I. BEING RIGHT OR GOING IN THE RIGHT PLACE
(~s, ~ting, ~ted)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
Note: In American English the form '~' is used in the present tense and sometimes also as the past tense and past participle of the verb.
Please look at category 13 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1.
If something ~s, it is the right size and shape to go onto a person’s body or onto a particular object.
The sash, kimono, and other garments were made to ~ a child...
She has to go to the men’s department to find trousers that ~ at the waist...
Line a tin with lightly-greased greaseproof paper, making sure the corners ~ well.
VERB: V n, V prep/adv, V prep/adv
2.
If something is a good ~, it ~s well.
Eventually he was happy that the sills and doors were a reasonably good ~.
N-SING: adj N
3.
If you are ~ted for a particular piece of clothing, you try it on so that the person who is making it can see where it needs to be altered.
She was being ~ted for her wedding dress.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed for n
4.
If something ~s somewhere, it can be put there or is designed to be put there.
...a pocket computer which is small enough to ~ into your pocket...
He folded his long legs to ~ under the table...
VERB: V prep/adv, V prep/adv
5.
If you ~ something into a particular space or place, you put it there.
She ~ted her key in the lock...
When the crown has been made you go back and the dentist will ~ it into place.
VERB: V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv
6.
If you ~ something somewhere, you attach it there, or put it there carefully and securely.
Fit hinge bolts to give extra support to the door lock...
Peter had built the overhead ladders, and the next day he ~ted them to the wall...
VERB: V n, V n prep
7.
If something ~s something else or ~s into it, it goes together well with that thing or is able to be part of it.
Her daughter doesn’t ~ the current feminine ideal...
Fostering is a full-time job and you should carefully consider how it will ~ into your career...
There’s something about the way he talks of her that doesn’t ~.
VERB: V n, V in/into n, V
8.
You can say that something ~s a particular person or thing when it is appropriate or suitable for them or it.
The punishment must always ~ the crime.
= match
VERB: V n
9.
If something is ~ for a particular purpose, it is suitable for that purpose.
Of the seven bicycles we had, only two were ~ for the road.
...safety measures intended to reassure consumers that the meat is ~ to eat...
ADJ: oft ADJ for n, ADJ to-inf, ADJ n to-inf, ADJ n for n
10.
If someone is ~ to do something, they have the appropriate qualities or skills that will allow them to do it.
You’re not ~ to be a mother!...
He was not a ~ companion for their skipper that particular morning.
ADJ: oft ADJ to-inf, ADJ for n, ADJ n for n, ADJ n to-inf
~ness
There is a debate about his ~ness for the highest office...
N-UNCOUNT: N for n, N to-inf
11.
If something ~s someone for a particular task or role, it makes them good enough or suitable for it. (FORMAL)
...a man whose past experience ~s him for the top job in education...
It is not a person’s gender that ~s them to be a vicar but what is in their hearts.
VERB: V n for n, V n to-inf
12.
If you say that someone sees ~ to do something, you mean that they are entitled to do it, but that you disapprove of their decision to do it. (FORMAL)
He’s not a friend, you say, yet you saw ~ to lend him money.
PHRASE: V inflects disapproval
13.
~ the bill: see bill
to ~ like a glove: see glove
not in a ~ state: see state
see also ~ted , ~ting
II. HEALTHY
(~ter, ~test)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
Please look at category 2 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1.
Someone who is ~ is healthy and physically strong.
An averagely ~ person can master easy ski runs within a few days.
? un~
ADJ
~ness
Squash was once thought to offer all-round ~ness.
N-UNCOUNT: oft N n
2.
~ as a fiddle: see fiddle
fighting ~: see fight
III. UNCONTROLLABLE MOVEMENTS OR EMOTIONS
(~s)
1.
If someone has a ~ they suddenly lose consciousness and their body makes uncontrollable movements.
About two in every five epileptic ~s occur during sleep...
= seizure
N-COUNT
2.
If you have a ~ of coughing or laughter, you suddenly start coughing or laughing in an uncontrollable way.
Halfway down the cigarette she had a ~ of coughing...
N-COUNT: with supp, N of n
3.
If you do something in a ~ of anger or panic, you are very angry or afraid when you do it.
Pattie shot Tom in a ~ of jealous rage.
N-COUNT: N of n
4.
If you say that someone will have a ~ when they hear about something, you mean that they will be very angry or shocked. (INFORMAL)
He’d have a ~ if he knew what we were up to!
= go mad
PHRASE: V inflects
5.
Something that happens in ~s and starts or by ~s and starts keeps happening and then stopping again.
My slimming attempts tend to go in ~s and starts...
Military technology advances by ~s and starts.
PHRASE: PHR after v