INDEX:
1. to advise someone
2. what you say when you are advising someone
3. to ask someone for their advice
4. to do what someone advises you to do
5. someone’s advice about what you should do
6. someone who advises people
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ SUGGEST
↑ TELL
↑ ASK
↑ SHOULD/OUGHT TO (2)
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1. to advise someone
▷ advise /ədˈvaɪz/ [transitive verb]
to tell someone what you think they should do, especially when you have more knowledge or experience than they have :
advise somebody to do something
▪ I advise you to think very carefully before making any decision.
▪ All US citizens in the area have been advised to return home.
advise somebody against doing something
advise them not to do it
▪ Her lawyers have advised her against saying anything to the newspapers.
advise somebody on/about something
▪ Your teacher will be able to advise you about what qualifications you will need.
strongly advise
▪ I strongly advise you to get medical insurance if you’re going skiing.
advise caution/restraint/patience etc
▪ Health experts advise extreme caution when handling these materials.
▷ say somebody should do something/ought to do something /ˌseɪ somebody ʃʊd ˈduː something, ˌɔːt tə ˈduː something/ [verb phrase]
to tell someone what you think they should do, especially when this is your own personal opinion and not the result of particular information or knowledge :
▪ My friends keep saying I ought to learn to drive.
▪ Her mother said she should call the police immediately.
▪ They say you should drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
▷ tell /tel/ [transitive verb]
to tell someone that you think they should do something, especially in order to avoid problems :
tell somebody to do something
▪ I told him to go and see a doctor if he was worried.
tell somebody (that) they should do something
▪ Jimmy has told him he should keep away from the gang for the next couple of weeks.
▷ suggest /səˈdʒestǁsəg-/ [transitive verb]
to tell someone your ideas about what they should do, where they should go etc :
▪ ‘Why not ask Dad?’ he suggested.
▪ I’m not sure which is the best wine to order. What would you suggest?
suggest (that)
▪ Sarah suggested that I should apply for this job.
▷ recommend /ˌrekəˈmend/ [transitive verb]
to advise someone to do something, especially when you have special knowledge of a particular subject or situation :
▪ The Forsyth Report recommended stricter supervision of the trade in live animals.
▪ Ask your tour guide to recommend the best places to eat.
recommend that
▪ Doctors recommend that all children be immunized against polio and tuberculosis.
recommend doing something
▪ I would always recommend buying a good quality bicycle rather than a cheap one.
strongly recommend
▪ I strongly recommend that you get your brakes checked before you go on a long drive.
▷ urge /ɜːʳdʒ/ [transitive verb]
to strongly advise someone to do something because you think it is very important :
▪ The company’s bosses are urging full cooperation with the trade union.
urge somebody to do something
▪ Police are urging drivers not to come into London this weekend.
urge that
▪ He gave copies of the report to all those present at the meeting, urging that they read and digest its contents.
▷ give advice /ˌgɪv ədˈvaɪs/ [verb phrase]
to advise someone about a problem or subject, especially something that they have asked you about :
▪ I’m afraid that’s the only advice I can give you.
give advice to somebody
▪ The centre gives free advice to young people who have drug problems.
give somebody advice
▪ Can you give me some advice? I’m thinking of buying a computer.
give advice on/about
▪ Ask your bank to give you some advice about special student packages.
2. what you say when you are advising someone
▷ you should do something/you ought to do something /juː ʃʊd ˈduː something, juː ˌɔːt tə ˈduː something/ spoken :
▪ You should go to the doctor with that cough.
▪ I think you should stay here until you’ve sobered up.
▪ That new restaurant’s great -- you really ought to try it.
▪ Do you know what you ought to do? You ought to tell her exactly what you think of her.
▷ if I were you /ɪf ˌaɪ wəʳ ˈjuː/ spoken
say this when you are giving someone friendly advice :
▪ I wouldn’t do that if I were you.
▪ Here’s your money -- if I were you I’d put it in the bank right now.
▷ you’d be better off /juːd biː ˌbetər ˈɒf/ spoken
say this when you are advising someone how to do something in a better way :
▪ The ferry takes about eight hours! You’d be better off going by plane.
▪ I think you’d be better off using a knife rather than scissors for that job.
▷ take my advice /teɪk ˌmaɪ ədˈvaɪs/ spoken
say this when you think that someone should do something because you know from your own experience how unpleasant or difficult something can be :
▪ Take my advice - don’t go into teaching unless you’re absolutely committed.
▪ Divorces are a nightmare. Take my advice and stay single.
▷ take it from me /ˌteɪk ɪt frəm ˈmiː/ spoken
say this when you are telling someone that they should trust the advice you are giving them because it is based on your personal experience :
▪ Take it from me, you’ll regret it if you waste your time at school.
▪ Love affairs with colleagues never work out -- take it from me.
▷ you’d be well advised to do something/you would do well to do something /juːd biː ˌwel ədˌvaɪzd tə ˈduː something, juː wʊd duː ˌwel tə ˈduː something/ especially written
use this when you are strongly advising someone to do something, especially because they may have trouble if they do not do it :
▪ Before your interview you’d be well advised to have another look at what you put on the application form.
▪ There are parts of Detroit you’d be well advised to avoid.
▷ on no account/not on any account /ɒn ˈnəʊ əˌkaʊnt, nɒt ɒn ˈeni əˌkaʊnt/ [adverb] formal
use this when you are strongly advising someone not to do something because it would be dangerous or stupid :
▪ On no account should you attempt this exercise if you’re pregnant.
not on any account
▪ You shouldn’t sign the contract unless you are sure you understand it. Not on any account.
▷ make sure (that) you ... /meɪk ˈʃʊəʳ ðət juː/ spoken
say this when you do not want someone to make a mistake, for example by forgetting to do something or losing something :
▪ Make sure that you take your passport.
▪ Make sure you lock all the doors and windows at night.
▷ the best thing is to ... /ðə ˈbest θɪŋ ɪz tuː/ spoken
say this when you are telling someone what you think the best way of dealing with a particular situation is, based on your own experience :
▪ The best thing is to just ignore her. She’ll soon take the hint.
▷ a word of advice ... /ə ˌwɜːʳd əv ədˈvaɪs/ spoken
say this especially when you are warning someone to be careful about something :
▪ A word of advice: when you’re at the interview don’t mention that you used to work in a bar.
3. to ask someone for their advice
▷ ask somebody’s advice /ˌɑːsk somebodyˈs ədˈvaɪsǁˌæsk-/ [verb phrase]
to ask someone to advise you about something :
▪ Can I ask your advice? I need to find somewhere to stay in London.
ask sb’s advice on/about
▪ I always ask my brother’s advice about computers.
▷ seek advice /ˌsiːk ədˈvaɪs/ [verb phrase] written
to ask someone to advise you or to try to find someone to advise you, especially someone who has special or professional knowledge :
seek advice from somebody
▪ The best thing to do is to seek advice from an expert.
seek somebody’s advice on
▪ Carla sought her grandmother’s advice on all personal matters.
▷ get/obtain advice also take advice British /ˌget, əbˌteɪn ədˈvaɪs, ˌteɪk ədˈvaɪs/ [verb phrase]
get legal/medical/professional etc advice
to ask someone who has special knowledge to advise you about a problem that you cannot deal with by yourself :
▪ If the debt is not paid within seven days, we will take legal advice.
▪ Pregnant women should get medical advice before taking any kind of drug.
get legal etc advice on
▪ She had told her employers that she would be getting professional advice on her rights.
▷ consult /kənˈsʌlt/ [transitive verb] formal
to get advice from someone who is trained in a particular profession, for example a lawyer or a doctor :
▪ If the symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
▪ I want to consult my lawyer before I say anything.
consult somebody about something
▪ Tonight the President will consult his military observers about the likelihood of an attack.
4. to do what someone advises you to do
▷ take somebody’s advice/follow somebody’s advice /ˌteɪk somebodyˈs ədˈvaɪsÛˌfɒləʊ-Ûˌfɑː-/ [verb phrase]
to do what someone advises you to do :
▪ I’ve decided to take your advice and go to art school.
▪ If she had followed my advice, this would never have happened.
▷ do what somebody says /ˌduː wɒt somebody ˈsez/ especially spoken
to do what someone has told or advised you to do :
▪ If you’d done what I’d said, none of this would have happened.
▷ listen to /ˈlɪs ə n tuː/ [transitive phrasal verb not in progressive]
to do what someone advises you to do, especially because you respect them and trust their judgement :
▪ You tell him Dad - I’m sure he’ll listen to you.
▪ Bob warned us about this. I wish I’d listened to him.
▷ on somebody’s advice/on the advice of somebody /ɒn somebodyˈs ədˈvaɪs, ɒn ði ədˈvaɪs əv somebody/ [adverb]
if you do something on someone’s advice, you do it because they have advised you to do it :
▪ On her doctor’s advice, she took a few days off work.
▪ He decided not to take the exam, on the advice of his professor.
5. someone’s advice about what you should do
▷ advice /ədˈvaɪs/ [uncountable noun]
what someone advises you to do :
▪ Get some advice from the people in the tourist office.
advice on/about
▪ For advice on AIDS, phone this free number.
give somebody advice
▪ I decided to ask Laura what she thought I should do. She always gives me good advice.
a piece of advice
some advice
▪ Years ago, my father gave me a piece of advice that I’ve never forgotten.
medical/legal/professional etc advice
▪ You should get legal advice before you sign the contract.
sound advice
good advice
▪ That’s sound advice - I’ll definitely bear it in mind.
▷ tip /tɪp/ [countable noun]
a simple but useful piece of advice about how to do something more easily or effectively :
▪ Here’s a good ti if you spill red wine on your carpet, pour salt on it to remove it.
tip on
▪ a leaflet containing some tips on how to take better photos
▷ recommendation /ˌrekəmenˈdeɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun usually plural]
advice about how to deal with a problem, especially given by a group of people who have made a detailed study of it :
▪ The railway companies seem to completely ignore safety recommendations.
make a recommendation
▪ The committee made a number of recommendations for improving standards in schools.
recommendation
▪ Unless the report’s recommendations are implemented soon, the future for industry could be very bleak indeed.
▷ guidance /ˈgaɪd ə ns/ [uncountable noun]
advice about what to do in your job, your education, or your private life - use this about advice you get from someone whose job is to advise and help people :
▪ practical guidance and support for people working abroad
give guidance on something
▪ Your teacher can give you guidance on choosing a career and writing a job application.
▷ counselling British /counseling American /ˈkaʊns ə lɪŋ/ [uncountable noun]
advice and support given by a specially trained person who can help people with personal problems or people who have had a very unpleasant experience :
▪ The college will provide counselling for students who have problems with alcohol or drugs.
▪ Victims of violent crimes often need counseling.
6. someone who advises people
▷ adviser British /advisor American /ədˈvaɪzəʳ/ [countable noun]
someone whose job is to give advice, especially in business, law, or politics :
financial/legal/careers etc adviser
▪ Talk to an independent financial adviser before you invest your money.
adviser on
▪ the Prime Minister’s personal adviser on economic affairs
adviser to somebody
▪ She’s been appointed as scientific advisor to the President.
advisory [adjective usually before noun]
existing for the purpose of giving advice :
▪ The Science Council is mainly an advisory body.
▪ I will be present at committee meetings, but purely in an advisory capacity.
▷ consultant /kənˈsʌltənt/ [countable noun]
someone who gives special technical advice to companies or other organizations :
▪ He’s left his job as a computer programmer and is working as a consultant for a German firm.
consultant on
▪ Booth is a consultant on language with one of the national press agencies.
consultant to somebody
▪ As a consultant to NASA, Cockburn had access to confidential details of the US space program.
▷ counsellor British /counselor American /ˈkaʊns ə ləʳ/ [countable noun]
someone who gives professional advice and emotional support to people, especially about personal problems :
▪ I never realized you were so depressed. Have you been to see a counselor?
▪ Children in the summer camp can see a trained counselor if they have any problems.
▪ The hospice is appealing for more people to work as bereavement counsellors.
▷ guru /ˈgʊruː/ [countable noun] informal
someone who is highly respected within their area of work, and to whom people go for advice :
▪ Peter Drucker, the management guru, has just published a new book.
▪ It soon became apparent that Colin was the guru of the whole department.
▷ focus group /ˈfəʊkəs gruːp/ [countable noun]
a group of ordinary people who are brought together and asked for their opinions about a particular subject or product by a company, political party etc, in order to help them plan what to do or produce in the future :
▪ The government’s excessive use of focus groups to sound out public opinion has come under a lot of criticism.
▪ A focus group gave its responses to the proposed advertising campaign.
▷ think-tank /ˈθɪŋk tæŋk/ [countable noun]
a committee of people with experience in a particular subject that an organization or government establishes to produce ideas and give advice :
▪ a right-wing political think-tank