INDEX:
1. any of a group of things
2. any one of the people in a group or in the world
RELATED WORDS
nothing : ↑ NONE/NOTHING
nobody : ↑ PERSON/PEOPLE (7)
see also
↑ ALL/EVERYTHING
↑ EVERYONE
↑ SOME/SEVERAL
◆◆◆
1. any of a group of things
▷ any /ˈeni/ [determiner/pronoun]
use this to talk about each one of the things in a group, when it is not important to say exactly which one :
▪ You can buy the magazine at any good bookstore.
▪ This remote control can be used with any television set.
any of the/these/my/them etc
▪ I told Debbie she could borrow any of my books.
▪ So, do you like any of your new classes?
▷ anything /ˈeniθɪŋ/ [pronoun]
everything that you may want, need etc, especially when there is a very big choice :
▪ I was going to throw all these things away anyway, so please take anything you like.
▪ Do you know anything about computers?
▪ Paul goes to all the auctions in the area looking for anything in Art Deco style.
anything else
▪ The one thing he wanted more than anything else was a glass of cold water.
anything at all
▪ If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anything at all.
▷ whatever /wɒtˈevəʳǁwɑːt-/ [pronoun]
anything at all -- use this to emphasize that it does not matter which object, action, idea etc :
▪ ‘Can I have a cake, Mummy?’ ‘You can have whatever you want, darling.’
▪ We’ll do whatever we can to help.
▪ You should find whatever you need in the cupboard under the sink.
▪ Here was an audience eager to listen to whatever I had to say.
▷ you name it /ˌjuː ˈneɪm ɪt/ informal
you say you name it when you are telling someone that there is everything that they want, or need, or can think of :
▪ World-class museums, great theater, outdoor sports -- you name it, this city’s got it.
▪ I had so many different jobs while I was a student: waiter, sales clerk, bartender -- you name it.
2. any one of the people in a group or in the world
▷ any /ˈeni/ [determiner/pronoun]
use this to talk about each person in a group of people when it is not important to say exactly which one :
any/man/child/teacher etc
▪ Ask any teacher and they’ll tell you I’m right.
▪ Any student who wishes to go on the trip should sign this list.
any of the men/their children/my teachers etc
▪ Have any of the guests arrived?
▪ Jan decided not to invite any of her relatives to her graduation.
any of you/them/us
▪ Have any of you seen my glasses?
▷ anyone/anybody /ˈeniwʌn, ˈeniˌbɒdiǁ-ˌbɑːdi/ [pronoun]
▪ Don’t worry about it. It can happen to anybody.
▪ Did anyone call while I was out?
▪ If anybody needs more information, come and see me after class.
▪ Sarah liked him more than anyone else she knew.
▪ This would be an ideal job for anyone who speaks French and Italian.
▷ any Tom, Dick or Harry /eni ˌtɒm ˌdɪk ɔːʳ ˈhæriǁ-ˌtɑːm-/ [noun phrase] informal
anyone in the world, used especially when you mean that you should be more careful about who you choose or allow to do something :
▪ Any Tom, Dick, or Harry could have written something just as good.
▪ If you don’t have someone at the door, any Tom, Dick or Harry could turn up at the party and walk straight in.
▷ whoever/no matter who /huːˈevəʳ, nəʊ ˌmætəʳ ˈhuː/ [pronoun]
any person -- use this when the identity of the person is not important or is not known :
▪ Whoever you ask, you will get the same answer.
▪ Sam wanted to feel that others, no matter who they were, agreed with him.
▪ If someone comes to your door you should always ask for some form of identification, no matter who they say they are.
▷ any fool/idiot /eni ˈfuːl, ˈɪdiət/ [noun phrase]
if you say that any fool or any idiot can do something, you mean that anyone can do it because it is extremely easy, and if someone cannot do it they must be very stupid :
▪ Any fool could see that the child was unhappy.