ORDER


Meaning of ORDER in English

I

verb

1

BAD : I was so excited that I forgot to order them to check that the camera was working properly.

GOOD : I was so excited that I forgot to ask them to check that the camera was working properly.

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You cannot order someone to do something unless you have the power to do so. Compare: 'The teacher ordered the child to sit down.' 'She asked her teacher if he could check her homework.'

2

BAD : I've ordered two seats for tomorrow night's performance.

GOOD : I've booked two seats for tomorrow night's performance.

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See note at BOOK (↑ book )

II

noun

DUBIOUS : Turning on the radio, I noticed immediately that it was out of order.

GOOD : Turning on the radio, I noticed immediately that it was not working properly.

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The phrase out of order is used mainly on notices stating that things such as public telephones, ticket machines, photocopiers etc are not working.

Longman Common Errors English vocabulary.      Английский словарь распространенных ошибок Longman.