say

say¹ W1S1 [seı] v past tense and past participle said [sed] third person singular says [sez]

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1¦(express something in words)¦

2¦(give information)¦

3¦(mean)¦

4¦(think that something is true)¦

5¦(show/be a sign of something)¦

6¦(speak the words of something)¦

7¦(pronounce)¦

8¦(suggest/suppose something)¦

9 say to yourself

10 I must say

11 I can't say (that)

12 I would say

13 I couldn't say

14 if I may say so

15 having said that

16 wouldn't you say?

17 what do you say?

18 say no more

19 you can say that again!

20 you said it!

21 who says?

22 who can say?

23 you don't say!

24 say when

25 say cheese

26 (just) say the word

27 I'll say this/that (much) for somebody

28 say what you like

29 anything/whatever you say

30 can't say fairer than that

31 I wouldn't say no (to something)

32 I'll say!

33 let's just say

34 shall I/we say

35 what have you got to say for yourself?

36 say what?

37 I say

38 say something to somebody's face

39 that's not saying much

40 something says it all

41 to say the least

42 that is to say

43 that is not to say

44 not to say

45 nothing/something/not much etc to be said for (doing) something

46 to say nothing of something

47 have something to say about something

48 have a lot to say for yourself

49 not have much to say for yourself

50 what somebody says goes

51 say your piece

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[: Old English; Origin: secgan]

1.) ¦(EXPRESS SOMETHING IN WORDS)¦ [I only in negatives, T]

to express an idea, feeling, thought etc using words

▪ 'I'm so tired,' she said.

▪ 'Don't cry,' he said softly.

▪ Don't believe anything he says.

say (that)

▪ A spokesman said that the company had improved its safety standards.

▪ I always said I would buy a motorbike when I had enough money.

say how/why/who etc

▪ Did she say what happened?

▪ I would like to say how much we appreciate your hard work.

▪ 'Why did she leave?' 'I don't know - she didn't say .'

say sth to sb

▪ What did you say to her?

a terrible/silly/strange etc thing to say

▪ What a silly thing to say!

say hello/goodbye/thank you etc

(=say something to greet someone, thank someone etc)

▪ She left without saying goodbye.

say you're sorry

(=apologize)

▪ I've said I'm sorry - what more do you want?

say yes/no (to sth)

(=agree or refuse)

▪ Can I go, Mum? Oh please say yes!

say nothing/anything/sth (about sth)

▪ He looked as if he was going to say something.

▪ I wished I had said nothing about Jordi.

have anything/nothing/sth to say

▪ Does anyone else have anything to say?

▪ Although he didn't say so , it was clear that he was in pain.

▪ What makes you say that (=why do you think that) ?

say to do sth

(=tell someone to do something)

▪ Nina said to meet her at 4.30.

▪ I'd like to say a few words (=make a short speech) .

▪ 'So what are your plans now?' ' I'd rather not say .'

2.) ¦(GIVE INFORMATION)¦ [T not in passive]

to give information in the form of written words, numbers, or pictures - used about signs, clocks, letters, messages etc

▪ The sign said 'Back in 10 minutes'.

▪ The clock said twenty past three.

say (that)

▪ He received a letter saying that the appointment had been cancelled.

say to do sth

(=gives information about what you should do)

▪ The label says to take one tablet before meals.

say who/what/how etc

▪ The card doesn't even say who sent the flowers.

▪ It says here they have live music.

3.) ¦(MEAN)¦ [T usually in progressive]

used to talk about what someone means

▪ What do you think the writer is trying to say in this passage?

▪ So what you're saying is, there's none left.

be saying (that)

▪ Are you saying I'm fat?

▪ I'm not saying it's a bad idea.

▪ All I'm saying is that it might be better to wait a while.

4.) ¦(THINK THAT SOMETHING IS TRUE)¦ [T]

a) used to talk about something that people think is true

they say/people say/ it is said (that)

▪ They say that she has been all over the world.

▪ It is said that he was a spy during the war.

sb is said to be sth/do sth

▪ He's said to be the richest man in the world.

▪ Well, you know what they say - blood's thicker than water.

▪ The rest, as they say, is history.

5.) ¦(SHOW/BE A SIGN OF SOMETHING)¦ [T]

a) to show clearly that something is true about someone or something's character

▪ The kind of car you drive says what kind of person you are.

▪ The fact that she never apologized says a lot about (=shows something very clearly) what kind of person she is.

▪ It said a lot for the manager that the team remained confident despite losing (=it showed that he is good) .

▪ These results don't say much for the quality of teaching (=they show that it is not very good) .

b) to show what someone really is feeling or thinking, especially without using words

▪ The look on her face said 'I love you'.

sth says everything/says it all

▪ His expression said it all.

6.) ¦(SPEAK THE WORDS OF SOMETHING)¦ [T]

to speak the words that are written in a play, poem, or prayer

▪ Can you say that line again, this time with more feeling?

▪ I'll say a prayer for you.

7.) ¦(PRONOUNCE)¦ [T]

to pronounce a word or sound

▪ How do you say your last name?

8.) ¦(SUGGEST/SUPPOSE SOMETHING)¦ [T usually in imperative]

used when suggesting or supposing that something might happen or be true

... say ...

▪ If we put out, say, twenty chairs, would that be enough?

let's say (that)/just say (that)

▪ Let's say your plan fails, then what?

▪ Just say you won the lottery - what would you do?

9.) say to yourself

to try to persuade yourself that something is true or not true

▪ I kept saying to myself that this wasn't really happening.

10.) spoken I must say also I have to say

used to emphasize what you are saying

▪ The cake does look good, I must say.

▪ I have to say I was impressed at the way they dealt with the situation.

11.) spoken I can't say (that)

used to say that you do not think or feel something

▪ I can't say I envy her being married to him!

12.) spoken I would say

used for giving your opinion even though other people may not agree

▪ I'd say he was jealous.

13.) spoken I couldn't say

used when you do not know the answer to something

▪ I couldn't say who will win.

14.) spoken if I may say so also if I might say so

formal used to be polite when saying something that may embarrass or offend the person you are talking to

▪ That's just the point, Mr Glover, if I may say so.

15.) spoken having said that

used to say that something is true in spite of what you have just said

▪ The diet can make you slim without exercise. Having said that, however, exercise is important too.

16.) spoken wouldn't you say?

used to ask someone whether they agree with the statement you have just made

▪ It seems very unlikely, wouldn't you say?

17.) spoken what do you say?

used to ask someone if they agree with a suggestion

▪ We could go into partnership - what do you say?

▪ What do you say we all go to a movie?

▪ What would you say to a meal out?

18.) spoken say no more

used to say that you understand what someone means, although they have not said it directly

▪ 'I saw him leaving her house at 6.30 this morning.' 'Say no more!'

19.) spoken you can say that again!

used to say that you completely agree with someone

▪ 'It's cold in here.' 'You can say that again!'

20.) spoken you said it!

a) used when someone says something that you agree with, although you would not have actually said it yourself because it is not polite

▪ 'I was always stubborn as a kid.' 'You said it!'

b) especially AmE used to say that you agree with someone

▪ 'Let's go home.' 'You said it! I'm tired.'

21.) spoken who says?

used to say that you do not agree with a statement, opinion etc

▪ Who says museum work doesn't pay?

22.) spoken who can say? also who's to say

used to say that nobody can know something

▪ Who can say what will happen between now and then?

▪ Many women believe that skin cream makes their skin look younger, and who's to say that they're wrong?

23.) spoken you don't say!

used to show you are surprised by what someone has told you - also often used when you are not at all surprised by what someone has told you

24.) spoken say when

used to ask someone to tell you when to stop pouring them a drink or serving them food because they have got enough

25.) spoken say cheese

used to tell people to smile when you are taking their photograph

26.) spoken (just) say the word

used to tell someone that they have only to ask and you will do what they want

▪ Anywhere you want to go, just say the word.

27.) spoken I'll say this/that (much) for sb

used when you want to mention something good about someone, especially when you have been criticizing them

▪ I will say this for Tom - at least he's consistent.

▪ You've got determination - I'll say that for you.

28.) spoken say what you like

especially BrE used when giving an opinion that you are sure is correct, even if the person you are talking to might disagree with you

▪ Say what you like about him, he's a very good writer.

29.) spoken anything/whatever you say

used to tell someone that you agree to do what they want, accept their opinion etc, especially because you do not want an argument

30.) spoken can't say fairer than that

BrE used to say that you have made the best offer that you can

▪ If I win, I'll buy you a drink. Can't say fairer than that.

31.) spoken I wouldn't say no (to sth)

used to say that you would like something

▪ I wouldn't say no to coffee.

32.) spoken I'll say!

used to say yes to a question, in a strong way

▪ 'Was there a big argument?' 'I'll say!'

33.) spoken let's just say

used when you do not want to give a lot of details about something

▪ Let's just say she wasn't very pleased about it.

34.) spoken shall I/we say

used when you are not quite sure how to describe someone or something

▪ He is, shall we say, slightly unusual.

35.) spoken what have you got to say for yourself?

used to ask someone for an explanation when they have done something wrong

36.) spoken say what?

informal especially AmE used when you did not hear what someone said or when you cannot believe that something is true

37.) spoken I say

BrE old-fashioned

a) used to get someone's attention

▪ I say, don't I know you?

b) used before giving your reaction to something

▪ 'My husband's broken his leg.' 'I say! I'm sorry to hear that.'

38.) say sth to sb's face informal

to criticize someone or say something unpleasant directly to them instead of saying it to someone else

▪ I knew they wanted me to leave even though they wouldn't say it to my face.

39.) that's not saying much

used to say that it is not surprising that someone or something is better than another person or thing because the other person or thing is so bad

▪ This version is better than the original but that's not saying much.

40.) sth says it all

if something says it all, it clearly shows how someone feels or what a situation is really like

▪ Her smile said it all.

41.) to say the least

used to say that you could have described something, criticized someone etc a lot more severely than you have

▪ Jane could have been more considerate, to say the least.

42.) that is to say

used before giving more details or being more exact about something

▪ They, that's to say Matt and John, were arguing about what to do.

43.) that is not to say

used to make sure the person you are talking to does not think something that is not true

▪ I'm quite happy in my job but that's not to say I'm going to do it for the rest of my life.

44.) not to say

especially BrE used when adding a stronger description of something

▪ The information is inadequate, not to say misleading.

45.) nothing/sth/not much etc to be said for (doing) sth

used to say that there are a lot of or not many advantages to something

▪ There's a lot to be said for taking a few days off now and then.

▪ It was a town with very little to be said for it.

46.) to say nothing of sth

used to mention another thing involved in what you have just been talking about

▪ It wasn't much for three years' work, to say nothing of the money it had cost.

47.) have sth to say about sth

to be angry about something

▪ Her father would have something to say about it.

48.) have a lot to say for yourself

to talk a lot

49.) not have much to say for yourself

to not talk very much

50.) what sb says goes

used to emphasize who is in control in a situation

▪ My wife wants to go to Italy this year, and what she says goes!

51.) say your piece

to give your opinion about something, especially something you do not like

→wouldn't say boo to a goose at ↑boo² (3), easier said than done at ↑easy² (4), enough said at ↑enough² (6), it goes without saying at go without(2), needless to say at ↑needless, no sooner said than done at ↑soon, not say/breathe a word at ↑word¹ (9), well said at ↑well¹ (13), when all's said and done at ↑all¹ (17)

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WORD CHOICE:say, tell, give, ask

You use say when you are mentioning someone's exact words : 'Hello,' she said. | Someone said, 'Let's go!'

Say can be followed by 'that' : He said that he was tired. In speech people often leave out 'that' |They said there had been a mistake.

Say can be followed by 'something', 'anything', 'nothing', or 'so' : Did you say something? | Nobody dared to say anything. | You have to come - Dad said so.

It can also be followed by 'goodbye' or 'hello' : I'll just go and say hello to David.

Apart from these uses, say is not normally followed by an object. For example, it cannot be followed by 'a story', 'a lie', 'some information', or 'an answer'.

You tell a story, a joke, a lie, or the truth : They told a funny story about their trip.

You give information, an order, an instruction, or an answer : He gave no reply.

!! You do not say a question. You ask a question : Can I ask a question?

You can say something to someone : Has he said something to you?

When talking about giving information, it is more usual to say that you tell someone something : Clare told us something interesting (NOT said us something...). | Can anyone tell me what time it is? (NOT say to me what...)

You can tell someone about something : Did you tell Lucy about the party? (NOT say to Lucy about...)

You can say to do something, but it is more usual to tell someone to do something : The teacher told us to open our books (NOT said us/said to us to...).

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say ²

say² n [singular, U]

1.) the right to take part in deciding something

have some/no/little say in sth

▪ The workers had no say in how the factory was run.

▪ The chairman has the final say (=has the right to make the final decision about something) .

2.) have your say

to have the opportunity to give your opinion about something

▪ You'll get a chance to have your say.

have your say in/on

▪ Parents can have their say in the decision-making process.

say ³

say³ interjection AmE informal

used to express surprise, or to get someone's attention so that you can tell them something

▪ Say, haven't I seen you before somewhere?