ask (redirected from asks for)

ask (someone) for a rain check (American, informal)

I'll take a rain check - something that you say when you cannot accept someone's invitation to do something but you would like to do it another time. I was supposed to see Marge on Saturday - I'll have to ask her for a rain check.

See also: check, rain

ask for it

if you say that someone who gets hurt or punished was asking for it, you mean that they deserved what happened to them. Picking a fight with those hooligans was really asking for it. Fired? Well, she asked for it, didn't she?

ask/cry for the moon

to want something that is not possible. There's no point hoping for a permanent peace in the area. It's like asking for the moon. (usually in continuous tenses)

See also: cry, moon

be asking for trouble

to behave stupidly in a way that is likely to cause problems for you. Drinking and driving is just asking for trouble.

See also: trouble

be someone's for the asking

if something is someone's for the asking, they only have to ask for it and it will be given to them. The contract was Ron's for the asking.

a big ask (Australian)

a request to someone to do something for you that you know will be difficult for them. It's a big ask but could you feed our cats for the two weeks we're away?

See also: big

Don't ask me. (informal)

something that you say when you do not know the answer to a question. 'Who's in charge round here?' 'Don't ask me. I'm as confused as you.' She's decided to dye her hair bright green, don't ask me why. (often + question word)

See also: don't

I ask you! (informal)

something that you say in order to show your surprise or anger at something someone has done. They stayed for a month and left without even saying thank you! Well, I ask you!

You may well ask! (humorous, humorous, formal)

something that you say when someone asks you about something which you think is strange, funny, or annoying. 'Why is Timothy sitting in the kitchen with a saucepan balanced on top of his head?' 'You may well ask!' 'What happened to the money you gave Sharon to buy food?' 'Well may you ask! She says she lost it.'

See also: may, well

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ask for something

to behave in a way that is likely to cause something bad to happen. You know you're asking for a punch in the nose, don't you?

ask for trouble

to behave in a way that will cause you problems. Drinking before driving is asking for trouble. Phil wondered why Deegan was always looking for trouble.

ask for something

See also: trouble

don't ask

you do not want to know, esp. because the information is embarrassing or upsetting. The movie has lots of scary parts, and a particularly nasty suicide — don't ask.

Usage notes: used to say that you do not want to give any more information about a subject

See also: don't

don't ask me

I do not know. "Who's in charge around here?" "Don't ask me. How would I know?" He stole his neighbor's underwear once. Don't ask me why.

go figure

See also: don't

for the asking

easily available. There are a lot of organizations that have scholarship money for the asking.

no questions asked

without providing additional information. If you have enough money, you can get a loan at the bank, no questions asked. There is a reward for the return of the violin, no questions asked.

Usage notes: often used when you could not expect to get anything except by agreeing to this condition: The police will pay $100 for every gun turned in, no questions asked.

See also: question

you couldn't have asked for (anything) more

this is the best thing of its type you can imagine. My career has been terrific. I couldn't have asked for more. Our daughter's babysitter turned out to be wonderful — we couldn't have asked for anything better.

See also: couldn't, more