on

on¹ W1S1 [ɔn US a:n, o:n] prep

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

1¦(on a surface)¦

2¦(supporting your body)¦

3¦(part hit/touched)¦

4¦(written/shown)¦

5¦(attached)¦

6¦(place)¦

7¦(position)¦

8¦(looking/pointing)¦

9¦(day/date)¦

10¦(affecting/relating to)¦

11¦(about)¦

12¦(orders/advice)¦

13¦(eat/drink)¦

14¦(transport)¦

15¦(money)¦

16¦(fuel)¦

17¦(medicine/drugs)¦

18 what's somebody on?

19¦(using equipment)¦

20¦(musical instruments)¦

21¦(radio/television)¦

22¦(recorded)¦

23¦(activity/journey)¦

24¦(included)¦

25¦(when something happens)¦

26¦(compared with something)¦

27¦(carrying something)¦

28¦(pay)¦

29¦(telephone number)¦

30¦(causing somebody problems)¦

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[: Old English;]

1.) ¦(ON A SURFACE)¦

a) touching a surface or being supported by a surface

▪ Leave your things on the table over there.

▪ People were sunbathing on the grass.

▪ The little girl was sitting on her father's shoulders.

see usage note ↑at

b) used to say that someone or something moves so that they are then touching or supported by a surface

▪ snow falling on the mountainsides

▪ He threw himself on the bed.

2.) ¦(SUPPORTING YOUR BODY)¦

used to say what part of someone's body is touching the ground or another surface and supporting their weight

▪ She was on her feet in no time.

▪ He was on his hands and knees searching for something.

▪ Can you stand on your head?

3.) ¦(PART HIT/TOUCHED)¦

used to say what part of someone or something is hit or touched

▪ I wanted to punch him on the nose.

▪ Matt kissed her on the cheek.

4.) ¦(WRITTEN/SHOWN)¦

used to say where something is written or shown

▪ There's a diagram on page 25.

▪ He wrote his phone number on a piece of paper.

5.) ¦(ATTACHED)¦

attached to or hanging from something

▪ She hung her coat on a hook.

▪ Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.

6.) ¦(PLACE)¦

in a particular place

▪ The town is right on the border.

▪ Is there a water supply on the island?

▪ He grew up on a ranch in California.

▪ a store on Fifth Avenue

7.) ¦(POSITION)¦

in a particular position in relation to something else

▪ You'll see the school on your left.

▪ They live on the opposite side of the town.

8.) ¦(LOOKING/POINTING)¦

looking or pointing towards something or someone

▪ His eyes were on the stranger standing in the doorway.

▪ She trained her binoculars on the house.

9.) ¦(DAY/DATE)¦

during a particular day

▪ They'll be here on Tuesday.

▪ I was born on July 1st.

▪ We'll see you on Christmas Eve.

10.)¦(AFFECTING/RELATING TO)¦

affecting or relating to someone or something

▪ a tax on cigarettes

▪ his influence on young people

▪ There will be new restrictions on the sale of weapons.

▪ What effect will these changes have on the tourist industry?

11.) ¦(ABOUT)¦

about a particular subject

▪ Do you have any books on India?

▪ You can get information on local services by calling this number.

▪ an international conference on global warming

12.) ¦(ORDERS/ADVICE)¦

as a result of someone's order, request, or advice

▪ He was killed on the king's orders.

▪ I accepted the offer on the advice of my lawyer.

13.) ¦(EAT/DRINK)¦

used to talk about what someone usually eats or drinks

▪ They live mainly on beans, lentils and rice.

▪ Is your baby on solid food yet?

14.) ¦(TRANSPORT)¦

a) in or into a bus, train, plane etc

≠ ↑off

▪ Did you manage to sleep on the plane?

▪ Tommy should be on the six o'clock train.

▪ She got on the first bus that came along.

b) riding something

▪ a statue of the king on horseback

▪ I'll probably come on my bike.

15.) ¦(MONEY)¦

receiving money for a job or as a regular payment

▪ He's on quite a good salary now.

▪ She must be on at least £50,000 a year.

▪ the difficulties faced by families on low incomes

16.) ¦(FUEL)¦

using a particular type of ↑fuel or power

▪ Most buses run on diesel.

▪ Does it work on mains electricity?

17.) ¦(MEDICINE/DRUGS)¦

taking a particular drug or medicine regularly

≠ ↑off

▪ Are you still on antibiotics?

▪ The doctor put her on Prozac.

▪ A lot of these kids are on heroin by the age of twelve.

18.) what's sb on?

spoken used to say that someone is behaving in a very strange way, as if they are taking an illegal drug

19.) ¦(USING EQUIPMENT)¦

using a machine or piece of equipment

▪ He's been on the computer all afternoon.

▪ Is Rachel still on the phone?

20.)¦(MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS)¦

playing a musical instrument

▪ He played a short piece on the piano.

▪ The album features Rick Wakeman on keyboards.

21.) ¦(RADIO/TELEVISION)¦

being broadcast by radio or television

▪ What's on TV tonight?

▪ Did you hear that programme on the radio last night?

22.) ¦(RECORDED)¦

used to say in what form information is stored or music, films etc are recorded

▪ The movie is now available on video and DVD.

▪ I always keep a backup copy on disk.

23.) ¦(ACTIVITY/JOURNEY)¦

taking part in an activity or travelling somewhere

▪ She's on a course all this week.

▪ I met him on vacation in Canada.

▪ My girlfriend is often away on business trips.

24.) ¦(INCLUDED)¦

included in a group or team of people or in a list

▪ Are you still on the management committee?

▪ Mr Edwards is no longer on the staff here.

▪ Whose team are you on?

▪ There was no steak on the menu.

▪ What's the next item on the agenda?

25.) ¦(WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS)¦

formal as soon as someone has done something or as soon as something has happened

▪ Couples are presented with a bottle of wine on their arrival at the hotel.

▪ All patients are examined on admission to the hospital.

on doing sth

▪ What was your reaction on seeing him?

26.) ¦(COMPARED WITH SOMETHING)¦

compared with another person or thing

▪ This essay is a definite improvement on your last one.

▪ Sales are 10% up on last year.

27.) ¦(CARRYING SOMETHING)¦ informal

if you have something on you, you have it in your pocket, your bag etc

▪ I don't have any money on me.

28.) ¦(PAY)¦

be on sb

spoken used to say who is going to pay for something

▪ The drinks are on me!

▪ Each table will get a bottle of champagne on the house (=paid for by the restaurant, hotel etc) .

29.) ¦(TELEPHONE NUMBER)¦

used to say what number you should use in order to telephone someone

American Equivalent: at

▪ You can contact me on this number.

30.)¦(CAUSING SOMEBODY PROBLEMS)¦

used when something bad happens to you, for example when something you are using suddenly stops working, or someone you have a relationship with suddenly leaves you

▪ Suddenly the telephone went dead on me.

▪ Dorothy's first husband walked out on her.

on ²

on² W1S1 adj, adv [not before noun]

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1¦(continuing)¦

2¦(further)¦

3¦(later)¦

4¦(wearing something)¦

5¦(attached)¦

6¦(written)¦

7¦(transport)¦

8¦(light/machine)¦

9¦(being broadcast)¦

10¦(events)¦

11¦(performing/speaking)¦

12¦(working)¦

13 have something on

14 on and off

15 be/go/keep on at somebody

16 be/go/keep on about something

17 be not on

18 be on for something

19 you're on

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1.) ¦(CONTINUING)¦

used to say that someone continues to do something or something continues to happen, without stopping

▪ We decided to play on even though it was snowing.

▪ He went on and on (=talked for a very long time) about his job all evening.

2.) ¦(FURTHER)¦

if you move, walk etc on, you move forward or further towards something

▪ If you walk on a little, you can see the coast.

▪ We drove on towards Manchester.

3.) ¦(LATER)¦

later than or after a particular time

▪ Now, forty years on, this is one of the most successful theatres in the country.

▪ From that moment on I never believed a word she said.

4.) ¦(WEARING SOMETHING)¦

if you have something on, you are wearing it

▪ All he had on was a pair of tattered shorts.

▪ Put your coat on . It's freezing outside.

5.) ¦(ATTACHED)¦

used to say that something is attached to something else, especially when it is in the correct position

≠ ↑off

▪ Is the cover on properly?

▪ Remember to put the lid back on.

6.) ¦(WRITTEN)¦

used to say that something is written somewhere

▪ He was wearing a badge with his name on.

7.) ¦(TRANSPORT)¦

in or into a bus, train etc

≠ ↑off

▪ The train stopped and two people got on.

8.) ¦(LIGHT/MACHINE)¦

if a machine, light etc is on, it is operating

≠ ↑off

▪ Who left all the lights on?

▪ The TV's on, but nobody seems to be watching it.

▪ He sat down at the desk and switched on the computer.

9.) ¦(BEING BROADCAST)¦

if a radio or television programme etc is on, it is being broadcast

▪ What time is 'Star Trek' on?

10.)¦(EVENTS)¦

if an event is on, it has been arranged and is happening or will happen

≠ ↑off

▪ The transport union has confirmed that the strike is definitely on.

▪ I'd avoid the city centre - there's some kind of procession on.

▪ Is the party still on tonight or have they cancelled it?

11.) ¦(PERFORMING/SPEAKING)¦

performing or speaking in public

▪ You're on in two minutes.

12.) ¦(WORKING)¦

if you are on at a particular time, you are doing your job at that time

▪ I'm not on again until 2 o'clock tomorrow.

13.) have sth on informal

if you have something on, there is something that you must do

▪ I haven't got anything on tomorrow, so I could see you then.

▪ We've got a lot on at the moment.

14.) on and off also off and on

for short periods but not regularly over a long period of time

▪ He's been smoking for 10 years now, on and off.

15.) be/go/keep on at sb informal

to keep complaining to someone or asking someone to do something, especially when this annoys them

▪ I've been on at him to fix that cupboard for weeks now.

▪ I wish you wouldn't go on at me the whole time!

16.) be/go/keep on about sth

BrE informal to keep talking about something, in a way that is boring or annoying

▪ He's always going on about money.

▪ I don't know what you're on about!

17.) be not on

BrE spoken if something is not on, it is not acceptable or reasonable

▪ I'm sorry, what you're suggesting is just not on!

18.) be on for sth

spoken to be ready or willing to do something that someone has suggested

▪ Right, how many of you are on for a drink after work?

19.) you're on

spoken used tell someone that you accept a ↑bet or an invitation to compete against them

▪ 'I bet you £20 he won't turn up.' 'You're on!'

→↑onto