there
Pronounced ðər, STRONG ðeər for meanings 1 and 2, and ðeər for meanings 3 to 20.
1 pron There is used as the subject of the verb `be' to say that something exists or does not exist, or to draw attention to it.
PRON be n
There are roadworks between Camblesforth and Carlton..., Are there some countries that have been able to tackle these problems successfully?..., There were differences of opinion, he added, on very basic issues...
2 pron You use there in front of certain verbs when you are saying that something exists, develops, or can be seen. Whether the verb is singular or plural depends on the noun which follows the verb.
PRON v n
There remains considerable doubt over when the intended high-speed rail link will be complete..., There appeared no imminent danger...
3 convention There is used after `hello' or `hi' when you are greeting someone.
Oh, hi there. You must be Sidney.
4 adv If something is there, it exists or is available.
be ADV, oft ADV for n, ADV to-inf
The group of old buildings on the corner by the main road is still there today..., The book is there for people to read and make up their own mind...
5 adv You use there to refer to a place which has already been mentioned.
be ADV, ADV with v, n ADV, oft prep ADV
The next day we drove the 33 miles to Siena (the Villa Arceno is a great place to stay while you are there) for the Palio..., `Come on over, if you want.'<emdash10001`How do I get there?'..., It's one hell of a train trip, about five days there and back...
6 adv You use there to indicate a place that you are pointing to or looking at, in order to draw someone's attention to it.
ADV with be, ADV after v, oft prep ADV
There it is, on the corner over there..., There she is on the left up there..., The toilets are over there, dear...
7 adv You use there in expressions such as `there he was' or `there we were' to sum up part of a story or to slow a story down for dramatic effect.
SPOKEN ADV cl
So there we were with Amy and she was driving us crazy...
8 adv You use there when speaking on the telephone to ask if someone is available to speak to you.
ADV with be
Hello, is Gordon there please?
9 adv You use there to refer to a point that someone has made in a conversation.
ADV after v
I think you're right there John...
10 adv You use there to refer to a stage that has been reached in an activity or process.
ADV with cl, oft prep ADV
We are making further investigations and will take the matter from there...
11 adv You use there to indicate that something has reached a point or level which is completely successful.
be ADV, ADV after v
We had hoped to fill the back page with extra news; we're not quite there yet..., Life has not yet returned to normal but we are getting there.
12 adv You can use there in expressions such as there you go or there we are when accepting that an unsatisfactory situation cannot be changed.
SPOKEN ADV cl
I'm the oldest and, according to all the books, should be the achiever, but there you go...
13 adv You can use there in expressions such as there you go and there we are when emphasizing that something proves that you were right.
SPOKEN ADV cl (emphasis)
You see? There you go. That's why I didn't mention it earlier. I knew you'd take it the wrong way...
14 You use there again to introduce an extra piece of information which either contradicts what has been said or gives an alternative to it.
there again phrase PHR cl
At 18 stone, I can't run around the way I used to. There again, some people say I never did...
15 Phrases such as there you go again are used to show annoyance at someone who is repeating something that has annoyed you in the past.
SPOKEN
there you go again phrase V inflects
`There you go again, upsetting the child!' said Shirley...
16 You can add `so there' to what you are saying to show that you will not change your mind about a decision you have made, even though the person you are talking to disagrees with you.
INFORMAL
so there phrase cl PHR
I think that's sweet, so there.
17 If something happens there and then or then and there, it happens immediately.
there and then/then and there phrase PHR after v, PHR with cl
Many felt that he should have resigned there and then...
18 You say `there there' to someone who is very upset, especially a small child, in order to comfort them.
SPOKEN
there there convention
`There, there,' said Mum. `You've been having a really bad dream.'
19 You say `there you are' or `there you go' when you are offering something to someone.
SPOKEN
there you are/go convention
(formulae)
Nora picked up the boy, and gave him a biscuit. `There you are, Lennie, you take the nice biscuit.'
20 If someone is there for you, they help and support you, especially when you have problems. INFORMAL
be there for someone phrase V inflects Despite what happened in the past I want her to know I am there for her.
out-there
Someone or something that is out-there is very extreme or unusual.
INFORMAL adj
(=way-out)
...various artists with out-there names like Furry Green Lamppost.
