📒 to say or write something in the form of a question, in order to get information
- How old are you—if you don’t mind me/my asking?
- ask about somebody/something He asked about her family.
- ask something Can I ask a question?
📒 to tell somebody that you would like them to do something or that you would like something to happen
- ask somebody to do something Anyone with information is asked to contact the police.
- Parents with young children are asked to attend this meeting.
- They were politely asked to leave the shop.
📒 to say that you would like somebody to give you something
- ask for something Don't be afraid to ask for help.
- I am writing to ask for some information about courses.
- to ask for a job/a drink/an explanation
📒 to request permission to do something
- ask to do something I immediately asked to speak to a supervisor.
- I asked to see the manager.
- Did you ask to use the car?
📒 to invite somebody
- ask somebody + adv./prep. They've asked me to dinner.
- ask somebody Thank you so much for asking me.
- I didn't ask them in (= to come into the house).
📒 to request a particular amount of money for something that you are selling
- He's asking £2 000 for the car.
- How much were they asking for their house?
📒 to expect or demand something
- ask something I know I'm asking a great deal.
- ask something of somebody You're asking too much of him.
- ask something to do something I know it's asking a lot to expect them to win again.
📒 to deserve something bad that happens to you or that somebody does to you
- ‘You shouldn’t have said that to her.’ ‘Well, she asked for it!’
📒 to behave in a way that is very likely to result in trouble
- He was asking for trouble when he insulted their country.
📒 if you say don’t ask to somebody, you mean that you do not want to reply to their question, because it would be difficult to explain, embarrassing, etc.
- ‘And what did he do then?’ ‘Don’t ask!’
📒 if you say don’t ask me, you mean that you do not know the answer to a question and are annoyed you have been asked
- ‘What will the meeting be about?’ ‘Don’t ask me.’
📒 if you can have something for the asking, it is very easy for you to get it if you ask for it
- The job is yours for the asking.
📒 if you say I ask you, you are expressing shock, anger or a strong feeling of dislike about something/somebody
- He told me I had to work late on Friday night. I ask you!
📒 in my personal opinion
- Their marriage was a mistake, if you ask me.