noun
1 where to/from
ADJECTIVE
▪ same
▪
They were both going in the same ~.
▪ different , opposing , opposite , reverse , separate ( esp. AmE )
▪
We are pulled in opposing ~s by our emotions.
▪
The ride in the reverse ~ is a mere $4.
▪
We both walked off in separate ~s.
▪ right , wrong
▪
Unfortunately, we were going in the wrong ~.
▪ general
▪
I fired in the general ~ of the officer's head, and missed.
▪ expected ( esp. AmE ), predicted
▪
America has not moved in the expected ~.
▪
the predicted ~ of climate change in the near term
▪ unexpected
▪
Support came from an unexpected ~.
▪ clockwise
▪
Turn the dial in a clockwise ~.
▪ anticlockwise ( BrE ), counterclockwise ( AmE )
▪ downward , upward
▪
These figures may have to be revised in an upward ~.
▪ backward , forward
▪
She shoved Sarah in the general forward ~.
▪ northerly , southerly , etc.
▪
The current flows in a south-easterly ~.
▪ east-west , north-south
▪
The runway was constructed in a north-south ~.
▪ horizontal , vertical
▪
A scanner deflects the laser beam in horizontal and vertical ~s.
▪ random
▪
He started to run in a random ~.
▪ cardinal , compass (both esp. AmE )
▪
a house oriented exactly to the cardinal ~s
▪
I measured the distance and compass ~ between successive positions.
▪ wind
▪
When sailing, keep a constant check on changes in wind ~.
VERB + DIRECTION
▪ take
▪
Which ~ do we have to take?
▪ change , reverse , switch
▪
The wind had changed ~.
▪
What happens if you reverse the ~ of the current?
▪
Suddenly, the wind switched ~s.
▪ flow in , go in , go off in
▪ follow , head in , move in , travel in
▪
Dan followed the ~ the sign had pointed.
▪
The convoy is moving in the ~ of the capital.
▪ veer in , veer off in
▪
While he was studying in Paris, his thinking suddenly veered off in a new ~.
▪ come from , come in
▪
He was hit by a truck coming in the opposite ~.
▪ face , face in
▪
I didn't see the accident because I was facing in the opposite ~.
▪ glance in , look in , nod in , point in
▪
She glanced in his ~.
▪
‘Look!’ she said, pointing in the ~ of the coast.
▪ indicate , point out
▪
The adults gazed in the ~ indicated.
▪ nudge sb in , point sb in
▪
We have to nudge politicians in the right ~.
▪
I can't come with you, but I can point you in the general ~.
▪ pull (sb/sth) in ( often figurative )
▪
There are different considerations, pulling in different ~s.
PREPOSITION
▪ from a/the ~
▪
There was shriek of laughter from the ~ of Sarah's room.
▪
Let's approach the subject from a different ~.
▪ in a/the ~
▪
The aircraft was flying in a northerly ~.
PHRASES
▪ the ~ of flow , the ~ of movement , the ~ of travel
▪
I prefer to be facing the ~ of travel.
▪ the ~ of sb's gaze
▪
She followed the ~ of his gaze.
▪ from all ~s , from both ~s
▪
People came running from all ~s.
▪ in all ~s , in both ~s
▪
The blast sent debris flying in all ~s.
▪
The road was blocked in both ~s.
▪ a glance in sb/sth's ~ , a nod in sb/sth's ~
▪
People passed by without a glance in her ~.
▪
The report gives a brief nod in the ~ of green issues ( = mentions them briefly ). ( figurative )
▪ a sense of ~
▪
I don't have much sense of ~.
▪ in any particular ~ , in no particular ~
▪
The story does not go in any particular ~.
▪
She stalked away, in no particular ~.
2 development
ADJECTIVE
▪ new
▪
The party must take a new ~ if it is to survive.
▪ right , wrong
▪ desired
▪
These incentives should move the industry in the desired ~.
▪ positive
▪
I felt the company was headed in a positive ~.
▪
a step to change your life in a positive ~
▪ promising
▪
This points to a promising new ~ for cancer research.
▪ clear
▪
No clear ~ in policy can be identified.
▪ future
▪
the debate about the future ~ of socialism
▪ policy , strategic
▪
His understanding of our business will further strengthen our strategic ~.
VERB + DIRECTION
▪ take
▪
It is hard to know which ~ the Church will take.
▪ change , shift ( esp. AmE )
▪
It's time to change ~ and find a new job.
▪
The company needed to shift ~ if it was going to survive.
▪ go in , move in
▪
At least things are moving in the right ~ now.
▪ influence , shape
▪
the critical decisions that shape the ~ of our lives
▪ determine
▪
First determine the ~ of your expected business growth.
▪
She's a young woman, determining the ~ of her life.
▪ set
▪
The proposals aim to set a new ~ for local government.
▪ indicate
▪
The recommendations indicate possible ~s for further studies.
PHRASES
▪ a change of ~
▪
This was a major change of ~ for Britain's foreign policy.
▪ a shift in ~
▪
The book signals a shift in ~ from her earlier novels.
▪ a step in … direction
▪
The first step in this ~ will be a discussion with the unions.
▪ a step in the right ~ , a step in the wrong ~
▪
The new law is undoubtedly a step in the right ~, but it doesn't go far enough.
▪ in one ~
▪
I was being pushed in one ~.
▪
The market is moving primarily in one ~.
3 purpose
ADJECTIVE
▪ clear
▪
Do not let the discussion fragment into a desultory conversation with no clear ~.
VERB + DIRECTION
▪ be lacking in ( esp. BrE ), lack
▪
Once again her life felt lacking in ~.
PHRASES
▪ a sense of ~
▪
We are looking for somebody with a clear sense of ~.
4 ( often directions ) instructions
ADJECTIVE
▪ clear , good , precise , specific
▪
Isabel's ~s are always very precise.
▪
The teacher gives specific ~s and corrects your pose.
▪ step-by-step
▪
Each card has step-by-step ~s on one side.
▪ easy-to-follow
▪
Each chapter includes easy-to-follow ~s for a variety of activities.
▪ stage
▪
Shakespeare's famous stage ~, ‘Exit, pursued by a bear.’
▪ driving
▪
Internet sites that offer everything from driving ~s to subway maps
▪ online
▪
Just follow the online ~s to take the quiz.
▪ label ( AmE )
▪
Follow label ~s for best results.
VERB + DIRECTION
▪ ask , ask for
▪
Let's stop and ask for ~s.
▪ give sb , provide
▪
Can you give me ~s for getting to John's?
▪
signs providing ~s to the new concert hall.
▪ get
▪
We got ~s to the hall from a man in the town.
▪ follow
▪
Just follow the ~s on the box.
PREPOSITION
▪ ~ for
▪
Are there any ~s for putting up the tent?
▪ ~ to
▪
Can you give me ~s to the post office?
5 control/guidance
ADJECTIVE
▪ clear
▪
In effective classrooms the teacher provided clear ~.
▪ strategic
▪
the strategic ~ of the company
▪ spiritual
▪
The monarch looks to the archbishop for spiritual ~.
▪ government
▪
All such research is under government ~.
VERB + DIRECTION
▪ give sb , provide (sb with)
PREPOSITION
▪ under sb's ~
▪
They work under the ~ of a senior manager.
▪ ~ from
▪
The new workers need ~ from a supervisor.
◆◆◆
NOTE: Points of the compass
▪ due … (of)
▪
The park is due north of Santa Cruz.
▪ far …
▪
a small town in the far north of Canada
▪
The reserve is a little further south on the coast.
▪ down south , up north
▪
They have moved down south ( = to the south of the country ).
▪ journey … ( esp. BrE ), way …
▪
On our way south we passed through hostile territory.
▪ road … , track …
▪
the road west out of the city
▪ be … of, lie … of
▪
San Diego is south of Los Angeles.
▪ north-east, south-east
▪
The farm lies 60 miles north-east of Cape Town.
▪ come … , go …
▪
I thought we were going east.
▪ drive … , fly … , run … , travel … , walk …
▪
From Fort William drive north for a couple of miles.
▪ set off …
▪
The troops set off north.
▪ carry on … , continue … , proceed …
▪
The road continues west for ten miles.
▪ bear … , head …
▪
Take the N1 heading west from Bern.
▪ turn …
▪
When you reach the top, turn west.
▪ face … , look …
▪
The kitchen window faces south.
▪
The painting depicts the river looking north from the bridge.
▪ … bank , … coast , … shore
▪
the south bank of the river
▪ … wind
▪
a bitter east wind
▪ in the … (of)
▪
I live in the north.
▪
There are lakes in the north-east of Poland.
▪ from the … (of)
▪
The wind is coming from the west.
▪ to the … (of)
▪
Oxford is to the north-west of London.
▪ towards/toward the …
▪
Towards/Toward the north the woods turn into pine forests.
▪ which way is … ?
▪
Which way is west?