mean

phrases

• be meant for

  1. 1

     to be intended or designed for someone or something

     The bigger offices are meant for senior staff only.

     These books are not meant for primary school students.

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  2. 2

     to be suitable for something

     I don't think she's meant to be a teacher.

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  3. 3

     if two people are meant for each other, they are suitable for each other as romantic partners

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• be meant to be

  if something is meant to be, it seems certain to happen, usually because it has been decided by God or other forces that people believe cannot be controlled

  Oh well – it was just not meant to be.

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• be meant to do something

  1. 1

     to have a particular responsibility or duty

     You were meant to keep the children out of trouble.

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  2. 2

     to have a particular purpose. This is sometimes used for suggesting that something does not succeed very well

     It was meant to be an apology but it only made her angry.

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• (do) you mean...?

  spoken
  used for saying what someone else has said using different words, as a way of asking them if you have understood it correctly

  You mean we do the work and you get the money?

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• how do you mean?

  spoken
  used for asking someone to explain what they have said

  'She wasn't at all like I expected.' 'How do you mean?'

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• I know what you mean

  spoken
  used for telling someone that you understand their situation very well, often because you have had a similar experience

  'He's so hard to talk to.' 'I know what you mean.'

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• I mean (to say)

  spoken
  1. 1

     used for adding a comment or explaining what you have just said

     We couldn't live on that! I mean, it's ridiculous.

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  2. 2

     used for correcting a mistake in something you have just said

     Let's ask Mark. I mean Marco.

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• I see what you mean

  spoken
  used for telling someone that you understand what they are saying

  'Nobody's going to support her if she acts like that.' 'I see what you mean.'

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• mean anything to someone

  to be familiar to someone

  Does the name 'Chris Hill' mean anything to you?

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• mean business

  informal
  to seriously intend to do what you say you will do

  They've threatened to close us down, and I think they mean business.

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• mean nothing

  or not mean anything

  to have no importance

  After yesterday, your apologies mean nothing.

  It was just one little kiss and it didn't mean anything.

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• mean something/everything

  to be important/very important

  She knows the children mean everything in the world to me.

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• mean well

  to intend something good, kind, or suitable, even though there is a bad result

  I know she can be annoying but she means well.

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• what do you mean?

  spoken
  1. 1

     used for asking someone to explain what they have said

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  2. 2

     used for showing that you are shocked or annoyed about something that someone has told you

     What do you mean you can't find the keys?

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