be bound to do Sth /bi: baund О du: (sth)/ if you say something is bound to happen, you think it certainly will happen, because that is what normally happens: Chris is bound to arrive late - he always does. I His new record isn't very good, but it's bound to be a hit.
be sure of doing Sth /bi: Juar av 'dunrj
SURE/NOT SURE
QtHere is no doubt about it/that espe
cially spoken Paul's under a lot of stress. There's no doubt about that.
(sth)/ if you are sure of doing something, you will definitely get what you want
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or achieve what you want: If they win tonight's game, they are sure of winning the championship. I To be sure of arriving on time, I took an earlier train.
inevitable inev^tab^l/ [acty| something unpleasant that is inevitable will certainly happen and is impossible to prevent: War now seems inevitable. inevitable result/consequence Bread prices were doubled, with the inevitable result - food riots.
it is inevitable (that) It is inevitable that some people won't like the new arrangements.
inevitably [cdu] Inevitably, some people will lose their jobs when the two companies merge.
not sure about something
not sure not 'Joэг/ "What time does the film start?" 1 think it's 8.30, but I'm not sure."
not sure how/whether/when etc I'm not
sure where she lives. + about/of If you're not sure about the meaning of a word, look it up in a dictionary. i Use the 'Filesearch' function if you are not sure of the name of a file. Qcan't be sure spoken (when you think something is true, but you are not completely sure) I can't be sure, but I think I saw Maggie coming out of the hospital this morning.
not know /not пэо/ to not be at all sure
what you should decide, whether something is true etc: "How old is she?" "Oh, I don't know -fifty, fifty-five?" not know i//whether/how etc He didn't know whether he should accept their offer or not. I I don't know if I really agree with that.
Qnot know for sure especially spoken It could be this week but it might be much later. We don't know for sure.
doubt /daot/ [n C/Ul a feeling of not being sure whether something is true or right + about/as to There are still some doubts about her suitability for the job. have (your) doubts (=not be sure that
something is really the right thing to do) My parents thought I should go to business school, but 1 had my doubts.
Bi something that you cannot be sure about
uncertain. ■An'ss'm/ [adj] if a situation is
uncertain, you cannot be sure what will happen, because nothing is definite: Our holiday plans are stili uncertain. I The company faces an uncertain future. it is uncertain whether It is still uncertain whether the conference will actually take place.
not clear 'nDt 'khor/ if something is not clear, people do not know enough or understand enough to be sure about it: The causes of the dispute are not entirely clear.
it is not clear how/why/whether etc It
isn't clear how the fire started.
be doubtful/be in doubt /bis dautkl,
bi: in 'daut/ if the success or future of something is doubtful or is in doubt, you
cannot be sure what will happen, but you think it is likely to be something bad: With
more and more cuts in government spending, the school's future now looks doubtful. 1 After yet another injury, his football career is in doubt.
И to do something in order to be sure that something else will happen
make sure /meik |оэг/ to do something in order to be sure that something else will happen: I think Harry knows the way, but I'll go with him just to make sure. + (that) Make sure that you lock your car.
ensure BRITISH insure American in'/оэг/ [и Tj to do something in order to be sure that something else will happen + (that) It is the company's responsibility to ensure that everyone knows the safety rules.
A Ensure ancj insure are more formal than make sure.
Qsee that/see to it that / si: si:
to it flat,' especially spoken if you see that or see to it that something happens, you make sure that it happens, often by getting someone else to do this for you: Don't worry. I'll see that he gets the message. I We see to it that all our guests receive a very high standard of service.
SURPRISING/ SURPRISED
* see also suddenly, expect 6
И feeling surprised
surprised /s3r'praizd/ [adj] if you are surprised by something that happens, you do not expect it, so it seems strange or unusuaclass="underline" I was really surprised when I passed my driving test first time. I Carrie looked surprised. '7 d/dn 't expect to see you here!"
surprised to see/hear/learn etc We were surprised to see Drew's picture in the newspaper.
+ (that) I'm really surprised that he remembered my birthday. + at/by He was surprised at how late it was. I Julia seemed a little surprised by my question.
A Don't say 'surprised for'. Say surprised at or surprised by.
amazed/astonished &me!zd, a'stnniftl
a'sta:-/ [adj] extremely surprised by something that happens, because it seems so unlikely: Liz was amazed when she found out how much the meal had cost. + that I'm amazed that the bank keeps /ending him money.
+ at Everyone was astonished at how calm and relaxed she was before her big speech.
amazed to see/learn/find out etc We
were amazed to see John looking so well, so soon after his operation. astonished to see/hear/discover/jind etc
Sarah was astonished to see Neil and Beth kissing.
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SURPRISING/SURPRISED
startled / sta:rtld/ [adj] especially written surprised and a little frightened or worried because of something that has suddenly happened or something that someone said: "Have we met somewhere before?" The man looked startled for a moment. + by They were startled by a sudden flash in the sky.