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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | helpan |
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help1 S1 W1
1 [intransitive and transitive] 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.
If there's anything I can do to help, just give me a call. help somebody (to) do something I helped her to carry her cases up the stairs. She helped him choose some new clothes. herbal products that help you to relax and sleep
I helped her to carry her cases up the stairs.She helped him choose some new clothes.herbal products that help you to relax and sleep help somebody with something Can I help you with the washing up? My father said he's going to help me with the fees.
Can I help you with the washing up?My father said he's going to help me with the fees. help somebody on/off with something (=help someone put on or take off a piece of clothing) Here, let me help you on with your coat.
Here, let me help you on with your coat. help somebody somewhere (=help someone get to a particular place, especially because they are old, ill, or hurt) She helped the old man across the road.
She helped the old man across the road.2 [intransitive and transitive] to make a situation better, easier, or less painful : Crying won't help. If you get rid of your car you could be helping the environment.
Crying won't help.If you get rid of your car you could be helping the environment.3
help yourself (to something)
a) to take some of what you want, without asking permission - used especially when offering food to someone : Please help yourself to some cake.
Please help yourself to some cake.b) informal to steal something : Obviously he had been helping himself to the money.
Obviously he had been helping himself to the money.5 used to say that someone is unable to change their behaviour or feelings, or to prevent themselves from doing something : I can't help the way I feel about you. Lee could not help but agree with her.
somebody can't help (doing) something
also somebody can't help but do somethingI can't help the way I feel about you.Lee could not help but agree with her. somebody can't help feeling/thinking/wondering etc something I can't help feeling that there has been a mistake. I couldn't help thinking about the past.
I can't help feeling that there has been a mistake.I couldn't help thinking about the past.6 to be unable to stop yourself from doing something you should not do : She knew she sounded just like her mother but she couldn't help herself.
I couldn't help myself/she couldn't help herself etc
She knew she sounded just like her mother but she couldn't help herself.7 used to say that there is nothing you can do to change a bad situation : She said she had to leave him for a while; it couldn't be helped.
it can't be helped
spokenShe said she had to leave him for a while; it couldn't be helped.8 the police are interviewing someone about a crime, especially because they believe that this person may have committed the crime
somebody is helping the police with their enquiries
British English10 used to say that you are not going to do something : 'Are you going to watch the school play?' 'Not if I can help it.'
not if I can help it
spoken'Are you going to watch the school play?' 'Not if I can help it.'11 used to say that something bad may happen to someone : 'Good luck.' 'God help me. I think I'm going to need it.'
God help him/them etc
spoken'Good luck.' 'God help me. I think I'm going to need it.'help something ↔ along
phrasal verbShe asked a few questions to help the conversation along.help out
phrasal verbDo you need anyone to help out in the shop? help somebody ↔ out (with something) I helped her out when Stella became ill. She was helping him out with his mortgage repayments.
I helped her out when Stella became ill.She was helping him out with his mortgage repayments.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
help, assist, give somebody a hand, lend a hand, help outHelp is the most general verb meaning 'to make it possible or easier for someone to do something'.: Note that in the patterns help to do something or help someone to do something you can leave out the 'to' and say help do something or help someone do something • Cleaner water will help prevent disease. • money to help people build new homes.Assist is a formal word, and means to help someone by doing part of the work for them, especially the things that are not very important • Would you be kind enough to assist me in a small experiment?!! Do not say 'assist someone to do something'. Say assist someone with something or assist someone in doing something.!! Do not use assist to mean 'attend' or 'be present at'.Give somebody a hand, lend a hand, and help out are used in more informal English. Give somebody a hand means to help someone, especially by carrying or lifting things • Can you give me a hand stacking up these boxes? Lend a hand and help out mean to help someone, especially when there are not enough people to do something • Police came from other areas to lend a hand. • Their friends helped out with the fundraising.
WORD CHOICE: help, assist, give somebody a hand, lend a hand, help outHelp is the most general verb meaning 'to make it possible or easier for someone to do something'.: Note that in the patterns help to do something or help someone to do something you can leave out the 'to' and say help do something or help someone do something • Cleaner water will help prevent disease. • money to help people build new homes.Assist is a formal word, and means to help someone by doing part of the work for them, especially the things that are not very important • Would you be kind enough to assist me in a small experiment?!! Do not say 'assist someone to do something'. Say assist someone with something or assist someone in doing something.!! Do not use assist to mean 'attend' or 'be present at'.Give somebody a hand, lend a hand, and help out are used in more informal English. Give somebody a hand means to help someone, especially by carrying or lifting things • Can you give me a hand stacking up these boxes? Lend a hand and help out mean to help someone, especially when there are not enough people to do something • Police came from other areas to lend a hand. • Their friends helped out with the fundraising.
