noun
ADJECTIVE
▪ big , great , important , main , major
▪
the one great ~ to that
▪ clear , conspicuous , glaring , notable , noteworthy ( esp. AmE ), noticeable , obvious , significant , striking
▪
Most industries have suffered badly in the recession, but there have been a few notable ~s.
▪ minor , rare
▪ lone ( esp. AmE ), only , single , sole
▪
My family grew closer over the years. The only ~ was my aunt.
▪
all American presidents, with the sole ~ of Carter
▪ occasional
▪
There are occasional ~s to my generalization.
▪ limited , partial
▪
all of them – with the partial ~ of Ireland
▪ certain , specific
▪
There should be specific ~s written into the plan.
▪ special
▪
We are making a special ~ for Emma because of her condition.
▪ possible
▪
With the possible ~ of the US, no other nation experienced a more severe depression.
▪ interesting
▪
There was an interesting ~ to this general pattern.
▪ honourable/honorable ( esp. BrE )
▪
With a few honourable/honorable ~s, politicians kept quiet about the corruption.
VERB + EXCEPTION
▪ make
▪
No parking is allowed, but an ~ is made for disabled drivers.
▪ carve , carve out (both AmE )
▪
The reform bill carves out several specific ~s for treatment of health expenses.
▪ allow , grant
▪
She asked the state Supreme Court to grant an ~.
▪ remain
▪
Such initiatives remain the ~, rather than the rule.
▪ represent
▪
They represent an ~ to the rule.
PREPOSITION
▪ with the ~ of
▪
The whole of the island was flooded with the ~ of a small area in the north.
▪ without ~
▪
Without ~, all employees must carry their identity card with them at all times.
▪ ~ to
▪
Guide dogs are the one ~ to the store's ban on dogs.
PHRASES
▪ be no ~
▪
The weather had been rainy for days, and the day of the race was no ~.
▪ be the ~ rather than the rule
▪
Nowadays a job for life is very much the ~ rather than the rule.
▪ the ~ to the rule
▪
Most of his family are sports enthusiasts, but he's the ~ to the rule.
▪ with a few ~s
▪
With a few ~s, the songwriting is very good.