HELP


Meaning of HELP in English

/ help; NAmE / verb , noun

■ verb

MAKE EASIER / BETTER

1.

help (sb) (with sth) | help (sb) (in doing sth) to make it easier or possible for sb to do sth by doing sth for them or by giving them sth that they need :

[ v ]

Help, I'm stuck!

He always helps with the housework.

I need contacts that could help in finding a job.

[ vn ]

We must all try and help each other.

Jo will help us with some of the organization.

[ vn to inf ]

The college's aim is to help students (to) achieve their aspirations.

This charity aims to help people (to) help themselves.

[ vn inf ]

Come and help me lift this box.

[ v to inf ]

She helped (to) organize the party.

HELP NOTE : In verb patterns with a to infinitive, the 'to' is often left out, especially in informal or spoken English.

2.

to improve a situation; to make it easier for sth to happen :

[ v ]

It helped being able to talk about it.

[ vn ]

It doesn't really help matters knowing that everyone is talking about us.

[ v to inf ]

This should help (to) reduce the pain.

SB TO MOVE

3.

[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to help sb move by letting them lean on you, guiding them, etc. :

She helped him to his feet.

We were helped ashore by local people.

GIVE FOOD / DRINK

4.

[ vn ] help yourself / sb (to sth) to give yourself/sb food, drinks, etc. :

If you want another drink, just help yourself.

Can I help you to some more salad?

STEAL

5.

[ vn ] help yourself to sth ( informal , disapproving ) to take sth without permission

SYN steal :

He'd been helping himself to the money in the cash register.

IDIOMS

- sb can (not) help (doing) sth | sb can not help but do sth

- give / lend a helping hand

- God / Heaven help sb

- so help me (God)

PHRASAL VERBS

- help sb off / on with sth

- help out | help sb out

■ noun

MAKING EASIER / BETTER

1.

[ U ] help (with sth) the act of helping sb to do sth :

Thank you for all your help.

Do you need any help with that?

Can I be of any help to you?

None of this would have been possible without their help.

She stopped smoking with the help of her family and friends.

ADVICE / MONEY

2.

[ U ] help (with sth) advice, money, etc. that is given to sb in order to solve their problems :

to seek financial / legal / medical, etc. help

The organization offers practical help in dealing with paperwork.

You should qualify for help with the costs of running a car.

a help key / screen (= a function on a computer that provides information on how to use the computer)

BEING USEFUL

3.

[ U ] the fact of being useful :

The map wasn't much help .

With the help of a ladder, neighbours were able to rescue the children from the blaze.

Just shouting at him isn't going to be a lot of help.

FOR SB IN DANGER

4.

[ U ] the act of helping sb who is in danger :

Quick, get help!

She screamed for help.

PERSON / THING

5.

[ sing. ] a ~ (to sb) a person or thing that helps sb :

She was more of a hindrance than a help.

Your advice was a big help.

( ironic )

You're a great help, I must say!

IN HOUSE

6.

the help [ U+sing./pl. v . ] ( especially NAmE ) the person or people who are employed by sb to clean their house, etc.

—see also home help

IDIOMS

- there is no help for it

••

WORD ORIGIN

Old English helpan (verb), help (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch helpen and German helfen .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.