noun
1 empty space at the side of a page in a book, etc.
ADJECTIVE
▪ generous , wide
▪
Leave a generous ~ on the left.
▪ narrow
▪ left , right
▪ left-hand , right-hand
VERB + MARGIN
▪ adjust , leave , set
PREPOSITION
▪ at the ~
▪
Start writing at the left-hand ~.
▪ in the ~
▪
She scribbled notes in the ~.
2 space, time, votes, etc. by which sth is won
ADJECTIVE
▪ winning
▪
The winning ~ was only 8 seconds.
▪ comfortable , considerable , greater , large , substantial , wide
▪
She was not daunted by this substantial ~ of defeat.
▪ huge , overwhelming
▪
The amendment passed by an overwhelming ~.
▪ narrow , razor-thin ( esp. AmE ), slim , small
▪
The election is likely to be decided by razor-thin ~s.
▪ clear , safe
▪ three-to-one , two-to-one
▪
Her book outsold his by almost a two-to-one ~.
▪ 1 000-vote , 20-second , etc.
▪
He claimed the title with a slim 134 000-vote ~.
VERB + MARGIN
▪ have
PREPOSITION
▪ by a ~
▪
She won by a clear ~.
▪ ~ over
▪
He had an 18-second ~ over his nearest rival.
PHRASES
▪ by the largest, narrowest, etc. of ~s
▪
He won by the narrowest of ~s.
▪ a ~ of victory
3 amount of extra space, time, etc.
ADJECTIVE
▪ good , greater , wide
▪
Sales predictions are open to wide ~s of error.
▪ narrow
▪ adequate
▪ generous
▪ safety
VERB + MARGIN
▪ allow (sb/sth) , give (sb/sth) , leave , provide
▪
The device gives a greater ~ of safety.
PREPOSITION
▪ ~ for
▪
We have substantial reserves, which provide a good ~ for uncertainties.
PHRASES
▪ a ~ for error , a ~ of error
▪
The schedule left no ~ for error.
▪ a ~ of safety
4 profit
ADJECTIVE
▪ fat ( esp. AmE ), high , large
▪
The company relies on fat ~s from luxury models.
▪ low , narrow , razor-thin ( esp. AmE ), small , thin , tight
▪
We're working to rather tight profit ~s.
▪
How does the company get by with such razor-thin ~s?
▪ negative ( esp. AmE )
▪ gross , net
▪ profit
▪ operating , pre-tax , retail ( esp. BrE )
▪ average
▪
Today, average ~s have slipped to just 4%.
VERB + MARGIN
▪ achieve , have
▪
These manufacturers have high gross ~s.
▪ operate at , operate on
▪ improve , increase
▪
Higher productivity has enabled them to increase their profit ~s.
▪ cut , cut into , erode , reduce , squeeze
▪
Price rises have eroded profit ~s.
MARGIN + VERB
▪ increase , widen
▪ narrow , shrink
PREPOSITION
▪ at a ~
▪
They are operating at very low ~s.
▪ ~ on
▪
They hope to improve their ~s on computers.