5 VERB If you offer someone something such as love or friendship, you show them that you feel that way towards them. □ [V n + to ] The Prime Minister offered his sympathy to the families of the victims. □ [V n n] It must be better to be able to offer them love and security. □ [V n] John's mother and sister rallied round offering comfort.
6 VERB If people offer prayers, praise, or a sacrifice to God or a god, they speak to or give something to their god. □ [V n] Church leaders offered prayers and condemned the bloodshed. □ [V n + to ] He will offer the first harvest of rice to the sun goddess. [Also V n n] ● PHRASAL VERB Offer up means the same as offer . □ [V P n] He should consider offering up a prayer to St Lambert.
7 VERB If an organization offers something such as a service or product, it provides it. □ [V n] We have been successful because we are offering a quality service. □ [V n n] Sainsbury's is offering customers 1p for each shopping bag re-used. □ [V n + to ] The insurance company offers a 10% discount to the over-55s.
8 N‑COUNT [oft on N ] An offer in a shop is a specially low price for a specific product or something extra that you get if you buy a certain product. □ This month's offers include a shirt, trousers and bed covers. □ Today's special offer gives you a choice of three destinations. □ Over 40 new books are on offer at 25 per cent off their normal retail price.
9 VERB If you offer a particular amount of money for something, you say that you will pay that much to buy it. □ [V amount] Whitney has offered $21.50 a share in cash. □ [V n amount] They are offering farmers $2.15 a bushel for corn. □ [V n n] He will write Rachel a note and offer her a fair price for the land. □ [V n] It was his custom in buying real estate to offer a rather low price. [Also V n + to ]
10 N‑COUNT An offer is the amount of money that someone says they will pay to buy something or give to someone because they have harmed them in some way. □ He has dismissed an offer of compensation.
11 PHRASE If you have something to offer , you have a quality or ability that makes you important, attractive, or useful. □ In your free time, explore all that this incredible city has to offer.
12 PHRASE If there is something on offer , it is available to be used or bought. □ Savings schemes are the best retail investment products on offer. □ …country cottages on offer at bargain prices.
13 PHRASE If you are open to offers , you are willing to do something if someone will pay you an amount of money that you think is reasonable. □ It seems that while the Kiwis are keen to have him, he is still open to offers.
▸ offer up → see offer 6 SYNONYMS offer NOUN 3
proposaclass="underline" The Security Council has rejected the latest peace proposal.
suggestion: He followed her suggestion of a stroll to the river.
proposition: I want to make you a proposition.
of|fer|ing ◆◇◇ /ɒ fər I ŋ, [AM ] ɔː f-/ (offerings )
1 N‑COUNT An offering is something that is specially produced to be sold. □ [+ in ] It was very, very good, far better than vegetarian offerings in many a posh restaurant.
2 N‑COUNT An offering is a gift that people offer to their God or gods as a form of worship. □ …the holiest of the Shinto rituals, where offerings are made at night to the great Sun.
o f|fer price (offer prices )
1 N‑COUNT The offer price for a particular stock or share is the price that the person selling it says that they want for it. [BUSINESS ] □ BET shares closed just above the offer price, up 1.5p at 207p.
2 → see also asking price , bid price
o ff-gua rd ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If someone is caught off-guard , they are not expecting a surprise or danger that suddenly occurs. □ The question caught her completely off-guard.
off|hand /ɒ fhæ nd/ also off-hand
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone is being offhand , you are critical of them for being unfriendly or impolite, and not showing any interest in what other people are doing or saying. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Consumers found the attitude of its staff offhand.
2 ADV [ADV after v] If you say something offhand , you say it without checking the details or facts of it. □ 'Have you done the repairs?'—'Can't say off-hand, but I doubt it.'.
of|fice ◆◆◆ /ɒ f I s, [AM ] ɔː f-/ (offices )
1 N‑COUNT An office is a room or a part of a building where people work sitting at desks. □ He had an office just big enough for his desk and chair. □ At about 4.30 p.m. Audrey arrived at the office. □ Phone their head office for more details. □ …an office block.
2 N‑COUNT An office is a department of an organization, especially the government, where people deal with a particular kind of administrative work. □ Thousands have registered with unemployment offices. □ …Downing Street's press office. □ …the Congressional Budget Office.
3 N‑COUNT An office is a small building or room where people can go for information, tickets, or a service of some kind. □ The tourist office operates a useful room-finding service. □ …the airline ticket offices.
4 N‑COUNT A doctor's or dentist's office is a place where a doctor or dentist sees their patients. [AM ] in BRIT, use surgery 5 N‑UNCOUNT [oft in/out of N ] If someone holds office in a government, they have an important job or position of authority. □ The events to mark the President's ten years in office went ahead as planned. □ They are fed up with the politicians and want to vote them out of office. □ The president shall hold office for five years. □ He ran for office.