help

1 /help/ verb

1 MAKE POSSIBLE OR EASIER (I, T) to make it possible or easier for someone to do something by doing part of their work or by giving them something they need: If there's anything I can do to help, just give me a call. | She devoted her life to helping the poor and sick. | help sb (to) do sth: We all helped him fill out the application form. | Andy said he would help us to move the furniture. | help sb with sth: Do you mind helping me with this a minute? | help (to) do sth: Part of my job is to help organize conferences. | help sb into/out of/across etc (=help someone move to a particular place): He was so drunk we had to help him into the taxi. | help sb on/off with sth (=help someone put on or take off a piece of clothing): Here, let me help you on with your coat.

2 BE GOOD FOR (T) to make it easier for something to develop or be improved: The fall in oil prices should help economic development. | help sb (to) do sth: All this arguing isn't going to help us win the election.

3 MAKE BETTER (I, T) to make a situation better, easier, or less painful: Crying won't help. | It helped a lot to know that someone understood how I felt. | help sth: A couple of aspirin might help your headache.

4 Help! spoken used to call people and ask them to help you when you are in danger

5 can't help it

a) to not be responsible for something unpleasant or annoying: I can't help it if she's late, can I?

b) to be unable to stop doing something, or change the way that you behave: I always get angry with him, I just can't help it.

6 can't/couldn't help doing sth to be unable to stop yourself from doing something: I can't help thinking that we've made a big mistake. | I couldn't help hearing what you just said.

7 can't/couldn't help but do sth if you cannot help but do something, it is impossible for you not to do it: I couldn't help but notice the bruise she had under her eye.

8 can't help yourself to be unable to stop yourself from doing something you should not do: Sue doesn't always mean to be so rude but sometimes she just can't help herself.

9 help yourself (to sth)

a) to take something that you want, such as food, without asking permission: Please help yourself to more; there's plenty of everything.

b) informal to steal something: Obviously he had been helping himself to the money.

10 help sb to sth to serve someone food or drink: Can I help you to some dessert?

11 God help him/them etc spoken used to say that something bad may happen to someone: If you trust that man with a secret, God help you.

12 a helping hand help and support: give sb a helping hand: She's been giving me a helping hand with the children.

13 it can't be helped spoken used to say that there is nothing you can do to change an unpleasant situation: It's going to make a terrible noise, but never mind. It can't be helped.

14 not if I can help it spoken used to say that you are not going to do something: “Are you going to the meeting this afternoon?” “Not if I can help it.”

15 so help me (God) used when making a serious promise, especially in a court of law

USAGE NOTE: HELP WORD CHOICE: help, assist, give/lend a hand, help out, come to somebody's aid/assistance, aid, give/send aid Help and assist can both describe people or institutions helping each other do a job. However, assist is more formal and often suggests that the person assisting is doing a simple or unimportant part of what has to be done: My company assists businesses in all their office cleaning requirements. | You will assist the administrative officer with day-to-day organization (Note that assist can never mean `attend' or `be present at'). In more informal English people often use give/lend a hand or help out, especially where there is something practical to do and not enough people to do it: Can you give me a hand with the drinks? | I sometimes lend a hand/help out at the old folk's home. If someone is in danger or trouble, you may help them or more formally come to their aid/assistance: My car's broken down, can you help? | If you get into difficulties, the lifeguard will come to your assistance. If a person, charity, or government helps with money or other necessary things, aid (formal) or often give/sendaid may be used: Many projects are aided by Oxfam. | Aid will be sent to the area as soon as possible. Informally help would be used: Please help the homeless. GRAMMAR Help (but not assist) is often followed by a verb in the to or basic form: He helped me (to) pass my exam (=I passed NOT He helped me passing... . But note that the expression can't help... meaning `cannot stop yourself...' is only followed by the -ing form of a verb: I couldn't help laughing. You help/assist/aid someone, not to them. help out phrasal verb

1 (I, T) to help someone who is busy by doing some of their work for them: Is there anything I can do to help out? | help sb out: If you haven't got time to finish I'll help you out.

2 (T) to give help and support to someone who has problems: He was obviously in some kind of trouble, but I didn't know how I could help him out.

2 noun

1 (U) the action of helping someone by doing part of their work or by showing them how to do it: If I need any help, I'll call you.

(+ with): Do you want any help with that?

2 (U) the fact of being useful or making something easier to do: That map isn't much help. | with the help of: We got it open with the help of a knife. | be of great/little/no help: I'm sorry I haven't been of much help to you.

3 be a (big/great/real) help also be a lot of help

a) to be very useful, or give a lot of help: Thanks. You've been a big help.

b) often used jokingly to say that something is not useful, or someone is not helping you: A lot of help you've been! Why did you bother to come?

4 (U) help which people can give to save someone from danger or difficulty: She screamed at them to go and get help.

5 (U) advice, treatment, information, or money which is given to people who need it: A lot of these children need professional help.

(+ with): You may be able to get help with the rent. | beyond help (=no longer able to be helped or saved): I'm afraid the patient is beyond help.

6 the help AmE someone's servant or servants