(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
An ~ is a particular thing, person, or situation that is not included in a general statement, judgment, or rule.
Few guitarists can sing as well as they can play; Eddie, however, is an ~...
There were no floral offerings at the ceremony, with the ~ of a single red rose...
The law makes no ~s...
With few ~s, guests are booked for week-long visits.
N-COUNT: oft with the N of n, with N
2.
If you make a general statement, and then say that something or someone is no ~, you are emphasizing that they are included in that statement.
Marketing is applied to everything these days, and books are no ~...
Most people have no real idea how to change to healthy food, and Maureen was no ~.
PHRASE: v-link PHR emphasis
3.
If you are making a general statement and you say that something is the ~ that proves the rule, you mean that although it seems to contradict your statement, in most other cases your statement will be true.
Wine-making and accountants don’t usually go together, but Thierry Hasard is an ~ that proves the rule.
PHRASE: ~ and V inflect, usu v-link PHR
4.
If you take ~ to something, you feel offended or annoyed by it, usually with the result that you complain about it.
He also took ~ to having been spied on...
= object
PHRASE: V inflects
5.
You use with the ~ of to introduce a thing or person that is not included in a general statement that you are making.
Yesterday was a day off for everybody, with the ~ of Lawrence...
PREP-PHRASE
6.
You use without ~ to emphasize that the statement you are making is true in all cases.
The vehicles are without ~ old, rusty and dented...
PHRASE: PHR with cl/group, PHR after v emphasis