ask*/*/*/

[ɑːsk]

verb

1) [I/T] to speak to someone in order to get information from them

I wondered who had given her the ring but was afraid to ask.[/ex]

The police wanted to ask us a few questions.[/ex]

She asked me how I knew about it.[/ex]

Did you ask about the money?[/ex]

2) [I/T] to speak to someone because you want them to give you something, or do something for you

If you need any help, just ask.[/ex]

Can I ask you a favour?[/ex]

The children were asking for drinks.[/ex]

He asked us to move over a little.[/ex]

I asked to see the manager.[/ex]

Ask if we can go backstage.[/ex]

3) [T] to invite someone to do something, or to go somewhere with you

We waited for half an hour before he asked us in (= invited us to come inside).[/ex]

They asked me to stay the night.[/ex]

4) [T] to expect someone to do something, or to give you something

It's a nice house, but they're asking over half a million pounds.[/ex]

•

be asking for it/trouble — to behave in a way that makes something bad likely to happen[/ex]

She's asking for trouble if she speaks to the boss like that.[/ex]

don't ask me — spoken used for telling someone that you do not know the answer to their question, when you are annoyed or surprised that they have asked you[/ex]

if you ask me — spoken used before you give someone your opinion about something[/ex]

If you ask me, she doesn't really want the job.[/ex]

- ask sb out