CAUSE
^ see also reason
п
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CAUSE
ЯI to make something happen
cause ko:z/ [и T] to make something happen, especially something bad: Smo/cing causes cancer. I The fire caused $30,000 worth of damage. I A lot of traffic accidents are caused by carelessness, cause sb embarrassment/anxiety/pain (=make someone feel embarrassed, anxious etc) Robert 's behaviour is causing his family a lot of anxiety, cause sth to do sth formal Inflation has caused fuel prices to rise sharply in recent months
The usual verb for saying that one thing makes another thing happen is make, not cause: The smoke made my eyes sore. Cause, followed by an infinitive, is used mostly in formal or technical writing; This reaction causes the temperature to rise.
Don't say 'cause that something happens'. Say cause something to happen.
make meik.< [i; T] to make someone do something or make something happen make sb/sth do sth Sarah's really funny - she always makes me laugh. I Petro's new hairstyle makes her look a lot younger, make sb angry/happy/nervous etc Stop
staring at me-you're making me nervousI make sth better/worse/easier etc Senator Ration's recent remarks seem to have made the situation worse. make it easy/difficult/impossible etc for sb to do sth The new rail service should
make it easier for commuters to get to work.
CAUSE
making - made - have made
trigger off sth .tngsr of (sth)||-':v.f-
lphrasal verb Tj if a small action or event triggers off something more serious, it makes it happen very quickly: the euents that triggered off World War I
the thing that makes something else happen
cause Ь:/. [n C] the thing that makes something else happen, especially something bad: The increase in uio/ent crime has several causes.
+ of They still haven't found out the cause of the fire.
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root cause (=the true, basic cause, even if there are other causes that are easier to notice) The root cause of Britain's eco norr.ic problems is lack of investment.
,ч Don't say 'she made me to do it'. Say she made me do it /К Don't say 'the cause for something'. Say the cause of something-
be responsible for Sth bi; rispnns.Mvl
b:r (sth)||-'spa:n- if a person, or something that they do, is responsible for an accident. problem, mistake etc, it :s their fault that it happens: I felt partly responsible for the fact that her boyfriend left her. ! Who is responsible for all this mess?
/!\ Don't use 'of' with responsible-
bring about sth >ir] (sth)
[phrasal verb T] to make something happen. especially a change or an improved situation: The war brought about huge social and political changes. I improvements in public health that have been brought about by advances in medical science
result in Sth ri zAlt in (sth) [phrasa/ verb
T] if an action or event results in something. it makes something happen: a train crash that resulted in the deaths of all 52 passengers I All these changes in the rules have resulted in great confusion.
lead to Sth h:d tu: (sth) [phrasal verb T] if an action or event leads to some thing, it starts a process which finally makes something happen: Their research eventually led to the development of nuclear power. 1 The bank has offered a reword for any information leading to the arrest of the robbers.
/actor ht'kuV [n C] one of several reasons that explain why something happens or why a situation exists: The rise in crime is mainly due to factors such as unemployment.
+ in Wright's skill and experience has been an important factor in the team 's
success.
CHANCE
look here for ...
the chance to do something
interesting, exciting etc
when something happens without
being planned
D when you have the chance to do something
chance 'tfu:ns||tjams (n Cj a situation in which it is possible for you to do something enjoyable or exciting, or something that vou want to do
get the chance to do sth I never got the chance to thank him for all his help. I It's a beautiful building - you should go and see it if you have the chance, give sb the chance to do sth I wish he'd just give me the chance to explain. a second chance (=another chance after you have failed the first time) Viewers willhave a second chance to see Saturday's concert on Channel 4 tonight. take tKe chance to do sth (=use a chance when you have it] You should take the chance to travel while you're still young. sb's last chance (=when you will not have another chance) ft was her lest chance to see him before she left town, miss a chance (=not use it when you have it) Diane never misses the chance of a free meal.
jump at the chance (of doing stW (=eager !y when you get the chance to do something exciting) You're so lucky. Id jump at the chance of going to Hollywood.
opportunity ,opotju:n,-iti||,u:por'Ui:- [n C) a chance to do something, especially something that is important or useful to you. or something that you want to do
very much
have an opportunity to do sth I ve
always wanted to visit Scotland, but I never had the opportunity till now I He never had the opportunity to go to University when he was younger. opportunity for sb (to do stM Companies should provide more opportunities for women to go into senior management. miss an opportunity (to do sth} (=not use an oportunity when you have one) career/job opportunities (-chances to find a job) There are fewer and fewer career opportunities for young people.
pk<r'ul opportunities
Q when something
happens for no reason or
without being planned
m see also lucky/unlucky
by chance 1/а:п*||-'фепч if something happens by chance, it is not deliberate or planned and you die not expect it to happen: I met an old friend by chance on the train.
quite/purely/entirely by chance ^completely by chance) Quite by chance. a TV crew was /ifmmg in the area when the accident happened.
coincidence 'koo'ms^ns/ [n C/U) a surprising situation, when two similar things happen at the same time, or two or more people do the same thing, but no-one planned or intended this to happen
Qwhat a coincidence! spoken What a coincidence! I didn't know you were going to be in Geneva too. by coincidence By coincidence, Jill was wearing the same dress as me. by a strange/curious/amazing coincidence By a strange coincidence, ail three girls had boyfriends called Simon.