📒 a particular situation or a situation of a particular type
- in… cases In some cases people have had to wait several weeks for an appointment.
- In most cases the increases have been marginal.
- In many cases it is the pressure of the job that causes managers to behave like this.
📒 the true situation
- be the case If that is the case (= if the situation described is true), we need more staff.
- it's the case that… It is simply not the case that prison conditions are improving.
- It remains the case that not enough graduates are going into teaching.
📒 a situation that relates to a particular person or thing
- in somebody's case I cannot make an exception in your case (= for you and not for others).
- In your case, we are prepared to be lenient.
- in this case Don't underestimate the power of the pen, or in this case, the power of the keyboard.
📒 a matter that is being officially investigated, especially by the police
- They never solved the Jones murder case.
- Police believe it is a simple case of theft.
- Four officers are investigating the case.
📒 a question to be decided in court
- a court case
- a criminal/civil case
- The case will be heard next week.
📒 a set of facts or arguments that support one side in a trial, a discussion, etc.
- Our lawyer didn't think we had a case (= had enough good arguments to win in a court of law).
- case for something the case for the defence/prosecution
- case against somebody/something The case against her was very weak.
📒 a container or cover used to protect or store things; a container with its contents or the amount that it contains
- a jewellery case
- The museum was full of stuffed animals in glass cases.
- case of something a case (= 12 bottles) of champagne
📒 a container with flat sides and a handle, used for carrying clothes, etc. when you are travelling
- Let me carry your case for you.
- a packing case
- They put their cases in the boot and drove off.
📒 the fact of somebody having a disease or an injury; a person who has a disease or an injury
- a severe case of food poisoning
- Over 130 000 cases of cholera were reported in 2016.
- The most serious cases were treated at the scene of the accident.
📒 a person who needs, or is thought to need, special treatment or attention
- He's a hopeless case.
- After the exams, the teacher gave all borderline cases a spoken test.
📒 the form of a noun, an adjective or a pronoun in some languages, that shows its relationship to another word
- the nominative/accusative/genitive case
- Latin nouns have case, number and gender.
- In Polish the verb ‘to be’ takes the instrumental case.
📒 used to say that one of two or more possibilities is true, but which one is true depends on the circumstances
- There may be an announcement about this tomorrow—or not, as the case may be.
📒 to criticize somebody all the time
- She's always on my case about cleaning my room.
📒 to be dealing with a particular matter, especially a criminal investigation
- We have two agents on the case.
📒 a clear example of the problem, situation, etc. that is being discussed
- Many professions feel they deserve higher pay, and nurses are a case in point.
- The website has a variety of interactive exercises (e.g. matching games, crosswords and quizzes).
- The website has a variety of interactive exercises, including matching games, crosswords and quizzes.
📒 a situation in business, politics, etc. where there is a lot of competition and people are willing to harm each other in order to succeed
- I'm afraid in this line of work it's a case of dog eat dog.
- We're operating in a dog-eat-dog world.
📒 used to tell somebody to stop criticizing you
📒 whatever happens or may have happened
- There's no point complaining now—we're leaving tomorrow in any case.
📒 because of the possibility of something happening
- You'd better take the keys in case I'm out.
- You probably won't need to call—but take my number, just in case.
- In case (= if it is true that) you’re wondering why Jo’s here—let me explain…
📒 if something happens
- In case of fire, ring the alarm bell.
📒 if that happens or has happened; if that is the situation
- ‘I’ve made up my mind.’ ‘In that case, there’s no point discussing it.’
📒 used to say that you do not need to say any more about something because you think that you have proved your point
📒 used by lawyers in court to say that they have finished presenting their case
- The prosecution rests its case.