who cannot provide suitable guarantees.
▷ deny /dɪˈnaɪ/ [transitive verb usually in passive]
if someone in authority denies someone something that they want, for example money, a right, or the chance to do something, they refuse to give it to them :
deny somebody something
▪ His parents denied him the opportunity to go to university.
be denied something
▪ The scientists have been denied the necessary funds for their research program.
▪ Up to 450 disaster victims were denied compensation by their insurers.
▪ She has been denied the right to appeal to the Supreme Court.
▷ withhold /wɪðˈhəʊld, wɪθ-/ [transitive verb]
to refuse to give someone something that they want - use this especially in official or legal contexts :
▪ The new law allows you to withhold payment if you think a bill is incorrect.
withhold something from somebody
▪ Doctors do not have the right to withhold necessary treatment from a patient.