/ səʊ; NAmE soʊ/ adverb , conjunction , noun
■ adverb
1.
so ... (that) ... | so ... as to do sth to such a great degree :
Don't look so angry.
There's no need to worry so.
She spoke so quietly (that) I could hardly hear her.
I'm not so stupid as to believe that.
( formal , especially BrE )
Would you be so kind as to lock the door when you leave?
2.
very; extremely :
I'm so glad to see you.
We have so much to do.
Their attitude is so very English.
The article was just so much (= nothing but) nonsense.
( BrE )
He sat there ever so quietly.
( BrE )
I do love it so.
3.
not ~ ... (as ... ) (used in comparisons) not to the same degree :
I haven't enjoyed myself so much for a long time.
It wasn't so good as last time.
It's not so easy as you'd think.
He was not so quick a learner as his brother.
It's not so much a hobby as a career (= more like a career than a hobby) .
( disapproving )
Off she went without so much as (= without even) a 'goodbye'.
4.
used to show the size, amount or number of sth :
The fish was about so big (= said when using your hands to show the size) .
There are only so many (= only a limited number of) hours in a day.
5.
used to refer back to sth that has already been mentioned :
'Is he coming?' ' I hope so .'
'Did they mind?' 'I don't think so .'
If she notices, she never says so .
I might be away next week. If so , I won't be able to see you.
We are very busy— so much so that we won't be able to take time off this year.
Programs are expensive, and even more so if you have to keep altering them.
I hear that you're a writer— is that so (= is that true) ?
He thinks I dislike him but that just isn't so.
George is going to help me, or so he says (= that is what he says) .
They asked me to call them and I did so (= I called) .
6.
also :
Times have changed and so have I .
'I prefer the first version.' ' So do we .'
HELP NOTE : You cannot use so with negative verbs. Use neither or either :
'I'm not hungry.' ' Neither am I / I'm not very hungry either .'
7.
used to agree that sth is true, especially when you are surprised :
'You were there, too.' ' So I was —I'd forgotten.'
'There's another one.' ' So there is .'
8.
( informal ) used, often with a negative, before adjectives and noun phrases to emphasize sth that you are saying :
He is so not the right person for you.
That is so not cool.
9.
( informal ) used, especially by children, to say that what sb says is not the case and the opposite is true :
'You're not telling the truth, are you?' 'I am, so!'
10.
used when you are showing sb how to do sth or telling them how sth happened :
Stand with your arms out, so.
( literary )
So it was that he finally returned home.
•
IDIOMS
- and so forth | and so on (and so forth)
- ... or so
- so as to do sth
- so be it
- so much for sth
- so ... that
- (all) the more so because ...
■ conjunction
1.
used to show the reason for sth :
It was still painful so I went to see a doctor.
2.
so (that ... ) used to show the result of sth :
Nothing more was heard from him so that we began to wonder if he was dead.
3.
so (that ... ) used to show the purpose of sth :
But I gave you a map so you wouldn't get lost!
She worked hard so that everything would be ready in time.
4.
used to introduce the next part of a story :
So after shouting and screaming for an hour she walked out in tears.
5.
( informal ) used to show that you think sth is not important, especially after sb has criticized you for it :
So I had a couple of drinks on the way home. What's wrong with that?
'You've been smoking again.' 'So?'
6.
( informal ) used to introduce a comment or a question :
So, let's see. What do we need to take?
So, what have you been doing today?
7.
( informal ) used when you are making a final statement :
So, that's it for today.
8.
( informal ) used in questions to refer to sth that has just been said :
So there's nothing we can do about it?
'I've just got back from a trip to Rome.' 'So, how was it?'
9.
used when stating that two events, situations, etc. are similar :
Just as large companies are having to cut back, so small businesses are being forced to close.
•
IDIOMS
- so what?
■ noun
= soh
••
WORD ORIGIN
adverb and conjunction Old English swā , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zo and German so .