ask (asks 3rd person present) (asking present participle) (asked past tense & past participle )
1 verb If you ask someone something, you say something to them in the form of a question because you want to know the answer.
`How is Frank?' he asked... V with quote
I asked him his name... V n n
I wasn't the only one asking questions... V n
She asked me if I'd enjoyed my dinner... V n wh
If Daniel asks what happened in court we will tell him... V wh
You will have to ask David about that... V n about n
`I'm afraid to ask what it cost.'—`Then don't ask.' V
2 verb If you ask someone to do something, you tell them that you want them to do it.
We had to ask him to leave... V n to-inf
3 verb If you askto do something, you tell someone that you want to do it.
I asked to see the Director. V to-inf
4 verb If you ask for something, you say that you would like it.
I decided to go to the next house and ask for food... V for n
5 verb If you ask for someone, you say that you would like to speak to them.
There's a man at the gate asking for you. V for n
6 verb If you ask someone's permission, opinion, or forgiveness, you try to obtain it by putting a request to them.
Please ask permission from whoever pays the phone bill before making your call. V n
7 verb If you ask someone to an event or place, you invite them to go there.
Couldn't you ask Jon to the party?... V n to/for n
She asked me back to her house. V n adv
8 verb If someone is asking a particular price for something, they are selling it for that price.
Mr Pantelaras was asking £6,000 for his collection. V n for n
9 You reply `don't ask me' when you do not know the answer to a question, usually when you are annoyed or surprised that you have been asked.
don't ask me convention
(feelings)
`She's got other things on her mind, wouldn't you think?' `Don't ask me,' murmured Chris. `I've never met her.'
10 You can say `may I ask' as a formal way of asking a question, which shows you are annoyed or suspicious about something.
may I ask phrase
(feelings)
May I ask where you're going, sir?
11 You can say `if you ask me' to emphasize that you are stating your personal opinion.
if you ask me phrase PHR with cl (emphasis)
He was nuts, if you ask me.
12 If you say that someone is asking for trouble or is asking for it, you mean that they are behaving in a way that makes it very likely that they will get into trouble.
be asking for trouble/be asking for it phrase V inflects
To go ahead with the match after such clear advice had been asking for trouble. ask after phrasal verb If someone asks after you, they ask someone how you are.
(=inquire after)
I had a letter from Jane. She asks after you. V P n ask around phrasal verb
in BRIT, also use ask round If you ask around or ask round, you ask several people a question.
Ask around to see what others living in your area think about their doctors. V P
