ask

 
Pronunciation: /ɑːsk/

verb

  • 1 [reporting verb] say something in order to obtain an answer or some information: [with object and clause]: I asked her what she meant [with object]: people are always asking questions [with direct speech]: ‘How much further?’ I asked [no object]: the old man asked about her job
  • [no object] (ask around) talk to different people in order to find out something: there are fine meals to be had if you ask around
  • [no object] (ask after or Scottish for) British enquire about the health or well-being of: if I see him I’ll tell him you were asking after him
  • 2 [with object] say to (someone) that one wants them to do or give something: Mary asked her father for money [with object and infinitive]: I asked him to call the manager [no object]: don’t be afraid to ask for advice
  • [with clause] say that one wants permission to do something: she asked if she could move in [with infinitive]: he asked to see the officer involved [with object]: you should have asked my permission first
  • [no object] (ask for) say that one wants to speak to: when I arrived I asked for Katrina
  • say that one wants (a specified amount) as a price for selling something: he was asking £250 for the guitar
  • expect or demand (something) of someone: it’s asking a lot, but could you look through Billy’s things?
  • 3 [with object] invite (someone) to one’s home or a function: it’s about time we asked Pam to dinner she asked him round for a drink
  • (ask someone along) invite someone to join one on a group outing: do you want to ask him along?
  • (ask someone out) invite someone out on a date: a few boys asked her out but never the right ones

noun

[in singular]
  • 1US the price at which an item, especially a financial security, is offered for sale: [as modifier]: ask prices for bonds
  • 2 [with adjective] informal a demand or situation that requires a specified degree of effort or commitment: it is a big ask for him to go and play 90 minutes it was a tough ask, but they delivered

Phrases

ask me another

informal used to indicate that one does not know the answer to a question: ‘What do they quarrel about?’ queried Ruth. ‘Ask me another!’

be asking for trouble (or it)

informal behave in a way that is likely to result in difficulty for oneself: it would simply be asking for trouble for me to spend the night here

don't ask me!

informal used to indicate that one has no idea of the answer to a question: ‘Is he her boyfriend then?’ ‘Don’t ask me!’

for the asking

used to indicate that someone can easily have something if they want it: the job was his for the asking

I ask you!

informal an exclamation of shock or disapproval intended to elicit agreement from one’s listener: ringing me up on Christmas Day, I ask you!

if you ask me

informal used to emphasize that a statement is one’s personal opinion: if you ask me, it’s just an excuse for laziness

Derivatives

asker

noun

Origin:

Old English āscian, āhsian, āxian, of West Germanic origin

Word Trends

Should sports commentators be reviled or celebrated for their contribution to our language? In the excitement of the match, both creativity and clichés abound, such as the conversion of ask from a verb to a noun. The usage, which originated in Australia, is a favourite of sports pundits, usually in combination with emphasizing adjectives like big, massive, hard, and tough: it was always going to be a hard ask against a class side beating Millwall in any cup competition is a massive ask. It has now spread into politics, business, and everyday speech: the children are expected to stay focused for about two hours, which is a big ask. Miss undergoes a similar verb-to-noun conversion at the hands of some soccer managers and commentators: he’s been playing well and he’ll be a big miss means that the injured player will be missed a great deal