- able to do something
- able to do somethingto have the strength or skill to do something. (
Able to
can be replaced withcan
.) •Are you able to carry those bags by yourself ?
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
able to do something
Look at other dictionaries:
able to cut something — tv. able to manage or execute something. (Often negative.) □ Do you think you’re able to cut it? He’s just not able to cut it. (a)bout it mod. ready; knowledgeable; cool. (Streets.) □ Sam is smart. He’s really about it … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
not be able to do something to save your life — spoken phrase to be very bad at doing something She couldn’t play the piano to save her life! Thesaurus: to be unable to do something wellsynonym Main entry: save * * * not be able to do sth to ˌsave your ˈlife … Useful english dictionary
not be able to do something for toffee Brit. — not be able to do something for toffee Brit. informal be totally incompetent at doing something. → toffee … English new terms dictionary
be able to do something — 1) used for saying that it is possible for someone to do something. Forms such as have been able to and will be able to are sometimes considered as tenses of the verb can I haven t been able to get any more information. 2) to have a particular… … English dictionary
Able Danger — was a classified military planning effort under the command of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). It was created as a result of a directive from the Joint Chiefs of Staff in early October 1999 by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of… … Wikipedia
able to — The construction to be able to (do something), with an active to infinitive, is a natural part of the language, extending to inanimate as well as animate subjects • (By his proceeding to the beach…the next phase of the attack was able to proceed… … Modern English usage
(be) able to do something in your sleep — be able to do sth in your ˈsleep idiom (informal) to be able to do sth very easily because you have done it many times before • I haven t done many portraits, but I could paint landscapes in my sleep. Main entry: ↑sleepidiom … Useful english dictionary
(be) able to count something on (the fingers of) one hand — be able to count sb/sth on (the fingers of) one ˈhand f19 idiom used to say that the total number of sb/sth is very small • She could count on the fingers of one hand the people she actually enjoyed being with. Main entry: ↑countidiom … Useful english dictionary
not be able to do something to save your life — spoken to be very bad at doing something She couldn t play the piano to save her life! … English dictionary
able — a|ble [ eıbl ] adjective *** intelligent or good at doing something: She is a very able driver. an academically able child be able to do something 1. ) used for saying that it is possible for someone to do something. Forms such as have been able… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
able — [[t]e͟ɪblɪst[/t]] ♦ ablest 1) PHR MODAL If you are able to do something, you have skills or qualities which make it possible for you to do it. The older child should be able to prepare a simple meal... The company say they re able to keep pricing … English dictionary
