2 DET You use such…as to link something or someone with a clause in which you give a description of the kind of thing or person that you mean. □ Each member of the alliance agrees to take such action as it deems necessary. □ Britain is not enjoying such prosperity as it was in the mid-1980s. ● Such as is also used. □ Children do not use inflections such as are used in mature adult speech.
3 DET You use such…as to introduce one or more examples of the kind of thing or person that you have just mentioned. □ …such careers as teaching, nursing, hairdressing and catering. □ …delays caused by such things as bad weather or industrial disputes. ● Such as is also used. □ …serious offences, such as assault on a police officer.
4 DET You use such before noun groups to emphasize the extent of something or to emphasize that something is remarkable. [EMPHASIS ] □ I think most of us don't want to read what's in the newspaper anyway in such detail. □ The economy was not in such bad shape, he says. ● PREDET Such is also a predeterminer. □ You know the health service is in such a state and it's getting desperate now. □ It was such a pleasant surprise.
5 PREDET You use such…that in order to emphasize the degree of something by mentioning the result or consequence of it. [EMPHASIS ] □ His tongue swelled up to such a size that he could no longer speak clearly. □ These changes take place over such a long time that we don't see them happening. □ He was in such a hurry that he almost pushed me over on the stairs. ● DET Such is also a determiner. □ She looked at him in such distress that he had to look away. ● Such is also used after be . □ Though Vivaldi had earned a great deal in his lifetime, his extravagance was such that he died in poverty.
6 DET You use such…that or such…as in order to say what the result or consequence of something that you have just mentioned is. □ The operation uncovered such dealing in stolen property that police pressed for changes in the law. ● PREDET Such is also a predeterminer. □ He could put an idea in such a way that Alan would believe it was his own. ● Such is also used after be . □ OFSTED's brief is such that it can conduct any inquiry or provide any advice which the Secretary of State requires.
7 PHRASE You use such and such to refer to a thing or person when you do not want to be exact or precise. [SPOKEN , VAGUENESS ] □ I said, 'Well what time'll I get to Leeds?' and he said such and such a time but I missed my connection.
8 PHRASE You use such as it is or such as they are to suggest that the thing you have just mentioned is not very good, important, or useful. □ The plot, such as it is, revolves around Poole's attempts to save humanity from extinction.
9 PHRASE You use as such with a negative to indicate that a word or expression is not a very accurate description of the actual situation. □ I am not a learner as such–I used to ride a bike years ago.
10 PHRASE You use as such after a noun to indicate that you are considering that thing on its own, separately from other things or factors. □ Mr Simon said he was not against taxes as such, 'but I do object when taxation is justified on spurious or dishonest grounds,' he says.
11 no such thing → see thing
such|like /sʌ tʃla I k/ PRON You use suchlike to refer to other things that are like the ones you have already mentioned. □ …objets d'art, gold, silver, and ivory assortments, ceramics, and suchlike. ● DET [DET pl-n/n-uncount] Suchlike is also a determiner. □ The prices of polymers and suchlike materials will decrease.
suck /sʌ k/ (sucks , sucking , sucked )
1 VERB If you suck something, you hold it in your mouth and pull at it with the muscles in your cheeks and tongue, for example in order to get liquid out of it. □ [V n] They waited in silence and sucked their sweets. □ [V + on/at ] He sucked on his straw. □ [V ] Doran was clutching the bottle with both hands and sucking intently.
2 VERB If something sucks a liquid, gas, or object in a particular direction, it draws it there with a powerful force. □ [V n with adv] The pollution-control team is at the scene and is due to start sucking up oil any time now. □ [be V -ed prep] The pilot was almost sucked from the cockpit when a window shattered. [Also V n prep]
3 V-PASSIVE If you are sucked into a bad situation, you are unable to prevent yourself from becoming involved in it. □ [be V -ed + into ] …the extent to which they have been sucked into the cycle of violence.
4 VERB [no cont] If someone says that something sucks , they are indicating that they think it is very bad. [INFORMAL , RUDE , FEELINGS ] □ [V ] The system sucks.