(~s)
1.
A ~ is something good that you are grateful for.
Rivers are a ~ for an agricultural country.
...the ~s of prosperity.
N-COUNT
2.
If something is done with someone’s ~, it is done with their approval and support.
With the ~ of the White House, a group of Democrats in Congress is meeting to find additional budget cuts...
In April Thai and Indonesian leaders gave their formal ~ to the idea.
= approval
N-COUNT: usu sing, with poss
3.
A ~ is a prayer asking God to look kindly upon the people who are present or the event that is taking place.
N-COUNT
4.
see also bless
5.
If you tell someone to count their ~s, you are saying that they should think about how lucky they are instead of complaining.
Some would argue this was no burden in fact, and that she should count her ~s.
PHRASE: V inflects
6.
If you say that something is a ~ in disguise, you mean that it causes problems and difficulties at first but later you realize that it was the best thing that could have happened.
The failure to conclude the trade talks last December could prove a ~ in disguise.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
7.
If you say that a situation is a mixed ~, you mean that it has disadvantages as well as advantages.
For ordinary Italians, Sunday’s news probably amounts to a mixed ~.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR