question

ques|tion¹ W1S1 [ˈkwestʃən] n

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1¦(asking for information)¦

2¦(subject/problem)¦

3¦(doubt)¦

4 without question

5 there is no question of something happening/somebody doing something

6 in question

7 be a question of something

8 it's just/only/simply a question of doing something

9 be out of the question

10 (that's a) good question!

11 pop the question

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[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: Latin quaestio, from quaestus, past participle of quaerere 'to ask']

1.) ¦(ASKING FOR INFORMATION)¦

a sentence or phrase that is used to ask for information or to test someone's knowledge

≠ ↑answer

▪ Can I ask you a question ?

▪ I'm afraid I can't answer that question .

▪ Did you answer all the questions in the test?

question about/on

▪ They asked me quite a lot of difficult questions about my job.

▪ The survey included questions on age and smoking habits.

▪ Does anyone have any questions ?

▪ The audience was invited to put questions to both the speakers.

▪ Stop trying to avoid the question !

▪ The exam questions are set by a team of experts.

▪ the answer to the question posed at the beginning of this chapter

▪ Journalists bombarded the couple with questions .

▪ Perhaps I should rephrase the question .

▪ In answer to your last question , 'Yes'.

2.) ¦(SUBJECT/PROBLEM)¦

a subject or problem that needs to be discussed or dealt with

= ↑issue question of

▪ We discussed the question of confidentiality.

▪ This raises the question of government funding.

▪ an urgent need to address the question of crime

▪ Several questions have still not been resolved .

▪ The question is should I take the job in Japan, or should I stay here?

▪ Some important questions remain unanswered (=still have not been dealt with or explained) .

3.) ¦(DOUBT)¦[U]

if there is some question about something, there is doubt about it, or people feel uncertain about it

▪ The exact cause of death is still open to question (=not certain) .

call/bring/throw sth into question

(=make people doubt something)

▪ This has called into question people's right to retire at 60.

▪ He's by far the best candidate, there's no question about it (=it is completely certain) .

▪ There is no question that (=it is completely certain that) the government knew about the deal.

beyond question

(=completely certain or definite)

▪ Her efficiency and intelligence are beyond question.

4.) without question

a) used to emphasize that what you are saying is true or correct

▪ Marilyn was, without question, a very beautiful woman.

b) if you accept or obey something without question, you do it without expressing any doubt about whether it is correct or necessary

▪ Clara accepted his decision without question.

5.) there is no question of sth happening/sb doing sth

used to say that there is no possibility of something happening

▪ There is no question of the project being postponed.

6.) in question

a) the things, people etc in question are the ones that are being discussed

▪ Where were you during the evening in question?

b) if something is in question, there is doubt about it

▪ I'm afraid his honesty is now in question.

7.) be a question of sth

used to say what the most important fact, part, or feature of something is

▪ Dance is a question of control and creative expression.

▪ I would love to come, but it's a question of time.

8.) it's just/only/simply a question of doing sth

spoken used to say that what needs doing is easy or not complicated

▪ It's just a question of putting in a couple of screws.

9.) be out of the question

if something is out of the question, it is definitely not possible or not allowed

▪ You can't go in that old shirt - it's out of the question.

10.) (that's a) good question!

spoken used to admit that you do not know the answer to a question

▪ 'How can we afford this?' 'Good question!'

11.) pop the question informal

to ask someone to marry you - used humorously

→leading question at ↑leading¹ (4), rhetorical question at ↑rhetorical, beg the question at ↑beg

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COLLOCATES for sense 1

ask (somebody) a question

answer a question

have a question (=want to ask a question)

put a question to somebody (=ask someone a question in a formal situation)

difficult/awkward/tricky question

avoid/evade/sidestep a question (=avoid giving a clear direct answer)

set a question (=invent a question for a test)

exam/test question

pose a question formal (=ask a question)

searching/probing question (=one that tries to get a full and thoughtful answer from someone)

bombard somebody with questions (=ask someone a lot of questions)

rephrase a question (=ask it in a different way)

rhetorical question (=one you ask without expecting an answer, as a way of making a point in a discussion)

in answer to your question (=used for referring back to a question you are going to answer)

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question ²

question² W3S2 v [T]

1.) to ask someone questions in order to get information about something, especially about a crime

→↑interrogate

▪ Two men have been arrested and questioned.

question sb about sth

▪ She hates being questioned about her past.

▪ Joseph questioned the doctors closely (=asked them a lot of questions) .

2.) to have or express doubts about whether something is true, good, necessary etc

question what/how/when etc

▪ Are you questioning what I'm saying?

▪ No one dared to question his decisions.

question whether

▪ One questions whether he's telling the truth.