like /laik/ [и T] to think someone is nice: I've always liked Sally - she's such a friendly person. I He's an excellent teacher, and the students really like him.
A Don't say 'I am liking her', 'he is liking her' etc. Say I like her, he likes her etc.
be fond of sb /bi: fond dv (sb)[|-'fa:nd-/ to like someone very much, especially when you have known them for a long time: You're very fond of Beryl, aren't you? I Miss Parker was very fond of the children in her class, although she was always strict with them.
to like something or someone better than others
prefer /pri'fa1"/ {v T] to like one thing more than another thing: Do you prefer tea or coffee?
LIKE/NOT LIKE 440
be fond of sb/sth /bi: fDnd ov (sb/
sth)||-'fa:nd-/ to like something, especially something you have liked for a long time: I know he's fond of Chinese food. I Gerry had always been fond of animals.
be crazy about Sth bi: kreizi abaut
(sth)/ informal to be extremely interested in an activity and spend a lot of time doing it or watching it: My kids are crazy about football
Qbe into sth /bi: mtu: (sth)/ (phrasa/ verb T] spoken to like doing something, watching something, reading something etc: My brother's really into rock-climbing.
prefer sth to sth I prefer classical music to rock.
A
prefer to do sth Most of my friends take the bus to school, but I prefer to walk. preferring - preferred - have preferred
Don't say 'I prefer coffee than tea'. Say I prefer coffee to tea.
Qlike sb/sth better/.laik (sb/sth) bet3r/ especially spoken to like one person or thing more than another: Which do you like better, the red tie or the green one? + than I like this new teacher much better than the one we had before.
A Like sb/sth better is more informal than prefer
A Don't say 'I like better summer than winter'. Say I like summer better than winter.
Qlilce Sth best /Jaik (sth) best/ especially spoken to like something better than anything else - use this when you are asking someone to choose or when you are choosing: Which of these dresses do you like best? I / think I like the red one best.
the one you like better than any others
favourite british /avorite amlrican /'feiv<?ri,t/ [adj only before noun] your favourite or favorite colour, food, teacher etc is the one that you like better than any other colour food etc: My
favourite colour is purple. I Who is your favorite singer? I We're going to her favourite restaurant for a meal.
favourite British favorite american
/ feiv^r^t/ (n C] something that you like more than other things of the same kind sb's /avourite/favorite / like all her books, but this one's my favourite. I Oh great! Chocolate ice-cream - my favourite!
teacher's pet /,ti:tj3rz 'pet/ [n singular]
informal someone who is their teacher's
favourite student, and who is not liked by the other students because of this
someone who likes something very much
/an. /faen/ [n C] someone who likes a particular sport, team, or famous entertainer very much: Thousands of fans came to hear Oasis play. I a football fan + of Fans of Sylvester Stallone will enjoy
this movie.
lover /' 1луэ7 [n C] music/jazz/art/ animal lover someone who likes music, art, or animals: Every jazz lover dreams of visiting New Orleans. I a nation of animal lovers
the kind of clothes, music etc that you like
taste /teist/ [n C/U) the kind of clothes,
music, furniture, films etc that you like + in His taste in /i/ms and books is very
different from mine. have good/bad taste (=be good or bad at deciding which things are attractive) My grandmother's house was beautiful - she always had very good taste.
В to not like someone or something
^ see also hate
not like /not 'laik li> T] Why did you invite Claire? You know I don't like her. I I like the style of that dress, but I don't like the colour. not like doing sth/not like to do sth / don't like walking home alone at night I Jake didn't like to see her looking so sad.
not like sth/sb very much (use this when the feeling is not very strong) Mum didn 't like Mark very much when she first met him.
dislike dis laik/ [и T] to think someone or something is very unpleasant: He was a quiet person who disliked social occasions.
dislike doing sth Stephen dislikes having to get up early. dislike sb/sth intensely (^dislike them very much) Muriel disliked Paul intensely.
Д Dislike is more formal than not like, and is not usually used in spoken English. If you dislike someone or something, you feel more strongly than if you do not like them.
О bate /he it/ [и 1} spoken if you hate something. you do not like it at all because it is very unpleasant or very annoying: I hate those stupid talk shows on TV I Don't you hate the way she interrupts you when you're talking? hate it when I hate it when I'm in the shower and the phone rings.
Qdon't think much of sth/sb
/.daont 0iqk 'nriAtJ dv (sth/sb)/ spoken to think that something is not very good or that someone is not very good at something:
The hotel was okay but I didn't think much of the food. I I don't think much of that new singer, do you?
not be very keen on sth not bi: veri
ki:n nn (sth)/ British informal to not like something, although you do not think it is very bad or very unpleasant: Actua//y, I'm not very keen on modern art. I I know you 're not very keen on Japanese food, but try thisI
Qnot be sb's type nnt bi: (sbs) taip
rsn.i ia!.iv spokfn if someone is not your type, they are not the kind of person you usually like: Vicky s friends are not my type. I Rob isn't her type at all.
Qqo Off Sb/Sth :.g30 of (sb/sth)||- [pfirasa/ verb T] British spoken to stop liking someone or something that you used to like: I used to drink lots of coffee, but I've gone off it lately.
to stop someone from liking a person, thing, or activity