say*/*/*/

say*/*/*/
[seɪ] (3rd person singular says [sez] ; past tense and past participle said [sed] ) verb I
1) [I/T] to express something using words
‘Pleased to meet you,' he said with a smile.[/ex]
‘When's he coming back?' ‘He didn't say.'[/ex]
The committee said yes (= gave permission), so we can go ahead.[/ex]
What an odd thing to say, Carrie thought.[/ex]
I then said goodbye and left.[/ex]
I've already said sorry for hurting his feelings.[/ex]
She said that she liked dancing.[/ex]
Did he say who called?[/ex]
Tell me what he said to you.[/ex]
I want to say something on this subject.[/ex]
2) [T] to think something, or to have a particular opinion
I think we should stop now. What do you say?[/ex]
‘Will she meet the deadline?' ‘I would say so (= think it is likely).'[/ex]
He always said you'd be rich and famous one day.[/ex]
I say we go (= I think we should go) by car: it's quicker than the train.[/ex]
She is said to have great talent as an artist.[/ex]
3) [T] to give information or orders in writing, numbers, pictures etc
My watch says quarter to twelve.[/ex]
Her letter says she's arriving at midday.[/ex]
The rules say that we need a two-thirds majority to win.[/ex]
Does it say on the box how much it costs?[/ex]
4) [T] to show indirectly what someone or something is like
This problem says something about the way the company is run.[/ex]
5) [T] to imagine what will happen in a particular situation
Say you get £2, 000 for the car – you'll still need another thousand.[/ex]
•
go without saying (that) — to be completely obvious or true[/ex]
It goes without saying that I'm sorry.[/ex]
have something/a lot/nothing etc to say for yourself — to be fairly/very/not at all keen to talk about yourself and your reasons for doing something[/ex]
He didn't have a lot to say for himself.[/ex]
having said that — spoken used for adding an opinion that seems to be the opposite of what you have just said, although you think both are true[/ex]
It's expensive. Having said that, I admit that it is very well made.[/ex]
I must say (that) — used for emphasizing a statement[/ex]
I'm not very impressed, I must say.[/ex]
I must say that the standard of play was awful.[/ex]
I wouldn't say no (to sth) — spoken used for admitting that you would like something[/ex]
I wouldn't say no to another piece of cake.[/ex]
say it all — used for saying that something shows very clearly what someone's feelings are or what a particular situation is really like[/ex]
The look on his face says it all.[/ex]
say sth to yourself — to think something[/ex]
'This is the real thing,' he said to himself.[/ex]
+(that) I keep saying to myself that I shouldn't do it.[/ex]
say when — spoken used for asking someone to tell you when you have given them enough food or drink[/ex]
that is to say — formal used for explaining something that you have just said in a more exact way[/ex]
I'll deal with the second point first, that is to say the change to the club's rules.[/ex]
to say the least — used for saying that you could have expressed something in a much stronger way[/ex]
I found the flight rather uncomfortable, to say the least.[/ex]
to say the least — used for suggesting that something is worse or more extreme than you are saying[/ex]
He was a difficult person to deal with, to say the least.[/ex]
you can say that again — spoken used for expressing strong agreement with what someone has said[/ex]
'This is so boring!' 'You can say that again!'[/ex]
you don't say — spoken 1) used for saying that you are surprised by what someone has told you[/ex]
'He's just won the lottery.' 'You don't say!'[/ex]

— 2) used for saying that you are not surprised by what someone has told you

'He phoned in sick again this morning.' 'You don't say!'[/ex]
■ You say something to someone. Say is followed by the words that someone uses, or by reported speech: She said no to me. ♦ ‘Hello', he said. ♦ I said that I was cold. ■ You tell someone something when you give them information or an instruction. Tell is usually followed by the person who is spoken to: ‘It's time to go', he told us. ♦ I told Kate to shut up. ■ Speak and talk mean to say something. They are not usually followed by an object: Don't interrupt me when I'm speaking. ♦ Jade and Adele were talking in the corner. II
noun [singular/U]
say [seɪ]
the right to give your opinion and be involved in a discussion about something
The junior staff had no say in this decision.[/ex]
•
have your say — to get the chance to say what you think about something[/ex]

Dictionary for writing and speaking English. 2014.

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