oblige

o|blige

S3 [əˈblaıdʒ] v formal

[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: obliger, from Latin obligare, from ligare 'to tie']

1.) [T usually passive]

if you are obliged to do something, you have to do it because the situation, the law, a duty etc makes it necessary

oblige sb to do sth

▪ The minister was obliged to report at least once every six months.

▪ Circumstances had obliged him to sell the business.

feel obliged to do sth

(=feel that you have a duty to do something)

▪ Many parents feel obliged to pay for at least part of the wedding.

2.) [I and T]

to do something that someone has asked you to do

▪ It's always a good idea to oblige important clients.

happy/glad/ready etc to oblige

▪ If you need a ride home, I'd be happy to oblige.

3.) I'd be obliged if

spoken formal used to make a polite request

▪ I'd be obliged if you'd treat this matter as strictly confidential.

4.) (I'm) much obliged (to you)

spoken old-fashioned used to thank someone very politely

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HINT sense 1

Do not use oblige when you are talking about making someone do something they do not want to do. Use force or make: No one can force (NOT oblige) you to stay in a job that you hate.

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