OPEN

I. adjective

COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES

a competition is open to sb (= used to say who can enter a competition )

▪

The competition is open to artists between 16 and 25 years old.

a door flies/bursts open (= opens very suddenly and quickly )

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Then the door burst open and two men with guns came in.

a door opens/closes/shuts

▪

We were still waiting for the train doors to open.

a door slides open/shut (= moves smoothly to the side or back again )

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The lift doors slid open and we got in.

a door swings open/shut (= moves forward to open or backwards to shut )

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The door swung shut behind me.

a key unlocks/opens sth

▪

The largest key unlocks the front door.

a naked/an open flame (= not enclosed with a cover )

▪

Never use a naked flame near spray paint.

a play opens (= its performances start )

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The play opens in San Francisco on Wednesday for a three-week run.

a public/open meeting (= that anyone can go to )

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A public meeting was held to discuss the proposal to build a new school.

a road is open (= it is not closed or blocked )

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We try to keep the mountain road open for most of the year.

a trial opens (= officially begins )

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The trial opened 5 weeks ago.

an open competition (= that everyone can take part in )

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An open competition is to be held at the tennis club.

an open container (= that has been opened or that does not have a lid )

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Don't keep food in open containers in the fridge.

an open ditch (= not covered )

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The horse had to jump over an open ditch.

an open evening (= an evening when an institution invites the public to come in and see the work that is done there )

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We went to the open evening to find out more about the course.

an open field

▪

I saw a fox run across the open field.

an open fire (= a fire in a room that is not inside a stove etc )

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Sophie warmed herself by the open fire.

an open grave (= one that has not yet been covered in earth )

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He wept by her open grave.

an open prison (= one where prisoners are not restricted as much as usual )

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He was transferred to an open prison.

an open secret (= something that a lot of people know, but do not talk about because it is supposed to be a secret )

▪

It was an open secret that he was having an affair.

an open verdict British English (= stating that the facts about someone’s death are not known )

▪

The inquest jury recorded an open verdict because of conflicting evidence.

an open wound (= one where the skin has not yet healed )

▪

Sports players should not continue to play with open wounds.

an opening bid (= the first bid )

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The opening bid was only $10.

an opening/closing ceremony (= at the beginning or end of a special event )

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I stayed for the closing ceremony.

an open/standing invitation (= an invitation to do something at any time you like )

▪

Phillip kindly gave me an open invitation to stay at his villa in Tuscany.

an option is open/available to sb (= a particular choice is available to someone )

▪

Giving a prison sentence is only one of the options open to the judge.

be open to criticism (= be willing or able to accept it )

▪

Management have decided this and I don't think they're open to criticism.

be open to negotiation (= be willing to discuss something )

▪

The president signalled that he is open to negotiations on the budget.

be open to negotiation (= be able to be discussed )

▪

The price is usually open to negotiation.

be open to question (= not be certain or definitely true )

▪

Whether he will survive politically is open to question.

be open to scrutiny

▪

Government actions should be more open to public scrutiny.

be open to suggestions (= be willing to listen to suggestions )

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We don’t have a firm plan yet, so we’re open to suggestions.

blow (sth) open/shut

▪

A sudden draught blew the door shut .

bottle opener

can opener

click open/shut (= open with a short hard sound )

▪

I heard the gate at the front of the house click open.

cut sth open

▪

Cut open the avocado and remove the stone.

enter into/open negotiations (= start negotiations )

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They have entered into negotiations to acquire another company.

fired the opening salvo

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Congressman Saunders fired the opening salvo during a heated debate on capital punishment.

flipped...open

▪

She flipped the lid of the box open and looked inside.

flowers open

▪

As the weather gets warmer, the flowers open.

forced...open

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She tried to keep the door shut but the man forced it open .

have sth open/closed/on etc

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I had my eyes half-closed.

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Janice likes to have the window open.

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She had her back to the door.

having an open house

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We’re having an open house Sunday, noon to 5 pm.

jerked open

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She jerked open the car door and got out.

keep your eyes open (= prevent them from closing )

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I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open.

keep/leave your options open (= to not limit what you can choose to do later )

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Studying a broad range of subjects helps to keep your options open.

kept open house

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He kept open house for a wide range of artists and writers.

laid...open to charges of

▪

Not to have taken action would have laid the department open to charges of negligence.

leave sth open/empty/untidy etc

▪

I wish you’d stop leaving the door open.

leave the gate open

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Someone left the gate open, and the dog got out.

lie empty/open/hidden etc

▪

The book lay open on the table.

move/empty/open your bowels (= get rid of solid waste from your body )

officially opened

▪

The new church was officially opened on July 5th.

on the open market (= for anyone to buy )

▪

Handguns are freely available on the open market .

open a bank account

▪

I’d like to open a bank account .

open a drawer

▪

Jonathan opened the drawer and took out a fork.

open a factory

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The company has just opened a new factory in Swindon.

open a file

▪

Click on the icon to open the file.

open a gate

▪

He heard Jack open the gate.

open a letter

▪

Bill opened the letter and read it.

open a meeting (= begin it )

▪

There was disagreement about opening the meeting with a prayer.

open a window

▪

I opened the window and breathed in the fresh air.

open access TV

open admiration (= that you do not try to hide )

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Her father looked at her in open admiration.

open an envelope

▪

I opened the envelope, pulled out the document and read it.

open bar

open communication (= involving everyone in a group )

▪

The system is aimed at creating trust and open communication.

open competition (= a situation that offers anyone a chance to be successful )

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We welcome open competition in the software market.

open country (= away from towns, and with few buildings, walls, trees etc )

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We left the city and headed towards the open country in the north.

open countryside (= with few buildings, walls, trees etc )

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The farmhouse has views over open countryside.

open curiosity (= that you do not try to hide )

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The children were staring at her with open curiosity.

open day

open ground

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The landscape is a mixture of open ground and woodland.

open house

▪

Parents are invited to attend the open house next Thursday.

open land (= land on which there are no buildings )

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In the middle of the city are several hundred acres of open land.

open letter

open market

▪

The painting would fetch millions of dollars if it was sold on the open market .

open marriage

open mike

open moorland

▪

large areas of open moorland

open primary

open prison

open rebellion (= rebellion that is clear and not hidden )

▪

Algiers was in open rebellion.

open revolt (= not hidden or secret )

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She faced open revolt from her Cabinet colleagues.

open sandwich

open season

▪

the open season for deer

open sesame

▪

A university degree isn’t always an open sesame to a good job.

open source

▪

open source software such as Linux

open system

open the border (= start allowing people to cross )

▪

After fifty years the border was finally opened.

open to abuse (= able to be used wrongly )

▪

A self-monitoring tax system is clearly open to abuse .

open to interpretation (= able to be understood or explained in different ways )

▪

What exactly the author meant by that statement is open to interpretation .

open up a possibility (= make a new opportunity available )

▪

His recent performance opens up the possibility for him to compete in the Olympic Games.

open up new vistas

▪

Exchange programs open up new vistas for students.

open verdict

▪

The jury returned an open verdict .

open vowel

open your eyes

▪

I slowly opened my eyes.

open your mail

▪

She opened her mail as she ate her breakfast.

open

▪

A breeze from the open window lifted her hair.

open...branch

▪

They’re planning to open a branch in St. Louis next year.

open...can of worms

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I just don’t know what to do – every solution I can think of would just open up a whole new can of worms .

open/close a bag

▪

The customs officer opened my bag.

open/close/shut the door

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I opened the door and Dad was standing there.

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Can you close the door as you go out?

open/draw (back)/pull back the curtains (= open them )

▪

Would you mind opening the curtains?

opened...a crack

▪

She opened the door a crack and peeped into the room.

opening gambit (= the thing you say first )

▪

These questions are often an opening gambit for a negotiation.

opening hours

opening night

opening time

▪

We arrived at the pub just before opening time.

opening up

▪

the opening up of opportunities for women

open/outright hostility (= hostility that is clearly shown )

▪

They eyed each other with open hostility.

open/pull down/draw the blinds

open/shut/close your mouth

▪

He opened his mouth wide so the doctor could examine his throat.

open/spread (sth) wide

▪

Spiro spread his arms wide in a welcoming gesture.

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Leonora’s eyes opened wide in horror.

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The windows had been opened wide and she could feel a slight breeze.

open/undisguised contempt (= that you do not try to hide )

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Her expression was one of open contempt.

open/unwrap a present

▪

Can we open our presents now?

popped open

▪

The lid popped open and juice spilled all over the floor.

prop...open

▪

Can we prop the window open with something?

provide/present/open up an opportunity

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The course also provides an opportunity to study Japanese.

pull open/pull out a drawer (= open it )

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He pulled open drawers until he found the papers.

pull sth open/shut

▪

She pulled open the door and hurried inside.

push sth open/shut

▪

I slowly pushed the door open.

recorded an open verdict

▪

He said there was some doubt over the way Grant had died, and recorded an open verdict .

returned an open verdict

▪

The jury returned an open verdict .

ripped...open

▪

Impatiently, Sue ripped the letter open .

sb’s eyes open

▪

Suddenly his eyes opened.

sb’s mouth falls/drops open (= in surprise )

▪

‘Me?’ she said, her mouth dropping open.

seal a joint/crack/opening/gap

▪

A quick way to seal awkward gaps is to use a foam filler.

slid open

▪

He slid open the door of the glass cabinet.

slit open an envelope (= open it by cutting it )

▪

I quickly slit open the envelope.

slit open

▪

Guy slit open the envelope.

snap (sth) open/shut

▪

She snapped her briefcase shut.

sold on the open market

▪

The painting would fetch millions of dollars if it was sold on the open market .

split open

▪

One of the boxes had split open .

split...head open

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The force of the blow nearly split his head open .

spread/open its wings

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The dragon spread its wings and gave an experimental flap.

spring open/shut

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The gate sprang shut behind them.

stood open

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The kitchen door stood open so she went in.

swing open/shut

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The heavy door swung shut.

tear sth open

▪

She tore open the envelope.

tear/rip open an envelope (= open it quickly and roughly )

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My fingers trembled as I tore open the envelope.

the heavens opened (= it started to rain heavily )

▪

Just then, the heavens opened .

the introductory/opening chapter (= the first chapter )

▪

There’s a short introductory chapter giving an outline of the subject matter.

the open plain(s)

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On the open plains of east Africa are zebras, antelopes, and gazelles.

the open road (= without much traffic or anything to stop you getting somewhere )

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This car is at its best on the open road.

the open sea (= the part of the sea that is far away from land )

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Rescuers are trying to drive the stranded whales back out into the open sea.

the open sky (= a large area of sky )

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They lay on the ground under the open sky.

threw open

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She drew the curtains and threw open the windows.

tin opener

unanswered/open (= not dealt with )

▪

At this point a key question remains unanswered.

welcomed...with open arms (= in a very friendly way )

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His family welcomed me with open arms .

welcome...with open arms

▪

We would welcome any advice or suggestions with open arms .

with your mouth open

▪

He chews with his mouth open.

yawned open

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The pit yawned open in front of them.

zip sth shut/open

▪

Olsen zipped the bag shut.

▪

He zipped open the case unfastened it .

COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS

■ ADVERB

more

▪

Nominating procedures were now more open and participatory than they had ever been before.

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Air circulates more readily through a more open tree.

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The economy is now both more open and more competitive.

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There was no more open country now; we camped always on dark, ploughed fields.

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Nevertheless, in many schools enhanced staffing stirred up traditional structures and assumptions to produce a more open and reflective professional climate.

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When we read or listen with this attitude, we are more open to what some one else has to say.

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They should have played a more open game and allowed us to see Bangor scoring lots of goals.

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Bring more groups from the United States, they say, so we can have more open communication.

still

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It is, for canal enthusiasts, a fascinatingly varied and interesting route, all of it still open .

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In addition, the selection of these 10 battles, clearly subjective, is still open to question.

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Lily's door was still open .

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The case is still open , and Tampa police have no leads.

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The shops and cafés were still open .

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The shops were still open: the butcher, the greengrocer, the fishing-tackle shop.

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He would have to wait until Monday to find out if the offer was still open .

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At the same time wind scooped all his maps out of the cockpit, which was still open .

wide

▪

These are still very early days and the options are wide open .

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By building a computerized society, the United States has left itself wide open to electronic attack.

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It leaves them wide open for dismissal by anybody with a basic knowledge of debating tactics.

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As I drew level with the two vehicles I saw that Carla's front door was wide open .

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She leaves her door wide open to the dark.

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He left the field wide open for whatever the other players in this charming charade might suggest.

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Being summer, the window is wide open .

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The door to Suzy's bedroom was wide open and her partly clothed body was spreadeagled on the bed.

■ NOUN

air

▪

The world, her world, no longer accommodated pleasure parties in the open air .

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Outside, in the open air , it was glorious.

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There are at present opportunities to undertake agricultural and horticultural work in the open air at 23 young offender institutions.

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They passed through another set of doors and out into the open air .

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The verdant setting of these open air concerts was ideal.

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She eased it free, allowing it to stand proudly erect in the open air .

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I held the bars until the nausea left me, pouring out through the restraining iron and into the open air .

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After the singing of another hymn the congregation adjourned to the open air for the unveiling of the Memorial stones.

country

▪

And now they had left the city behind and were heading out into the open country .

▪

He navigates the chaos to head into open country .

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The Park is a large area of open country with rocky outcrops, ancient buildings and a small river.

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There was no more open country now; we camped always on dark, ploughed fields.

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In open country , trees becomes sites for breeding colonies which may also facilitate synchronization of breeding.

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Well, maybe only once in a while in open country .

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I was badly hurt, but I escaped and ran into the open country .

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To fly over open country , to fly just for the sake of flying, is to know freedom.

countryside

▪

They crossed Dalmeny bridge and were in open countryside when the attackers struck.

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However, we were told an application for a house in the open countryside in Montgomeryshire had just been called in.

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It opens on to open countryside and is easy to get to.

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Not all barns are in open countryside .

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Much of the open countryside is subject to special control.

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Head through here and out again into open countryside .

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They cleared the thick, wooded hills of Oxford and went down into the open countryside .

court

▪

This is the day the case is called in open court .

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Of the prospective jurors questioned, only six were dismissed in open court .

▪

It's a question that lawyers representing the two Hitachi employees wanted to pursue in open court .

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He also has sealed transcripts of the entire jury selection process, even the sessions held in open court .

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The hearing was in chambers and judgment was delivered in open court .

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He was interviewed by Judge Patrick King in his chambers, but did not testify in open court .

▪

The summons was heard in chambers but judgment was given in open court at the request of the parties.

▪

I am giving this judgment in open court at the request of all parties.

day

▪

They ran their own open day for local businesses, which was a great success.

▪

The station will be opened in June and there will also be a series of open days .

▪

Open doors: Teesside's new £20m law courts complex is having an official open day on June 27.

▪

Opening success: More than 1000 people visited Middlesbrough botanic centre's open day .

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It is holding open days in its Stanley, Middlesbrough and Washington stores, supposedly in support of the Rokermen.

▪

Admission to the clinic open day is free - all welcome.

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The Wirral Heart Support Centre has an open day tomorrow.

door

▪

Ruth knocked on the now open door and then stepped into the suite.

▪

One eye on the open door , Bernstein decided to shoot for the moon.

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The only open door led to a broom cupboard.

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We were taken into a long room and ordered to undress while the guards watched through the open door .

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He was passing the open door , caught the odour of cigarette smoke.

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He sees the present as the open door to an efficacious future.

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A chill wind came through the open doors to the balcony.

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Richard was waiting on the steps of our converted house, a dim shape by the open door .

field

▪

Outside was very pleasant with views over open fields and a local park.

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They all crossed the road and hurried down an open field , and then he jumped another fence.

▪

At the end of the kitchen garden, by the stile to the open fields , he had looked back.

▪

The Aug. 24-Sept. 3 trek covers Cape Province wineries, private gardens, open fields and a flower show.

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A hedgerow in open fields was no place to remain all day.

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The open fields were covered with wounded and stragglers, going to the rear.

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Here the open fields survived until 1872.

▪

The wrecked Wellington bomber still smouldered in the open field .

fire

▪

There are two comfortable lounges with open fires , one with a large collection of books for guests to read.

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Clothes are hung from nails, and cooking is done over an open fire .

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The cosy bar has an open fire .

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Purists believe that roasting means exposing food to the direct heat of a hot, open fire .

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Any kind of open fire needs a considerable volume of fuel to keep it alight.

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Always put out an open fire before going to bed.

▪

Put guards on all open fires .

▪

Do not try to draw up an open fire with a sheet of newspaper.

government

▪

Was not the citizens charter supposed to be all about open Government ?

▪

Paradoxically, these secret arrangements created what was probably the most open government in history.

▪

Additionally, bargaining is a closed, private activity which sits uneasily astride the current emphasis on open government and public participation.

▪

Still, Watler and other Texas open government advocates are generally upbeat.

▪

Those who have read it must agree that it is an exercise in open government .

▪

The Government say that they believe in open government.

▪

Freedom of information legislation and open government will improve competition and encourage informed debate.

▪

A fuller acceptance of the concept of open government would stimulate discussion of public policy inside and outside Parliament.

ground

▪

Some were hanging on the brambles and a few flat, wet clots were lying well out in open ground beyond the clump.

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Now, out into the open ground they burst....

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She took several deep breaths, then broke cover and sprinted in a zigzag weave across the open ground .

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As he passed to the open ground on my left, I joined him.

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This prevents any escape across the open ground and many of the rabbits will become entangled in the net.

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There, I found open ground without trees.

▪

The skeletal trees that grew close to the chapel rattled their branches in the wind, which whipped across the open ground .

house

▪

People begin to arrive uninvited, so that Howard and Felicity find themselves keeping more or less open house .

▪

Philips Plaza ring in the consumerist season with a holiday open house .

▪

It's open house at the Maxwells'.

▪

Free open house runs from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. at most Northwest stations.

▪

When it became open house , more people were touched and inspired.

▪

Easy enough to keep open house when some one else pays, isn't it?

▪

Additionally, an open house for those interested in participating in the training class is planned for sometime in late spring.

invitation

▪

I extend to the hon. Gentleman an open invitation to join me on any subsequent occasion.

▪

The wizards designing Macintosh considered it an open invitation to childlike play, and judged that ability among its chief attributes.

▪

The latter is not an open invitation to intervention or a threat to sovereignty.

▪

Is there an open invitation to abuse even in some of the innocent parts?

▪

In my opinion, a skip should be regarded as an open invitation to selective plundering.

▪

The Carter team feared that the remark and the attitude it conveyed would be an open invitation to execute Kim.

▪

An open invitation was also agreed for any District Council representative to join meetings.

▪

It would also have been an open invitation to civic disturbance.

letter

▪

The Gooner also carries an articulate open letter to David Dein, Arsenal's cultured vice-chairman.

▪

The arrests came soon after they had sent an open letter to Sassou Nguesso calling for multiparty democracy.

▪

There they were, open letters , two bundles, neat as folded handkerchiefs.

market

▪

Yet open markets still command intense loyalty.

▪

In addition, the resulting change in reserves can be predicted precisely and open market operations are readily reversible.

▪

The money supply can be reduced directly by using open market operations.

▪

Economic development in open market economies has always been punctuated by crises.

▪

The Bank could, and did, make Bank Rate effective by open market operations.

▪

Where properties are untenanted, Retirement Assured has valued them at open market value with vacant possession.

▪

Britain became probably the most open market in the world.

mind

▪

Until the Profitboss makes a decision, he keeps an open mind as to what that decision might be.

▪

And later she was going to try to get herself to that meeting with an open mind .

▪

Before he resolves a problem, he keeps an open mind on how that problem might be resolved.

▪

I think you should keep an open mind and enjoy being with people.

▪

Still, it was as well to keep an open mind .

▪

We must keep an open mind about the possible presence of ores.

▪

Police say they're keeping an open mind .

▪

Greater is the irony that twenty years earlier the open mind for this view was well established in economic circles.

mouth

▪

She had not killed him, she was leading him away from the open mouth of the cave and towards the distant city.

▪

He turned the open mouth of the urn toward the light and peered in.

▪

Fire came from its open mouth .

▪

She began to thrust at him with her body; their mingled breaths merged, their open mouths met, tongues touching.

▪

Sylvia watched, mesmerised, as Estelle peed over the man's face and into his open mouth .

▪

Lightly falling raindrops splashed into her open mouth and eyes, skittering across her taut, shiny face.

question

▪

Whether this is a failure in the interpretation of the evaluation of Wilkins' ideas is an open question .

▪

Where and what kinds they will be is an open question that is, at best, an educated guess.

▪

Working with a partner, A asks B open questions , which B tries to answer as briefly as possible.

▪

How well this works in reducing absence is an open question .

▪

Whether California will continue to lead science is an open question .

▪

Whether his claim was genuine or not is an open question .

▪

But whether these effects translate into clearer thought, better writing, or more creativity is an open question .

road

▪

On the open road , it's no use pretending that the Bentley handles with the agility of a Porsche.

▪

We ate in the fields or on the open road .

▪

If your equipment has to go outside on open roads or gravelled surfaces, remember castors are not always suitable.

▪

The current barrier was installed in 1972, after residents submitted a petition saying the open road caused traffic hazards.

▪

Do you relish the prospect of the open road ?

▪

Daniel Boone heard it: the siren song of the open road , beckoning him to pack up and go.

▪

Racing on open roads was subsequently banned and the great Paris races came to an end.

sea

▪

Ideally on the open sea you should carry a flare pack.

▪

Stultz relinquished the controls to Gordon, and Slim headed northeast across the open sea .

▪

A thirty-pound tuna swam past, heading for the open sea .

▪

Rescuers have tried unsuccessfully to drive them out into the open sea using a line of boats with their engines running.

▪

The other side faced the open sea .

▪

Lake Saimaa is a fresh water lake and has flatter water and lighter, more fluky winds than on the open sea .

▪

But the call of the open sea is irresistible.

sky

▪

The photographer's glance alights on small details of foliage or suddenly sweeps upwards to the open sky .

▪

But Janir seemed content, even fascinated, to be under the open sky .

▪

Now Jaq understood the function of that helmet he had seen the Governor wearing out at the spaceport under the open sky .

▪

Now I can see rooftops outside the windows as well as open sky .

▪

He has been a staunch advocate of the open skies policy which has helped to open up regional aviation.

▪

Place high up against open sky and moving clouds and it is something else again.

▪

For above him was an open sky .

space

▪

Its use will be confined to that of a village public open space , with parking of vehicles absolutely prohibited.

▪

It reached the ledge, and rested for a moment on the narrow open space .

▪

He presented the open space of Warley Woods to the city of Birmingham.

▪

They were certainly the first means of crossing wide open spaces that are still vast and untamed, even today.

▪

And dragonfly flight corridors have been created by providing open space on the sides of burns.

▪

The surrounding open space will be as intriguing as the new lake.

▪

Berlin has a surprising amount of open space including the beautiful Grunewald Forest.

▪

The Apache used to call this the land of open spaces , little water, and many deer.

system

▪

By comparison, social class, the system of stratification in capitalist industrial society, provides an example of an open system.

▪

The chameleon on the mirror is a completely open system .

▪

Before the rise of open systems there were five factors which precluded migration to Unix, he argues.

▪

Unicenter is an open systems equivalent to its current mainframe software for data centre management.

▪

Tumin suggests, however, that even relatively open systems of stratification erect barriers to the motivation and recruitment of talent.

▪

Integrated-systems digital-networks, open systems interconnections and 1992 are popular subjects of conversation at the moment.

▪

Unix, House believes, will dominate the open systems market for the next five years.

window

▪

In the summer, open windows and in the winter, turn on the heating so it is warm and welcoming.

▪

It grunted, turned and hurtled through the living room, out an open window and into the night.

▪

Some one reached through an open window and stabbed Bastidas in the back.

▪

She spun around on the porch and glared back at the open window .

▪

Claire sits in the open window of John's kitchen, a cup of jasmine tea warming her hands.

▪

Topside, the snow softened the air and a cold wind spits flakes through an open window on the bridge.

▪

Drifting out of an open window , riding over a choppy bassline, comes the distinctive voice of Omar.

▪

A branch came through the open window and caught me on the side of the head.

wound

▪

The caterers, Mr and Mrs Sharpstone, were the sort of people you could lay on an open wound .

▪

Mr Barraza wrapped the towel around my shoulders, like a medic covering an open wound .

▪

A man playing cards had an open wound in his forehead, blood dripping on to the crib board.

▪

Healthy people can contract necrotizing fasciitis, but people with chronic illnesses or open wounds are more susceptible.

▪

Open years are proving to be open wounds for Lloyd's.

▪

I grew as red in the face as an open wound .

▪

In one case a woman waited three quarters of an hour with her child screaming with an open wound .

▪

It was a city of open wounds , of explosive politics and feelings.

PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

be an open invitation for/to sb

▪

Leaving the car unlocked is just an open invitation to thieves.

▪

The Carter team feared that the remark and the attitude it conveyed would be an open invitation to execute Kim.

be open to debate

▪

As a practical matter, the wisdom of tax-cutting is open to debate .

▪

In Alcove 1, everything was open to debate .

▪

It is open to debate whether the office should be performed by a police officer or by a prosecutorial figure.

▪

Jospin's conclusions may be open to debate , but the way he has formulated them is laudable.

▪

The actual number of words that are necessary is open to debate .

▪

This concept is open to debate , in that at least some Ediacaran fossils can be compared with known metazoans.

▪

Whether a further wave of takeovers in the brewing industry would benefit consumers is open to debate .

▪

Whether civil liberties or freedom of expression really languished in this period is open to debate .

be open to dispute

▪

How far Blake and Mouton were pioneers in this field is open to dispute .

▪

Whether this revolution has improved medical care or worsened it is open to dispute .

burst open

▪

The door burst open and the kids piled into the house.

▪

But then the door bursts open and yet more soldiers push into the room.

▪

Douglas burst open the door into the first, where somebody had lit a lamp.

▪

She says the door bursts open just when they reach the cages and the monster comes through.

▪

The bedroom door had burst open and Peter was striding into the room.

▪

The door of the shuddering carriage burst open, and Fedorov tumbled out, struggling with the woman.

▪

Then the door'd burst open and Albert Swift and his gang had walked in.

▪

Two bags of paper money hurtled on to the road and burst open.

clear/pave/open/prepare etc the way (for sth)

▪

Earlier legislation paved the way by limiting the use of custody as a penalty for offenders under the age of twenty-one.

▪

He believes the Government has missed the opportunity to pave the way for badly needed investment.

▪

He gave as an example some of the early work in genetics which has paved the way for biotechnological developments.

▪

She would pave the way for a much more slender ideal: the flapper.

▪

Such developments are paving the way to rapprochement between conventional and complementary medicine.

▪

Was he paving the way for another referendum?

▪

When Ken wants to give his girlfriend a kiss he first calls in a construction team to clear the way .

come open/undone/loose etc

▪

As she reached the doors they came open, the button pressed by two people outside.

▪

His heart felt it would come loose in his body, so wildly was it beating.

▪

Some ropes had come loose and were swinging wildly in the wind.

▪

Then she felt something on her arm and discovered her scarf had come undone.

▪

Then sprinkle on water and re-trowel in come loose-use an emulsion paint brush.

▪

Think of all the things that come loose around the house.

▪

When the Thayer principalship came open in the summer of 1981, Littky applied and reentered the educational world.

crack open a bottle

first night/opening night

fling sth open

hang open

▪

There were cupboards hanging open, mattresses overturned and a bottle of sour milk stood in the sink.

high-collared/open-collared/fur-collared etc

keep an eye open/out (for sb/sth)

▪

Always keeping an eye out in case of thieves.

▪

And we had to keep an eye open for police patrols.

▪

For months, he kept an eye out.

▪

He will keep an eye out, but he can not promise anything.

▪

Male speaker All you got to do is keep an eye open and watch the break lights.

▪

Though he works hard with all the kids, he keeps an eye out for the special ones.

▪

Valueoriented consumers should keep an eye out for the name FabreMontmayou.

keep your ears open

▪

All of you - walk around Pentonville and keep your ears open.

▪

They had a kid copper keeping his ears open.

keep/leave your options open

▪

At the end of the season, I will keep my options open.

▪

Either way, you can keep your options open.

▪

Flexibility is key, keeping your options open.

▪

Many young people want to keep their options open.

▪

Some companies are keeping their options open on retaining or dumping anachronistic names.

▪

We must expect to be surprised in the future, and we must keep our options open.

▪

You need to keep your options open in order to change courses at a moment's notice.

lay sb/sth open to sth

▪

And he has laid himself wide open to the kind of criticism that will cloak him in a dark shroud of misery.

▪

If he had said he was acting under his own authority, he would have laid himself open to ridicule.

▪

Is it something you should do, or do you lay yourself open to terrible legal proceedings?

▪

It is not difficult to see how this approach lays itself open to abuse and drastic criticism.

▪

It is not only those who dismiss the arts as self-indulgent who lay themselves open to such a charge.

▪

Not to have taken action, she said, would have laid her department open to a charge of negligence.

▪

The Evangelicals have become a powerful influence in the land and this lays them open to the wooing of politicians.

▪

This would amount to a breach of their contract of employment and lay them open to disciplinary proceedings.

lay sth bare/open

▪

Krushchev laid bare Stalin's crimes.

▪

New bricks were removed, laying bare the old foundations.

on the open market

▪

Berryhill is back on the open market.

▪

HaL is unlikely to sell its chips on the open market.

▪

I hadn't been on the open market for so long.

▪

If the Bank wishes to reduce the money supply it will sell securities through its broker on the open market.

▪

It is likely to be some years before such a product is on the open market.

▪

It will sell the rest on the open market.

▪

Priced on the open market, they would sell for tens and tens of billions of dollars.

▪

They sell bonds on the open market.

open a Pandora's box

▪

I've opened Pandora's box.

▪

The internet has opened a Pandora's box of threats: its demons have been loosed on us all.

open old wounds

▪

Seeing my ex-boyfriend opened some old wounds .

▪

In her innocent curiosity, Cissie had opened old wounds .

▪

Whatever the outcome, Marcos's death has opened old wounds .

open season (on sb)

▪

In the press, it seems to be open season on overpaid executives.

▪

It is open season for criticising UDCs for lack of planning, lack of strategic thinking and short termism.

▪

Payroll allocations can be changed only during an open season.

▪

That's the West Coast Trail, limited to 8,000 hikers during its open season from mid-April to the end of September.

▪

The grin meant it was open season.

▪

There would be an open season on scattered singletons.

open the floodgates

▪

Any change in the law could open the floodgates to increased immigration.

▪

A move like this will open the floodgates .

▪

California's first execution may open the floodgates .

▪

Its authors say the motorway has opened the floodgates for development on a scale planners hadn't envisaged.

▪

So he opened the floodgates of the South Platte River and unleashed 96 million gallons of rushing water.

▪

The case could open the floodgates for thousands of similar claims worldwide.

▪

The score that opened the floodgates came out of nothing after 62 minutes.

▪

This easing of restrictions opened the floodgates for commercial Internet access.

open to doubt

▪

But the political and military efficacy of the pacts was always open to doubt .

▪

But whether that amounts to a positive incentive for companies to boost production and revive investment plans is open to doubt .

▪

Faith is something which is merely believed, so it must always expect to be open to doubt .

▪

Further, and more important, it was open to doubt whether the nobility was properly trained for war.

▪

Of course, even if accurately transmitted the reliability of this poetry is still open to doubt .

▪

Whether it will ever be finished is now open to doubt .

▪

Whether it will help in breaking two-party politics is open to doubt .

▪

Whether this kind of Labour Party is capable of winning a general election is open to doubt .

open your mouth

▪

If you can get people to relax, they're more likely to open their mouths and talk.

▪

Angrily she opened her mouth to protest but at that moment the door opened and David appeared.

▪

Even I wouldn't realise until they opened their mouths - which was only to sing the malai national anthem.

▪

He stared, he threw back his head in glad greeting and opened his mouth .

▪

He would croak if he opened his mouth , so he kept it shut.

▪

I opened my mouth to shout for help, but nothing came out.

▪

If you have to be sure before you dare open your mouth , most people are going to stay quiet.

▪

She stumbled to her feet, clutching the eiderdown around her, and opened her mouth to call to them.

▪

The baby robins, scrub jays, finches, sparrows and starlings opened their mouths wide in anticipation.

opening salvo

▪

This could be the opening salvo of a campaign to get the arena built elsewhere.

▪

Clinton fired the opening salvo last month when he included tax cuts in his proposed 1997 budget.

▪

Desktop publishing was only the opening salvo of a fusillade of developments that would change the way people worked.

the opening up of sth

▪

Again the opening up of public procurement procedures should result in a significant increase in intra-EC trade and industry re-structuring.

▪

By 1895 she had attained the opening up of Lincoln's Inn Fields to the poor.

▪

Over the next generation the first phase of the opening up of inland industrial Britain proceeded.

▪

Searching out high-quality old timber is a big factor in the opening up of pristine forests.

▪

Taylor said the opening up of opportunities for minorities in television would lead to more opportunities in films.

▪

The combination of these influences has encouraged the opening up of the airwaves to competition.

throw sth open

wedge sth open/shut

wide open

▪

After the stale fug in the tiny cabin, she gulped down the clean sea air, the car window wide open.

▪

His eyes seemed darker blue and more wide open than usual.

▪

Leave the window wide open in winter; turn off the airconditioning in summer.

▪

Some of the villa front doors were wide open to him.

▪

The snap showed Jennifer with eyes closed and mouth wide open.

▪

Their eyes are wide open as they pass the object round.

▪

When I came into the hall, his eyes were wide open, staring straight at me.

wide open/awake/apart

▪

He sat with his legs wide apart.

▪

It was 3 a.m., but I was wide awake.

▪

The door was wide open when we got here.

▪

After an hour, though still wide awake, I crimped the page and turned off the light.

▪

But from what I gathered at the arts fair, the field is pretty wide open.

▪

My big worry is that the Monster will come wide awake and ruin things with its gross demands.

▪

The doors of the Conch cafe were wide open with no sign of Huong or Anna; they had probably evacuated.

▪

The main door stood wide open making a through draught.

▪

These are still very early days and the options are wide open.

▪

They were certainly the first means of crossing wide open spaces that are still vast and untamed, even today.

▪

Turning the corner into Polly's road, Jack noticed suddenly that the door to her house was wide open.

with open arms

▪

My new in-laws accepted me with open arms .

▪

We welcomed Henry's offer with open arms .

▪

And if the turnout was any indication, the parish was welcoming them with open arms .

▪

He greeted Riley with open arms .

▪

Newspapers welcome with open arms a regular, efficient news service on which they can rely.

▪

Not that the profession was necessarily going to welcome me into the fold with open arms .

▪

Now we welcome death with open arms , especially when we are old.

▪

The Greenpeace support was welcomed with open arms .

▪

When Cara got out of the car Mrs Hendry stepped forward with open arms and embraced her new daughter-in-law.

▪

You walk in here and you expect to be welcomed with open arms .

with your eyes open

▪

They went into the deal with their eyes open.

▪

And we lie there, with our eyes open, waiting for the sun.

▪

He was just lying there looking at her as if he was dreaming with his eyes open.

▪

She lies there in the dark, with her eyes open, keeping watch.

▪

She lies with her eyes open, listening to his noisy jerking-off and then his snores.

▪

The young man was gazing straight ahead, as if asleep with his eyes open.

▪

There are some people who get bored who can just fall asleep, standing up with their eyes open.

▪

They will be tough with you, so that you go into self-employment with your eyes open.

▪

Three days after that, I learned that I could begin the ascent with my eyes open.

EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

▪

A book lay open on the table.

▪

an open carriage

▪

an open sewer

▪

an open staircase

▪

Ben was staring at her with his mouth wide open .

▪

Bill's white shirt was open at the collar.

▪

Carrie stood in front of the open window.

▪

Diana's very easy to talk to because she's so open .

▪

Do you know you left the window wide open all night?

▪

Emily realised that her handbag was open and her money gone.

▪

frank and open discussions

▪

Greg has always been very open about his sexuality.

▪

He's a nice looking young man with a open , honest smile.

▪

He had a very open nature.

▪

Her blouse came open in front of a nationwide TV audience!

▪

Highway 5 is blocked by snow, but Route 35 remains open .

▪

I'm sorry, but the doctor doesn't have anything open for this afternoon.

▪

I am bothered by your open admiration of these criminals.

▪

I try to be open and honest with my employees and let them know exactly what's going on.

▪

I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open .

EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS

▪

As her mouth fell innocently open and her body relaxed, Ludovico Castelfranco examined her closely.

▪

He would lie there quietly, eyes wide open , taking from her skin what he needed.

▪

Like a foot in the door, they can leave a channel stuck open .

▪

Only then, in the shock of the open air at last, did we break ranks and go our separate ways.

▪

Outside, in the open air, it was glorious.

▪

She lay on her stomach, tangled in sheets, eyes closed and mouth open .

▪

The inquest jury returned an open verdict because of conflicting evidence.

▪

The result is a more free-flowing, open sound.

II. verb

COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS

■ ADVERB

officially

▪

The revamped centre was officially opened by the Duke of Edinburgh on June 26.

▪

The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path was opened officially in May, 1970, after many years of tricky negotiations.

▪

The most advanced bomb disposal centre in the world has been officially opened by the Duke of Kent.

▪

The gallery was officially opened by arts minister Timothy Renton.

up

▪

The need for analogue computers will grow with the realization that whole new fields will be opened up by evolutionary computing.

▪

It opens up with the sound of a mosquito and gets louder and louder.

▪

She was friendly and easy to talk to and, after a while, I opened up my heart.

▪

If a new market opened up , new jobs could be created to serve it.

▪

And it's five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates.

▪

At that point, small arms and automatic weapons opened up .

▪

The thugs pounced as Tony McLoughlin prepared to open up the school shortly after 7am.

▪

Schoolteacher made one open up my back, and when it closed it made a tree.

■ NOUN

account

▪

Only those people who live near by are allowed to open accounts .

▪

Everyone who could simply had to open a checking account and a savings account.

▪

Formal Invitation should open his account in the Corvedale Novices' Hurdle.

▪

The band will need to open a bank account , if they haven't done so already.

▪

All you need to open the account is £1 and every six months interest is added to your account.

▪

Newcomers needed help navigating the unknown world of capitalism, from opening a checking account to writing a resume.

book

▪

Joan and her sister Ruth appeared early in the saga, and young Paul opened the very first book of the series.

▪

Slowly she would open the book and begin the story.

▪

He opened a book with his thumbnail, as if afraid of dirtying his fingers.

▪

She opens a book , hands it to me, points to a passage.

▪

She opened her cookery book , and after a while she boiled a chicken, and she sang.

▪

I looked over and saw that Gordon had opened a book .

▪

Is there any point in opening a book on who our Howard will drop to make way for rodders.

▪

He turned the chair around, positioning himself with his back to the window, and opened the book .

bottle

▪

The atmosphere when they opened the bottle seemed to Albert to improve no end.

▪

To regain her composure, she opened the wine bottle in the kitchen and took a sip.

▪

Then open a chilled bottle of Guinness Original and pour it slowly into a glass.

▪

He opened a tiny bottle and offered me a hit of poppers.

▪

I opened two bottles that I retrieved from the sticky mess on the cabin floor.

▪

Ordinarily, I would have opened another bottle .

▪

She was still very active and made me feel so welcome, especially when she opened the sherry bottle .

▪

She opened a bottle of wine.

box

▪

After building your own machine you certainly will not be worried about opening the box !

▪

Then you open the box and see.

▪

Now he opened his box and took out the sun's ray.

▪

New investigative techniques have opened up the black box of the brain and have begun to shed light on its inner workings.

▪

She opened a wicker sewing box , looked inside, shook her head and closed the box again.

▪

He opened the cardboard box and took out each item, greeting each like an old friend.

▪

Peter didn't open the box containing the Archives of Emor.

▪

Fakhru pulled out his own key and pretended to be opening the box just above that of the bank.

branch

▪

Until 1994, the federal McFadden Act of 1927 prevented banks from crossing state lines to open up new branches .

▪

A firm looking to expand will not simply contemplate recruiting new partners or opening up new branch offices.

▪

Peabody became the owner of Lumber Mart in 1982, opening a branch in Grand Forks in 1993.

▪

Meanwhile, last September they opened a branch of their New York gallery in Berlin.

▪

The company plans to open seven branches over the coming months.

▪

Branching out: A northern store chain is helping to open branches of a different kind.

can

▪

Asked again to pay for it, he opened the can and started to drink the lager.

▪

Helen opened every can in the cupboard.

▪

I opened another can and wondered what to do next.

▪

Still, it requires a lot more work than opening a couple of cans .

▪

Before that, though, I opened a can of whole chicken and ripped off a leg dribbling with jelly.

▪

In early December, Aesop cut his finger opening a can of cling peaches.

▪

Our naive arrangements, it seemed, had opened a social can of worms.

▪

But when he got home and opened the can , it held gritty mashed potatoes.

door

▪

He pulled the door open slowly.

▪

You have to tug a little to break the seal, and then the door opens .

▪

He went into one of the empty bedrooms and left the door open .

▪

About 6: 20 p. m., the door opened and the witnesses took their positions.

▪

Frankie stared through the banisters, willing the kitchen door to open .

▪

One of the doors opened on to a new life for Alvin.

file

▪

They ask callers detailed questions about their problems and open up an electronic file .

▪

Stok opened the file and signed the corners of eight sheets of paper.

▪

They just open their mail and click on the icon to open the file .

▪

On occasion you may begin to open a file and find that you would prefer to rename the file or delete it.

▪

For example, so-called spring-loaded folders open up to receive files as the user drags an item over them.

▪

The following example opens a file and prints to it via the Printer Filter.

▪

He opened the file out and spread the papers across his lap.

gate

▪

George climbed over the gate while Willie opened and shut it neatly behind him.

▪

It also works to create a disposition of self-confidence and thus to keep gates open to new possibilities.

▪

The gate swings open behind me.

▪

So, programmers kept the electronic gates to mail servers open and letters came from anywhere, were processed and sent on.

▪

He passed through the archway in the garden wall of Sea House, opening the white iron gate and leaving it open.

▪

Iron gates open to a courtyard filled with pots of geraniums and ivy tucked next to rusted bistro tables and chairs.

▪

At the touch of a button a huge gate opens and I am confined in a small area between fences.

▪

The gate opened and dressed-up children spilled into the street, bright beads from a broken string.

heart

▪

After the war, black GIs came home with opened eyes and hearts full of pride.

▪

She was friendly and easy to talk to and, after a while, I opened up my heart .

▪

She felt guilty, always guilty, thinking how she should be opening her whole heart to him.

▪

But incredulity it was that popped my eyes open and stopped my heart , swept away my slightest consciousness of pain.

▪

He was close to tears when he started to read a statement in which he opened his heart as never before.

▪

We opened our hearts and wept.

letter

▪

Why had she ever opened that letter ?

▪

So, programmers kept the electronic gates to mail servers open and letters came from anywhere, were processed and sent on.

▪

I opened the letters from Giulia.

▪

A police spokesman said if the man had gone much further in opening the letter , he could have been killed.

▪

When the twig tore the pocket open the letter had dropped out.

▪

That involved bureau agents surreptitiously opening and photographing letters destined for the mission before allowing them to be delivered.

▪

He opened the letter , saw the name at the bottom, and smiled for the first time that day.

▪

I sit at the table tired and discouraged, dutifully opening and closing letters .

market

▪

Skeen said the jets will be used partly to open new markets and to provide better service to current destinations.

▪

It might also include more state help in opening up foreign markets .

▪

Promises to open markets and promises that trade surpluses will shortly disappear have been made too often to be believed.

▪

Despite all this, competition for licenses in newly opened markets is intense.

▪

Each was as anxious as the families and the Managing Director about the opening of their markets .

▪

This is seen as an opportunity for developing software and technological industries and providers through the stimulus of opening up education markets .

mouth

▪

He looked from her to his brother, his mouth open , about to speak.

▪

A furnace got its mouth open somewhere, licks tip somebody.

▪

Soon her mouth would be opened by the lector-priest and her purification ministered by the Sem-priest.

▪

His tongue traveled gently over her lips until gradually her mouth opened slightly, just wide enough for his tongue to enter.

▪

If she pressed very hard then her mouth would not open to scream.

▪

He sat on the crate with his mouth open a little, his tongue protruding slightly.

▪

Sam, silenced, stood with his mouth open .

▪

Her mouth opened wider; and longer and louder words fell out of it.

office

▪

A firm looking to expand will not simply contemplate recruiting new partners or opening up new branch offices .

▪

Two months ago, his company opened a Cambridge office that employs seven workers.

▪

It is opening an office in San Francisco to be run by its founder and president Jacques Quelene.

▪

In Sanchersville, she opened a storefront law office perforating the heart of the ghetto.

▪

Having worked as a freelance for a while, she had recently opened an office in Geneva.

▪

The company recently opened an office in Yardley after Horowitz moved to Richboro three years ago.

▪

An account can be opened at any post office with a minimum of £5.

▪

At first, the business sold just prints and posters to companies opening up new offices .

opportunity

▪

No list can be exhaustive, but it can give you an idea of the range of opportunities open to you.

▪

By seizing an opportunity she opened up a new and totally unexpected position for the future.

▪

A host of new opportunities were opened up, once again revitalising the market.

▪

The hope was sustained by faith that the doors of opportunity would be opened by education.

▪

The most tantalising of opportunities has thus opened up for Mr Takeshita: the chance to be prime minister again.

▪

On all sides, opportunities for growth are opening up for the revolutionary movement.

▪

The following chapters explain in general the opportunities open to you in an average agency.

▪

Foreign nationals, women, and minorities will find greater opportunities open to them than ever before.

option

▪

If you do not know exactly what is going to happen it is well to keep your options open .

▪

Flexibility is key, keeping your options open .

▪

In both of these cases you have kept your centre-line turned to face the opponent and so left your options open .

▪

I want to keep all of my options open .

▪

I thought about the options open to us.

▪

With customary caution, he is keeping his options open while the issue is still in the political incubator.

▪

And there are still just as many options open to them when looking for a loan.

▪

Some companies are keeping their options open on retaining or dumping anachronistic names.

possibility

▪

The Children Act could also open up much wider possibilities , affecting whole groups of travellers.

▪

It also works to create a disposition of self-confidence and thus to keep gates open to new possibilities .

▪

If successful, the technique open up enormous possibilities for controlling viral infections.

▪

The possibility of a new way of looking opens up exciting possibilities for the re-evaluation of many genres of photography.

▪

This opens many possibilities for users.

▪

While not relaxing our critical standards and emphasis on observational success, it could open fresh possibilities .

▪

The Children Act has opened up many possibilities and obligations to make the relationship between travellers and social work services more productive.

public

▪

A forty-minute drive will take you to Haworth Lane, home of the Brontë sisters now open to the public .

▪

Voice over Eleven gardens in North Moreton will open to the public on Saturday.

▪

Tennis and golf are both available, and the Olympic bob-sleigh run is also open to the public .

▪

It will be opened to the public in the next few years, once essential maintenance is completed.

▪

Mill at work: The only working watermill in Cleveland opens to the public tomorrow.

▪

And at long last, the five hundred acres of Woodchester Park are to be opened to the public .

season

▪

We shall be opening the season with the Baron.

▪

The Panthers open next season at Orem.

▪

When I opened my own season in Ulm with Tannhäuser, I had in my head an entirely new sound concept.

▪

Trotter opened his season with interception return for a touchdown in a 41-14 win over Dallas and went from there.

▪

What happened last year was the Broncos opened the season with 12 wins in their first 13 games.

shop

▪

She'd go back home to Oz and open a shop , maybe two.

▪

He opens a surfer shop in Ames, Iowa, right down the street from the tractor repair shop.

▪

He is thinking of opening a small shop .

▪

They moved there the following year and opened a leather shop .

▪

A Newcastle school aims to open a shop to sell pupils' bright ideas.

▪

He had just bought a sewing machine in Warsaw and he intended to open his own shop in their small town.

▪

Cop shop: Police have opened their own cop shop at Darlington police station to sell personal attack alarms and security devices.

▪

The company, which operates 235 stores nationwide, plans to open 80 new shops by 2000.

window

▪

There was a single narrow window opening on a shaded garden and when the door was closed it was difficult to see.

▪

Painting Decorate in the spring and summer so you can work with the windows open .

▪

It was a hot, still night, and I left the windows open .

▪

Traditionally the first window should have been opened this morning.

▪

It had the dusty smell of an apartment whose windows were rarely opened .

▪

Parr kept his window open , and while he waited on the line, let the sounds from outside wash his consciousness.

▪

Even with the car windows left open a crack, the temperature inside can reach 120 degrees in less than 30 minutes.

■ VERB

force

▪

She forced her eyes open , and at once her heart was pounding.

▪

I forced myself to open my fingers, to relax my vigilance, to fall asleep.

▪

So they send one of their servants down to force it open , but he never comes back.

▪

And it does not force school districts to open and close schools, as District 4 does in East Harlem.

▪

More and more shops will be forced to open illegally, to protect their market share.

▪

I forced my eyes open and woke up.

▪

She gulped in a lungful of air and forced her eyelids open .

keep

▪

She says there are logical arguments for keeping Standish open .

▪

Flexibility is key, keeping your options open .

▪

You know how to keep your eyes open and your mouth shut.

▪

The daily firings produced by the withering economy offered loopholes of opportunity for a young man who kept his eyes open .

▪

If you do not know exactly what is going to happen it is well to keep your options open .

▪

Kissinger argued that more good could be obtained by keeping lines open to the Soviets than by closing them.

▪

He told Sir Bryan to get the Chief Constable on the line immediately and to keep it open in the meantime.

▪

With customary caution, he is keeping his options open while the issue is still in the political incubator.

plan

▪

It also plans to open the original shop and a petrol station.

▪

The company is planning to open its first standalone store in London's West End next year.

▪

The city plans a huge grand opening party, including free skating and soccer, food and professional demonstrations.

▪

It plans to open one new store a week and is investing heavily in new technology as competition gets stiffer.

▪

California regulators plan to open the industry to competition in 1998.

▪

Burger King, which did not have a single franchise until last year, plans to open more than 100.

▪

It plans to open just one traditional free-standing branch in 1996&038;.

pull

▪

He pulled the door open slowly.

▪

I pulled up, opened the door for her, made sure she was buckled in.

▪

She reached for the door and started to pull it open , but Nicolo's hand closed around her forearm.

▪

Keeping in mind the penalties for knocking thought up by these sixth graders, I pull open the door and slip inside.

▪

He slammed the milk bottle down on top of the bedside cabinet, pulling the drawer open .

▪

He pulls open the top of his shirt with his finger.

push

▪

Soldiers were pushing it open and Rostov saw that the whole inner yard was a clever device to protect the city.

▪

Then the Jesuit volunteers pushed open the shelter doors and the worshipers followed the cross into a misty rain.

▪

With a familiar feeling of dread, he pushed the door open .

▪

As the piston is pushed the near side opens and the air pressure closes the back flap.

▪

Then he pushed it open and walked into the room.

▪

Half way down the corridor he unlocks a door, pushes it open and turns on the light.

throw

▪

Mrs. Bidwell, meanwhile, had thrown open the lid of the laundry-basket.

▪

Suddenly the tall man threw open the back door and ran down the street.

▪

He could hear her frantic progress up the uncarpeted stairs and along the top corridor until she threw the door open .

▪

Instead, the friendly green thumbs at Tucson Botanical Gardens choose to throw open their gates for free.

▪

She threw the door open , catching it before it could strike the wall.

▪

He marched straight to the front door and threw it open .

▪

I went across and threw it open , exasperated that my holy moment had been so brutally shattered.

▪

Then Eddie stepped to the rear of the cabin and threw open the door.

PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

be an open invitation for/to sb

▪

Leaving the car unlocked is just an open invitation to thieves.

▪

The Carter team feared that the remark and the attitude it conveyed would be an open invitation to execute Kim.

be open to debate

▪

As a practical matter, the wisdom of tax-cutting is open to debate .

▪

In Alcove 1, everything was open to debate .

▪

It is open to debate whether the office should be performed by a police officer or by a prosecutorial figure.

▪

Jospin's conclusions may be open to debate , but the way he has formulated them is laudable.

▪

The actual number of words that are necessary is open to debate .

▪

This concept is open to debate , in that at least some Ediacaran fossils can be compared with known metazoans.

▪

Whether a further wave of takeovers in the brewing industry would benefit consumers is open to debate .

▪

Whether civil liberties or freedom of expression really languished in this period is open to debate .

be open to dispute

▪

How far Blake and Mouton were pioneers in this field is open to dispute .

▪

Whether this revolution has improved medical care or worsened it is open to dispute .

clear/pave/open/prepare etc the way (for sth)

▪

Earlier legislation paved the way by limiting the use of custody as a penalty for offenders under the age of twenty-one.

▪

He believes the Government has missed the opportunity to pave the way for badly needed investment.

▪

He gave as an example some of the early work in genetics which has paved the way for biotechnological developments.

▪

She would pave the way for a much more slender ideal: the flapper.

▪

Such developments are paving the way to rapprochement between conventional and complementary medicine.

▪

Was he paving the way for another referendum?

▪

When Ken wants to give his girlfriend a kiss he first calls in a construction team to clear the way .

first night/opening night

keep an eye open/out (for sb/sth)

▪

Always keeping an eye out in case of thieves.

▪

And we had to keep an eye open for police patrols.

▪

For months, he kept an eye out.

▪

He will keep an eye out, but he can not promise anything.

▪

Male speaker All you got to do is keep an eye open and watch the break lights.

▪

Though he works hard with all the kids, he keeps an eye out for the special ones.

▪

Valueoriented consumers should keep an eye out for the name FabreMontmayou.

keep your ears open

▪

All of you - walk around Pentonville and keep your ears open.

▪

They had a kid copper keeping his ears open.

keep/leave your options open

▪

At the end of the season, I will keep my options open.

▪

Either way, you can keep your options open.

▪

Flexibility is key, keeping your options open.

▪

Many young people want to keep their options open.

▪

Some companies are keeping their options open on retaining or dumping anachronistic names.

▪

We must expect to be surprised in the future, and we must keep our options open.

▪

You need to keep your options open in order to change courses at a moment's notice.

on the open market

▪

Berryhill is back on the open market.

▪

HaL is unlikely to sell its chips on the open market.

▪

I hadn't been on the open market for so long.

▪

If the Bank wishes to reduce the money supply it will sell securities through its broker on the open market.

▪

It is likely to be some years before such a product is on the open market.

▪

It will sell the rest on the open market.

▪

Priced on the open market, they would sell for tens and tens of billions of dollars.

▪

They sell bonds on the open market.

open a Pandora's box

▪

I've opened Pandora's box.

▪

The internet has opened a Pandora's box of threats: its demons have been loosed on us all.

open old wounds

▪

Seeing my ex-boyfriend opened some old wounds .

▪

In her innocent curiosity, Cissie had opened old wounds .

▪

Whatever the outcome, Marcos's death has opened old wounds .

open season (on sb)

▪

In the press, it seems to be open season on overpaid executives.

▪

It is open season for criticising UDCs for lack of planning, lack of strategic thinking and short termism.

▪

Payroll allocations can be changed only during an open season.

▪

That's the West Coast Trail, limited to 8,000 hikers during its open season from mid-April to the end of September.

▪

The grin meant it was open season.

▪

There would be an open season on scattered singletons.

open the floodgates

▪

Any change in the law could open the floodgates to increased immigration.

▪

A move like this will open the floodgates .

▪

California's first execution may open the floodgates .

▪

Its authors say the motorway has opened the floodgates for development on a scale planners hadn't envisaged.

▪

So he opened the floodgates of the South Platte River and unleashed 96 million gallons of rushing water.

▪

The case could open the floodgates for thousands of similar claims worldwide.

▪

The score that opened the floodgates came out of nothing after 62 minutes.

▪

This easing of restrictions opened the floodgates for commercial Internet access.

open to doubt

▪

But the political and military efficacy of the pacts was always open to doubt .

▪

But whether that amounts to a positive incentive for companies to boost production and revive investment plans is open to doubt .

▪

Faith is something which is merely believed, so it must always expect to be open to doubt .

▪

Further, and more important, it was open to doubt whether the nobility was properly trained for war.

▪

Of course, even if accurately transmitted the reliability of this poetry is still open to doubt .

▪

Whether it will ever be finished is now open to doubt .

▪

Whether it will help in breaking two-party politics is open to doubt .

▪

Whether this kind of Labour Party is capable of winning a general election is open to doubt .

open your mouth

▪

If you can get people to relax, they're more likely to open their mouths and talk.

▪

Angrily she opened her mouth to protest but at that moment the door opened and David appeared.

▪

Even I wouldn't realise until they opened their mouths - which was only to sing the malai national anthem.

▪

He stared, he threw back his head in glad greeting and opened his mouth .

▪

He would croak if he opened his mouth , so he kept it shut.

▪

I opened my mouth to shout for help, but nothing came out.

▪

If you have to be sure before you dare open your mouth , most people are going to stay quiet.

▪

She stumbled to her feet, clutching the eiderdown around her, and opened her mouth to call to them.

▪

The baby robins, scrub jays, finches, sparrows and starlings opened their mouths wide in anticipation.

opening salvo

▪

This could be the opening salvo of a campaign to get the arena built elsewhere.

▪

Clinton fired the opening salvo last month when he included tax cuts in his proposed 1997 budget.

▪

Desktop publishing was only the opening salvo of a fusillade of developments that would change the way people worked.

the opening up of sth

▪

Again the opening up of public procurement procedures should result in a significant increase in intra-EC trade and industry re-structuring.

▪

By 1895 she had attained the opening up of Lincoln's Inn Fields to the poor.

▪

Over the next generation the first phase of the opening up of inland industrial Britain proceeded.

▪

Searching out high-quality old timber is a big factor in the opening up of pristine forests.

▪

Taylor said the opening up of opportunities for minorities in television would lead to more opportunities in films.

▪

The combination of these influences has encouraged the opening up of the airwaves to competition.

wide open

▪

After the stale fug in the tiny cabin, she gulped down the clean sea air, the car window wide open.

▪

His eyes seemed darker blue and more wide open than usual.

▪

Leave the window wide open in winter; turn off the airconditioning in summer.

▪

Some of the villa front doors were wide open to him.

▪

The snap showed Jennifer with eyes closed and mouth wide open.

▪

Their eyes are wide open as they pass the object round.

▪

When I came into the hall, his eyes were wide open, staring straight at me.

wide open/awake/apart

▪

He sat with his legs wide apart.

▪

It was 3 a.m., but I was wide awake.

▪

The door was wide open when we got here.

▪

After an hour, though still wide awake, I crimped the page and turned off the light.

▪

But from what I gathered at the arts fair, the field is pretty wide open.

▪

My big worry is that the Monster will come wide awake and ruin things with its gross demands.

▪

The doors of the Conch cafe were wide open with no sign of Huong or Anna; they had probably evacuated.

▪

The main door stood wide open making a through draught.

▪

These are still very early days and the options are wide open.

▪

They were certainly the first means of crossing wide open spaces that are still vast and untamed, even today.

▪

Turning the corner into Polly's road, Jack noticed suddenly that the door to her house was wide open.

with open arms

▪

My new in-laws accepted me with open arms .

▪

We welcomed Henry's offer with open arms .

▪

And if the turnout was any indication, the parish was welcoming them with open arms .

▪

He greeted Riley with open arms .

▪

Newspapers welcome with open arms a regular, efficient news service on which they can rely.

▪

Not that the profession was necessarily going to welcome me into the fold with open arms .

▪

Now we welcome death with open arms , especially when we are old.

▪

The Greenpeace support was welcomed with open arms .

▪

When Cara got out of the car Mrs Hendry stepped forward with open arms and embraced her new daughter-in-law.

▪

You walk in here and you expect to be welcomed with open arms .

with your eyes open

▪

They went into the deal with their eyes open.

▪

And we lie there, with our eyes open, waiting for the sun.

▪

He was just lying there looking at her as if he was dreaming with his eyes open.

▪

She lies there in the dark, with her eyes open, keeping watch.

▪

She lies with her eyes open, listening to his noisy jerking-off and then his snores.

▪

The young man was gazing straight ahead, as if asleep with his eyes open.

▪

There are some people who get bored who can just fall asleep, standing up with their eyes open.

▪

They will be tough with you, so that you go into self-employment with your eyes open.

▪

Three days after that, I learned that I could begin the ascent with my eyes open.

EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

▪

"What times do the banks open ?" "Normally at around 9.30."

▪

Open the file called Templates.

▪

Open your books to page 63.

▪

a little gadget that helps you to open jars

▪

A permanent exhibition of Moore's work will open next year.

▪

After a short discussion with the customs officers, the gates opened and the truck moved off.

▪

Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical will open later this year.

▪

Aren't you going to open your letter?

▪

Ask the waiter to open another bottle of champagne.

▪

Did you open the mail?

▪

Don't open another Coke - you can have the rest of mine.

▪

He opened the door wide, and gestured for me to come in.

▪

Heche opened the news conference by announcing his retirement.

▪

How do you open this umbrella?

▪

It's very hot in here. Do you mind if I open the window?

▪

Judy opened another pack of cigarettes.

▪

On Saturdays, the restaurant opens at 7 p.m.

▪

Police have opened an investigation into the girl's disappearance.

▪

Runyan plans to open a casino.

▪

That window doesn't open .

EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS

▪

Doors open 15 minutes before the start of each performance.

▪

He opened and shut the drawers and the flap and found what he expected.

▪

It provides start-up dialogues, macro dialogues and exit dialogues to open and close applications.

▪

The animals were fasted for 24 hours and then their abdomen was opened and the stomach exposed under light ether anaesthesia.

▪

The driver whipped round the front of the car and opened my door.

▪

The moment before he had opened it, he had known what would be inside.

III. noun

COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS

■ ADJECTIVE

wide

▪

The race is now wide open .

▪

There, my own history cracked wide open .

▪

The snap showed Jennifer with eyes closed and mouth wide open .

▪

Leave the window wide open in winter; turn off the airconditioning in summer.

▪

Turning the corner into Polly's road, Jack noticed suddenly that the door to her house was wide open .

▪

I will say this only once and I hope your cars are wide open .

▪

His eyes were wide open , but he was, apparently, dead.

■ NOUN

door

▪

He left the bathroom door open , which Folly hated.

▪

Back when me and my buddies were barricading the front door , who left the back door open ?

▪

I waited ten more minutes, then raised the latch and eased the door open until it bumped against his head.

▪

They leave the refrigerator door open for hours at a time.

mouth

▪

She even laughed with her mouth open , so you could see the food in there, if you cared to.

▪

They just sat there with their mouths open .

■ VERB

crack

▪

There, my own history cracked wide open .

▪

The earth cracks wide open and people disappear in it.

keep

▪

Savers must keep the account open for five years to qualify for the tax breaks.

▪

White even tried to keep one branch open until midnight and to put a Laundromat in another.

leave

▪

He left the bathroom door open , which Folly hated.

▪

Back when me and my buddies were barricading the front door, who left the back door open ?

▪

But it's left open who decides this crop requirement.

▪

They leave the refrigerator door open for hours at a time.

PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

be an open invitation for/to sb

▪

Leaving the car unlocked is just an open invitation to thieves.

▪

The Carter team feared that the remark and the attitude it conveyed would be an open invitation to execute Kim.

burst open

▪

The door burst open and the kids piled into the house.

▪

But then the door bursts open and yet more soldiers push into the room.

▪

Douglas burst open the door into the first, where somebody had lit a lamp.

▪

She says the door bursts open just when they reach the cages and the monster comes through.

▪

The bedroom door had burst open and Peter was striding into the room.

▪

The door of the shuddering carriage burst open, and Fedorov tumbled out, struggling with the woman.

▪

Then the door'd burst open and Albert Swift and his gang had walked in.

▪

Two bags of paper money hurtled on to the road and burst open.

clear/pave/open/prepare etc the way (for sth)

▪

Earlier legislation paved the way by limiting the use of custody as a penalty for offenders under the age of twenty-one.

▪

He believes the Government has missed the opportunity to pave the way for badly needed investment.

▪

He gave as an example some of the early work in genetics which has paved the way for biotechnological developments.

▪

She would pave the way for a much more slender ideal: the flapper.

▪

Such developments are paving the way to rapprochement between conventional and complementary medicine.

▪

Was he paving the way for another referendum?

▪

When Ken wants to give his girlfriend a kiss he first calls in a construction team to clear the way .

come open/undone/loose etc

▪

As she reached the doors they came open, the button pressed by two people outside.

▪

His heart felt it would come loose in his body, so wildly was it beating.

▪

Some ropes had come loose and were swinging wildly in the wind.

▪

Then she felt something on her arm and discovered her scarf had come undone.

▪

Then sprinkle on water and re-trowel in come loose-use an emulsion paint brush.

▪

Think of all the things that come loose around the house.

▪

When the Thayer principalship came open in the summer of 1981, Littky applied and reentered the educational world.

crack open a bottle

fling sth open

hang open

▪

There were cupboards hanging open, mattresses overturned and a bottle of sour milk stood in the sink.

high-collared/open-collared/fur-collared etc

keep an eye open/out (for sb/sth)

▪

Always keeping an eye out in case of thieves.

▪

And we had to keep an eye open for police patrols.

▪

For months, he kept an eye out.

▪

He will keep an eye out, but he can not promise anything.

▪

Male speaker All you got to do is keep an eye open and watch the break lights.

▪

Though he works hard with all the kids, he keeps an eye out for the special ones.

▪

Valueoriented consumers should keep an eye out for the name FabreMontmayou.

keep your ears open

▪

All of you - walk around Pentonville and keep your ears open.

▪

They had a kid copper keeping his ears open.

keep/leave your options open

▪

At the end of the season, I will keep my options open.

▪

Either way, you can keep your options open.

▪

Flexibility is key, keeping your options open.

▪

Many young people want to keep their options open.

▪

Some companies are keeping their options open on retaining or dumping anachronistic names.

▪

We must expect to be surprised in the future, and we must keep our options open.

▪

You need to keep your options open in order to change courses at a moment's notice.

lay sb/sth open to sth

▪

And he has laid himself wide open to the kind of criticism that will cloak him in a dark shroud of misery.

▪

If he had said he was acting under his own authority, he would have laid himself open to ridicule.

▪

Is it something you should do, or do you lay yourself open to terrible legal proceedings?

▪

It is not difficult to see how this approach lays itself open to abuse and drastic criticism.

▪

It is not only those who dismiss the arts as self-indulgent who lay themselves open to such a charge.

▪

Not to have taken action, she said, would have laid her department open to a charge of negligence.

▪

The Evangelicals have become a powerful influence in the land and this lays them open to the wooing of politicians.

▪

This would amount to a breach of their contract of employment and lay them open to disciplinary proceedings.

lay sth bare/open

▪

Krushchev laid bare Stalin's crimes.

▪

New bricks were removed, laying bare the old foundations.

on the open market

▪

Berryhill is back on the open market.

▪

HaL is unlikely to sell its chips on the open market.

▪

I hadn't been on the open market for so long.

▪

If the Bank wishes to reduce the money supply it will sell securities through its broker on the open market.

▪

It is likely to be some years before such a product is on the open market.

▪

It will sell the rest on the open market.

▪

Priced on the open market, they would sell for tens and tens of billions of dollars.

▪

They sell bonds on the open market.

open old wounds

▪

Seeing my ex-boyfriend opened some old wounds .

▪

In her innocent curiosity, Cissie had opened old wounds .

▪

Whatever the outcome, Marcos's death has opened old wounds .

open season (on sb)

▪

In the press, it seems to be open season on overpaid executives.

▪

It is open season for criticising UDCs for lack of planning, lack of strategic thinking and short termism.

▪

Payroll allocations can be changed only during an open season.

▪

That's the West Coast Trail, limited to 8,000 hikers during its open season from mid-April to the end of September.

▪

The grin meant it was open season.

▪

There would be an open season on scattered singletons.

open to doubt

▪

But the political and military efficacy of the pacts was always open to doubt .

▪

But whether that amounts to a positive incentive for companies to boost production and revive investment plans is open to doubt .

▪

Faith is something which is merely believed, so it must always expect to be open to doubt .

▪

Further, and more important, it was open to doubt whether the nobility was properly trained for war.

▪

Of course, even if accurately transmitted the reliability of this poetry is still open to doubt .

▪

Whether it will ever be finished is now open to doubt .

▪

Whether it will help in breaking two-party politics is open to doubt .

▪

Whether this kind of Labour Party is capable of winning a general election is open to doubt .

open your mouth

▪

If you can get people to relax, they're more likely to open their mouths and talk.

▪

Angrily she opened her mouth to protest but at that moment the door opened and David appeared.

▪

Even I wouldn't realise until they opened their mouths - which was only to sing the malai national anthem.

▪

He stared, he threw back his head in glad greeting and opened his mouth .

▪

He would croak if he opened his mouth , so he kept it shut.

▪

I opened my mouth to shout for help, but nothing came out.

▪

If you have to be sure before you dare open your mouth , most people are going to stay quiet.

▪

She stumbled to her feet, clutching the eiderdown around her, and opened her mouth to call to them.

▪

The baby robins, scrub jays, finches, sparrows and starlings opened their mouths wide in anticipation.

the opening up of sth

▪

Again the opening up of public procurement procedures should result in a significant increase in intra-EC trade and industry re-structuring.

▪

By 1895 she had attained the opening up of Lincoln's Inn Fields to the poor.

▪

Over the next generation the first phase of the opening up of inland industrial Britain proceeded.

▪

Searching out high-quality old timber is a big factor in the opening up of pristine forests.

▪

Taylor said the opening up of opportunities for minorities in television would lead to more opportunities in films.

▪

The combination of these influences has encouraged the opening up of the airwaves to competition.

throw sth open

wedge sth open/shut

wide open

▪

After the stale fug in the tiny cabin, she gulped down the clean sea air, the car window wide open.

▪

His eyes seemed darker blue and more wide open than usual.

▪

Leave the window wide open in winter; turn off the airconditioning in summer.

▪

Some of the villa front doors were wide open to him.

▪

The snap showed Jennifer with eyes closed and mouth wide open.

▪

Their eyes are wide open as they pass the object round.

▪

When I came into the hall, his eyes were wide open, staring straight at me.

wide open/awake/apart

▪

He sat with his legs wide apart.

▪

It was 3 a.m., but I was wide awake.

▪

The door was wide open when we got here.

▪

After an hour, though still wide awake, I crimped the page and turned off the light.

▪

But from what I gathered at the arts fair, the field is pretty wide open.

▪

My big worry is that the Monster will come wide awake and ruin things with its gross demands.

▪

The doors of the Conch cafe were wide open with no sign of Huong or Anna; they had probably evacuated.

▪

The main door stood wide open making a through draught.

▪

These are still very early days and the options are wide open.

▪

They were certainly the first means of crossing wide open spaces that are still vast and untamed, even today.

▪

Turning the corner into Polly's road, Jack noticed suddenly that the door to her house was wide open.

with open arms

▪

My new in-laws accepted me with open arms .

▪

We welcomed Henry's offer with open arms .

▪

And if the turnout was any indication, the parish was welcoming them with open arms .

▪

He greeted Riley with open arms .

▪

Newspapers welcome with open arms a regular, efficient news service on which they can rely.

▪

Not that the profession was necessarily going to welcome me into the fold with open arms .

▪

Now we welcome death with open arms , especially when we are old.

▪

The Greenpeace support was welcomed with open arms .

▪

When Cara got out of the car Mrs Hendry stepped forward with open arms and embraced her new daughter-in-law.

▪

You walk in here and you expect to be welcomed with open arms .

with your eyes open

▪

They went into the deal with their eyes open.

▪

And we lie there, with our eyes open, waiting for the sun.

▪

He was just lying there looking at her as if he was dreaming with his eyes open.

▪

She lies there in the dark, with her eyes open, keeping watch.

▪

She lies with her eyes open, listening to his noisy jerking-off and then his snores.

▪

The young man was gazing straight ahead, as if asleep with his eyes open.

▪

There are some people who get bored who can just fall asleep, standing up with their eyes open.

▪

They will be tough with you, so that you go into self-employment with your eyes open.

▪

Three days after that, I learned that I could begin the ascent with my eyes open.

EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

▪

the US Open