guess1 verbguess2 noun
guessguess1 /ɡes/ ●●● S1 W3 verb 
WORD ORIGINguess1
Origin:
1200-1300 Probably from a Scandinavian languageVERB TABLE
guess
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | guess |
| he, she, it | guesses | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | guessed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have guessed |
| he, she, it | has guessed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had guessed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will guess |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have guessed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am guessing |
| he, she, it | is guessing | |
| you, we, they | are guessing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was guessing |
| you, we, they | were guessing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been guessing |
| he, she, it | has been guessing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been guessing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be guessing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been guessing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Are you Dan's brother?'' "Yes, how did you guess?''
- "Don't tell me - you got the job." "How'd you guess?"
- Guess how much I paid for this watch!
- Guess who I saw in town yesterday.
- Are you sure Linda's pregnant, or are you just guessing?
- Detectives guess the attacker must be aged from 25 - 30.
- From their behaviour it was easy to guess that they were married.
- Guy looked at her face, and guessed what she was thinking.
- He guessed she was about 30.
- I'm only guessing, but I should think their house is worth over a million.
- I didn't know all the answers so I just had to guess some of them.
- Luckily, I guessed the right answer and won the prize!
- Sally guessed that he had been drinking for most of the afternoon.
- They had already guessed the truth about their son's disappearance.
- We can only guess at the cause of the crash.
- Which hand have I got the chocolate in? If you guess right you can have it.
- Already he's guessing the colour of her toothbrush.
- And I guess, yeah, we could stand to read more.
- I guess how each one I guess.
- I guess I was doing the best I could with the knowledge I had.
- No prizes either for guessing his four-legged friend is named after a famous Liverpool manager.
- Perhaps you can guess exactly where I fell that night.
- She might have guessed that as soon as she tried for a little peace and quiet the whole place would be inundated with callers.
- You should have come to Ward or me the minute you suspected it, instead of fooling around guessing.
Longman Language Activatorto guess something
to give an answer or decide that something is probably true, when you do not know enough to be definitely sure: · Are you sure Linda's pregnant, or are you just guessing?· I'm only guessing, but I should think their house is worth over a million.· I didn't know all the answers so I just had to guess some of them.guess who/what/how etc: · Guess who I saw in town yesterday.· Guess how much I paid for this watch!guess at: · We can only guess at the cause of the crash.guess (that): · Sally guessed that he had been drinking for most of the afternoon.· Detectives guess the attacker must be aged from 25 - 30.
to guess something, especially when you are trying to answer a question or explain how something might have happened: · I've no idea where I lost the keys. I couldn't even make a guess.make a guess at/about/as to: · It's possible to make a guess at who the woman in the story might be.
British /take a guess especially American to guess an answer, amount, or number - use this especially when you are telling someone to do this: · "How much rent do you pay for your apartment?" "Take a guess."have a guess at: · Have a guess at the answer, then check it with your calculator.
to say how much something will cost, how many of something there are etc, partly by calculating and partly by guessing: estimate (that): · Police estimate that over 10,000 people took part in the demonstration.estimate something at $350/£400 etc: · His personal fortune is estimated at £150 million.· The mechanic estimated the cost of repairs at $350.estimate how much/how many etc: · Can you estimate how much fabric you will need for the curtains?
: put the cost/the value/somebody's age etc at something to guess that the cost, value etc is a particular amount without trying to be very exact: · I'd put her age at around 35.· The cost of the war was put at more than $10 billion.
to think about or discuss something in order to guess what its causes or results might be: · We don't know why the prehistoric stone circles were built. We can only speculate.speculate about/on/as to: · Edward began to speculate on what life would be like if he were single again.· People have been speculating about interstellar flight for years.
what you say when you guess something spoken say this when you are telling someone what you think has probably happened or will probably happen: my guess is (that): · My guess is that they've been delayed in a traffic jam.· My guess is she'll move back to the States after the divorce.
spoken say this when you are fairly sure that something is true or something is happening, although you cannot prove this: · He'll be really pleased to see you, I bet!I bet (that): · Come and sit down, I bet you're exhausted.· I bet that the meeting will be cancelled again.
spoken say this when you are guessing a number or amount and you have not checked it exactly: · Off the top of my head, I think that the figure is about 25%.· "What's the painting worth?" "Three million or so," he said, off the top of his head.
to guess correctly to guess correctly that something is true, or guess the right answer to something: · "Are you Dan's brother?'' "Yes, how did you guess?''· Luckily, I guessed the right answer and won the prize!guess what/who/where etc: · Guy looked at her face, and guessed what she was thinking.guess (that): · From their behaviour it was easy to guess that they were married.guess the truth: · They had already guessed the truth about their son's disappearance.guess right: · Which hand have I got the chocolate in? If you guess right you can have it.
spoken say this when someone's guess about something is nearly correct: · "Where are you going? Egypt, Morocco?" "You're getting warm!"
to guess incorrectly to guess incorrectly: · I guessed she was over sixteen, but I guessed wrong.
to guess wrongly, by thinking that the amount, level, or cost of something is bigger, more expensive etc than it really is: · People overestimated the risk of catching the disease.overestimate how much/how long etc: · We overestimated how long the journey would take, and arrived far too early.
to guess wrongly, by thinking that the amount, level, or cost of something is smaller, less expensive etc than it really is: · They underestimated the amount of time it would take to finish the work.underestimate how much/ how long etc: · You must never underestimate how much I love you.how difficult/ how important etc: · Don't underestimate how good the other team is, or how hard they're going to play.badly/greatly underestimate: · They had badly underestimated how many lifeboats would be needed.
to guess incorrectly - use this when someone is not at all close to being correct: · The movie was expected to gross millions, but that forecast was wide of the mark.be seriously/hopelessly wide of the mark: · All the opinion polls turned out to be hopelessly wide of the mark.
an attempt to guess something an attempt to guess something: · This is only a guess, but I think Barbara might have gone to Jan's house.· I didn't really know the answer. It was just a lucky guess.make a guess: · I'm not sure why she left him, but I think I can make a guess.good guess spoken (=say this when someone's guess is almost correct): · "When was the house built - about 1600?" "That's a good guess - it was 1624."I'll give you two/three guesses spoken (=say this when you think the other person already knows the answer to the question): · "Who's her new boyfriend then?" "I'll give you three guesses!''an educated guess: · "Did Cindy tell you that she's sold the business?" "No, it was just an educated guess."
an opinion about the value, size, speed etc of something that is formed partly by calculating and partly by guessing: · According to some estimates, almost two thirds of the city has been destroyed by the earthquake.rough estimate (=an estimate that is not intended to be exact): · These are the figures, but they're only a rough estimate.at/as a rough estimate (=making a rough estimate): · At a rough estimate, staff are recycling less than a quarter of the paper we buy.a conservative estimate (=an estimate that is deliberately low): · We're predicting a 10% rise in oil prices -- and that's a conservative estimate.
when you try to understand something or find the answer to something by guessing, because you do not have all the information you need: · It's important to find out what consumers want to buy, rather than relying on guesswork.· At the beginning, the police investigation was largely based on guesswork.it was pure/sheer guesswork spoken (=use this to say that you found out something by guessing): · "How did you know where she'd gone?" "It was pure guesswork."
when a lot of people, especially in newspapers and on television, try to guess what is happening or what will happen because they do not have much definite information: speculation about: · There has been a lot of speculation about the date of the next election.· The success of the book was heightened by media speculation about who the characters were in real life.speculation that: · A further defeat for the government led to increasing speculation that the Prime Minister would resign.amid speculation (that): · The investigation into the crash continued amid speculation that terrorists had destroyed the plane.wild speculation (=guesses that are not sensible): · the wild speculation that surrounded Princess Diana's deathpure speculation (= guesses that are not sensible based only on guessing, and not on informaion): · Any suggestion of an imminent crash in property prices is pure speculation.
an opinion, explanation etc that is speculative is based on guessing and not on facts: · Theories of the origin of life are partly speculative.highly speculative (=based almost completely on guessing and probably not correct): · Until further research has been done, any figures that I can give you are highly speculative.entirely/purely speculative (=based completely on guessing): · The papers were full of talk of Lucan's whereabouts, all of it entirely speculative.
formal guesses that are based on information that is not complete: a matter for/of conjecture (=something that people can try to guess but cannot know): · It's a matter for conjecture who wrote the original text in the fifteenth century.pure conjecture (=based only on guessing, and not on facts): · The judge dismissed the evidence as pure conjecture.
a guess that is based on very little information the answer you give when you are trying to guess a number or amount but are not able to be exact: · I'd say Mrs Roberts was about 35, but that's only a rough guess.make/take/have a rough guess: · It's terribly difficult to calculate, but I could make a rough guess and say the cost will be about half a million.at a rough guess: · "How long will the journey take?" "At a rough guess, about six hours."
a strange feeling that you know the answer to something, even though you have very little information to help you to guess: · It's just a hunch, but it's possible the murderer may have been a woman.hunch that: · My hunch that he was lying turned out to be correct.have a hunch: · I have a hunch that Jodie may be planning a surprise party.hunch about: · "How did you know the answer?" "I just had a hunch about it."
a guess, especially an answer, that seems stupid or is very likely to be wrong: · This is a wild guess, but is the answer Michael Jackson?
a guess that you make when you have no information at all, so that it is almost certainly wrong: · Let's see if she's at Fiona's house. It's a shot in the dark, but we've got to start looking somewhere.
what you say when you think something is true, but you are not sure spoken · She'll be here about 9, I think.I think (that) · I think the dog must have eaten it.I think so · "Is Matthew still here?" "I think so -- I've just seen him."I would think so · "Will Jenny be at the meeting?" "I would think so."
spoken say this when you think that something is probably true but you are not really sure: · Having a burglar alarm makes you feel safer, I suppose.I suppose (that): · I suppose we can pay by credit card but we'd better check first.I suppose so (=say this to answer a question): · "Will the children be disappointed?" "Yes, I suppose so."
especially American, spoken say this when you think that something is probably true but you are not really sure: · Rob just got tired of living with her, I guess.I guess (that): · I guess this is the best way to do it.I guess so: · "Is the truck safe to drive now?" "I guess so."
to start to think something is a fact because of various things that happen, because of the way someone is behaving etc: get the impression/feeling/idea (that): · I got the impression she was actually quite nervous about it.· Walking down the main street, you get the feeling that nothing ever happens in this town.· I don't want you to get the idea that I don't like him.get this/that idea: · "He thinks you're angry with them." "Where on earth did he get that idea?"
spoken say this when you think that something is true, although you realize that you may not know all the facts: · As far as I know, Caroline's never been married.· Alaska doesn't have any drilling sites off the coast, as far as I know.
spoken say this when you think that something is likely to be true, although what you say is only based on your opinion: I imagine (that): · I imagine she's stuck in a traffic jam or something.I would imagine (that): · I would imagine that Libby could help you - she knows a lot about legal things.
spoken say this when you want to make it clear that there may be things you do not know about a situation: · As far as I am aware, Mr Cusner and his family are still living in Cleveland, Ohio.
formal spoken say this when you want to make it clear that you are not completely sure about the statement you are making: · To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time that anyone has translated these poems into English.
spoken say this when you think that something is true and you are asking someone else to tell you that you are right: I take it (that): · I take it that you're Rob's sister?· So can we take it that you'll be at the meeting?· You've made plans for the future, I take it?
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
If you guess correctly, you have another turn. What star sign are you? No, let me guess. It’s hard to guess his age because he dyes his hair.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Investors must make an educated guess as to the company’s potential. I’m not sure, but I could make a good guess. $50,000? I don’t know. I’m only hazarding a guess. I’m just making a wild guess here, so correct me if I’m wrong.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
If you guess correctly, you have another turn. What star sign are you? No, let me guess. It’s hard to guess his age because he dyes his hair.· If you don’t know the answer, try guessing it.
Investors must make an educated guess as to the company’s potential. I’m not sure, but I could make a good guess. $50,000? I don’t know. I’m only hazarding a guess. I’m just making a wild guess here, so correct me if I’m wrong.· He wondered what was behind it and guessed correctly.· The first team to guess correctly wins the round.· Yesterday winners Jennie Edwards, 10, and Dawn Waters, 30, received their prize for guessing correctly.· Campbell, who once challenged Lathrop to identify tenors in the same format, correctly guesses a handful of more than 20.· You placed bets on what card was going to be drawn and you had to guess correctly to get your money back.· The player who finally guesses correctly chooses the next card.· Somehow my pursuer had guessed correctly at every turn.· Of the 102 symbols, 79 were correctly guessed first time and only 8 symbols required more than 5 guesses.
· You'd never guess that the performances actually date from the early to mid-1960's!· They had never seen a landscape like this, never guessed one could even exist.· But he must never guess the truth.· But soon, she noticed that he never guessed her name.· But, encased in the false security of her new-found happiness, she had never guessed.· They never guessed she found this distasteful.· Looking at me, you'd never guess I'd killed three people.· A person strolling through the dusty bed of the Arkansas near Dodge City might never guess at the river that was there.
· For example, instead of typing try other that you can only guess.· I can only guess at what I have done to provoke her.· What had gone from the attic she could only guess, for she did not remember half the things they stored there.· Why this was so we can only guess.· Once again, we can never know, only guess.· What Baden Powell would say to a rap anthem, one can only guess at.· That little creature must have had a strength to survive that we can only guess at.
· Duncan had guessed right about it being a Shogun, the smaller, two-door version.· If we guess right, then we confirm his suspicions.· As it turns out, David guesses right.· She'd guessed right the first time.· And still Jinny did not guess right.
NOUN· No prizes either for guessing his four-legged friend is named after a famous Liverpool manager.· There are no prizes for guessing why this should be.· No prizes for guessing the names of the owners here.· Enclosed his picture - no prizes for guessing his breed.· Yesterday winners Jennie Edwards, 10, and Dawn Waters, 30, received their prize for guessing correctly.· No prizes for guessing the answer to that question.· No prizes for guessing what she was wearing.· No prizes for guessing that Brahms is a major culprit.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► guess what/you’ll never guess who/what etcPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[intransitive, transitive] to try to answer a question or form an opinion when you are not sure whether you will be correct: - Our supervisor likes to keep everyone guessing.
- "Is the truck safe to drive now?" "I guess so."
- His light's on, so I guess he's still up.
- I guess his dad had to work two jobs when they were little.
- I guess I'll stay home tonight.
- I guess this is the best way to do it.
- Rob just got tired of living with her, I guess.
- They live somewhere between Saginaw and Lansing, I guess.
- From the shape of its lights I guessed it was one of the small Peugeots.
- I guess how each one I guess.
- I am weary. I guess you read one porno magazine and the second one is just the same.
- I did not know the name, but I guessed at once who she was.
- Slim was gone-to Montana, I guess.
- Well fifteen, half an hour and then a break, I guess.
- You could add something about the hurricane, I guess.
- "She wasn't happy?" "I guess not."
- Dope, is it? I guess so.
- Conservative estimates indicate at least 150 people were killed in the military coup.
- All the data published on the effect of gill-nets on small cetaceans probably represents a conservative estimate of the number of deaths.
- At a conservative estimate the water was nearly a yard deep, even near the edge.
- At a conservative estimate they had cost considerably more than she had just paid for her night's lodging.
- By even a conservative estimate, about 10,000 Dall's porpoise were harpooned each year from 1976 to 1987.
- I understand that is a conservative estimate.
- Narcotics agents believe a conservative estimate of the number of laboratories is between 200 and 300.
- On a conservative estimate, there are now about 5,000 books or articles that deal with it, at least in part.
- On this basis imitation tasks ought to be regarded as giving a conservative estimate of the child's grammatical knowledge.
- Are at least able to make an educated guess as to who is collapsing the scrummage. 7.
- But, beyond hunches and educated guesses, what about other human characteristics such as beliefs, prejudices and emotions?
- Other of the source studies, however, used patient values, clinician values, or educated guesses.
- Still, money managers, analysts, and economists are taking their best educated guesses.
- That sometimes means making educated guesses.
- The law requires the chief of police to make educated guesses about the likelihood that disorder, damage or disruption will occur.
- Where and what kinds they will be is an open question that is, at best, an educated guess.
- As it happens, he made an inspired choice.
- But my father's was an inspired guess.
- If he can be persuaded to keep religion out of politics, he could prove an inspired choice.
- In Whitham's case it was different and he certainly was what could be termed an inspired choice by the Lightweight club.
- It could prove an inspired choice for New Zealand.
- All those years I might have known her!
- Although I might have known you'd arrive just as drinks were being ordered!
- Dear little Papa, as I might have known!
- If you'd had a big fat bottom I might have guessed.
- It was nothing I might have guessed.
- Of course, I might have known that you'd have some clever way of dealing with everything, though.
- Ooh! I might have known it!
- Some years before, I might have guessed Bond's enigmatic presence in the scene.
- Enclosed his picture - no prizes for guessing his breed.
- There are no prizes for guessing why this should be.
I’d say he’s around 50, but I’m only guessing.guess right/correctly/wrong If you guess correctly, you have another turn.guess what/who/how etc You can guess what happened next.guess at We can only guess at the cause of the crash. What star sign are you? No, let me guess.difficult/hard/easy etc to guess It’s hard to guess his age because he dyes his hair.2[intransitive, transitive] to realize that something is true even though you do not know for certainguess (that) I guessed that you must be related because you look so similar.guess from I guessed from his expression that he already knew about the accident. Can you guess the identity of this week’s special guest?3keep somebody guessing to make someone feel excited or not sure about what will happen next: a thriller that keeps audiences guessing4I guess spoken a)used to say that you think something is true or likely, although you are not sure: His light’s on, so I guess he’s still up. b)used to say that you will do something even though you do not really want to: I’m tired, so I guess I’ll stay home tonight.5I guess so/not spoken used to agree or disagree with a statement or question: ‘You’re one lucky guy.’ ‘I guess so.’ ‘I don’t really have any choice, do I?’ ‘I guess not.’6guess what/you’ll never guess who/what etc spoken used before you tell someone something that will surprise them: Guess what! Bradley’s resigned. You’ll never guess who I saw today. → second-guessguess1 verbguess2 noun
guessguess2 ●●● S3 noun [countable] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Did Cindy tell you that she's sold the business?" "No, it was just an educated guess."
- "When was the house built - about 1600?" "That's a good guess - it was 1624."
- "Who's her new boyfriend then?" "I'll give you three guesses!''
- I'll give you three guesses.
- I'm not sure why she left him, but I think I can make a guess.
- I didn't really know the answer. It was just a lucky guess.
- This is only a guess, but I think Barbara might have gone to Jan's house.
- And those guesses will come more from our own sense of meaning and beauty than the actual beliefs of the cave artists.
- It is anybody's guess as to how the sale will fare.
- The reporters could not tell whether this was because Kalmbach was a lucky guess or a ridiculous one.
- What happens to Mr Mandelson next is anyone's guess.
- Your guess is as good as mine.
Longman Language Activatorto guess something
to give an answer or decide that something is probably true, when you do not know enough to be definitely sure: · Are you sure Linda's pregnant, or are you just guessing?· I'm only guessing, but I should think their house is worth over a million.· I didn't know all the answers so I just had to guess some of them.guess who/what/how etc: · Guess who I saw in town yesterday.· Guess how much I paid for this watch!guess at: · We can only guess at the cause of the crash.guess (that): · Sally guessed that he had been drinking for most of the afternoon.· Detectives guess the attacker must be aged from 25 - 30.
to guess something, especially when you are trying to answer a question or explain how something might have happened: · I've no idea where I lost the keys. I couldn't even make a guess.make a guess at/about/as to: · It's possible to make a guess at who the woman in the story might be.
British /take a guess especially American to guess an answer, amount, or number - use this especially when you are telling someone to do this: · "How much rent do you pay for your apartment?" "Take a guess."have a guess at: · Have a guess at the answer, then check it with your calculator.
to say how much something will cost, how many of something there are etc, partly by calculating and partly by guessing: estimate (that): · Police estimate that over 10,000 people took part in the demonstration.estimate something at $350/£400 etc: · His personal fortune is estimated at £150 million.· The mechanic estimated the cost of repairs at $350.estimate how much/how many etc: · Can you estimate how much fabric you will need for the curtains?
: put the cost/the value/somebody's age etc at something to guess that the cost, value etc is a particular amount without trying to be very exact: · I'd put her age at around 35.· The cost of the war was put at more than $10 billion.
to think about or discuss something in order to guess what its causes or results might be: · We don't know why the prehistoric stone circles were built. We can only speculate.speculate about/on/as to: · Edward began to speculate on what life would be like if he were single again.· People have been speculating about interstellar flight for years.
what you say when you guess something spoken say this when you are telling someone what you think has probably happened or will probably happen: my guess is (that): · My guess is that they've been delayed in a traffic jam.· My guess is she'll move back to the States after the divorce.
spoken say this when you are fairly sure that something is true or something is happening, although you cannot prove this: · He'll be really pleased to see you, I bet!I bet (that): · Come and sit down, I bet you're exhausted.· I bet that the meeting will be cancelled again.
spoken say this when you are guessing a number or amount and you have not checked it exactly: · Off the top of my head, I think that the figure is about 25%.· "What's the painting worth?" "Three million or so," he said, off the top of his head.
to guess correctly to guess correctly that something is true, or guess the right answer to something: · "Are you Dan's brother?'' "Yes, how did you guess?''· Luckily, I guessed the right answer and won the prize!guess what/who/where etc: · Guy looked at her face, and guessed what she was thinking.guess (that): · From their behaviour it was easy to guess that they were married.guess the truth: · They had already guessed the truth about their son's disappearance.guess right: · Which hand have I got the chocolate in? If you guess right you can have it.
spoken say this when someone's guess about something is nearly correct: · "Where are you going? Egypt, Morocco?" "You're getting warm!"
to guess incorrectly to guess incorrectly: · I guessed she was over sixteen, but I guessed wrong.
to guess wrongly, by thinking that the amount, level, or cost of something is bigger, more expensive etc than it really is: · People overestimated the risk of catching the disease.overestimate how much/how long etc: · We overestimated how long the journey would take, and arrived far too early.
to guess wrongly, by thinking that the amount, level, or cost of something is smaller, less expensive etc than it really is: · They underestimated the amount of time it would take to finish the work.underestimate how much/ how long etc: · You must never underestimate how much I love you.how difficult/ how important etc: · Don't underestimate how good the other team is, or how hard they're going to play.badly/greatly underestimate: · They had badly underestimated how many lifeboats would be needed.
to guess incorrectly - use this when someone is not at all close to being correct: · The movie was expected to gross millions, but that forecast was wide of the mark.be seriously/hopelessly wide of the mark: · All the opinion polls turned out to be hopelessly wide of the mark.
an attempt to guess something an attempt to guess something: · This is only a guess, but I think Barbara might have gone to Jan's house.· I didn't really know the answer. It was just a lucky guess.make a guess: · I'm not sure why she left him, but I think I can make a guess.good guess spoken (=say this when someone's guess is almost correct): · "When was the house built - about 1600?" "That's a good guess - it was 1624."I'll give you two/three guesses spoken (=say this when you think the other person already knows the answer to the question): · "Who's her new boyfriend then?" "I'll give you three guesses!''an educated guess: · "Did Cindy tell you that she's sold the business?" "No, it was just an educated guess."
an opinion about the value, size, speed etc of something that is formed partly by calculating and partly by guessing: · According to some estimates, almost two thirds of the city has been destroyed by the earthquake.rough estimate (=an estimate that is not intended to be exact): · These are the figures, but they're only a rough estimate.at/as a rough estimate (=making a rough estimate): · At a rough estimate, staff are recycling less than a quarter of the paper we buy.a conservative estimate (=an estimate that is deliberately low): · We're predicting a 10% rise in oil prices -- and that's a conservative estimate.
when you try to understand something or find the answer to something by guessing, because you do not have all the information you need: · It's important to find out what consumers want to buy, rather than relying on guesswork.· At the beginning, the police investigation was largely based on guesswork.it was pure/sheer guesswork spoken (=use this to say that you found out something by guessing): · "How did you know where she'd gone?" "It was pure guesswork."
when a lot of people, especially in newspapers and on television, try to guess what is happening or what will happen because they do not have much definite information: speculation about: · There has been a lot of speculation about the date of the next election.· The success of the book was heightened by media speculation about who the characters were in real life.speculation that: · A further defeat for the government led to increasing speculation that the Prime Minister would resign.amid speculation (that): · The investigation into the crash continued amid speculation that terrorists had destroyed the plane.wild speculation (=guesses that are not sensible): · the wild speculation that surrounded Princess Diana's deathpure speculation (= guesses that are not sensible based only on guessing, and not on informaion): · Any suggestion of an imminent crash in property prices is pure speculation.
an opinion, explanation etc that is speculative is based on guessing and not on facts: · Theories of the origin of life are partly speculative.highly speculative (=based almost completely on guessing and probably not correct): · Until further research has been done, any figures that I can give you are highly speculative.entirely/purely speculative (=based completely on guessing): · The papers were full of talk of Lucan's whereabouts, all of it entirely speculative.
formal guesses that are based on information that is not complete: a matter for/of conjecture (=something that people can try to guess but cannot know): · It's a matter for conjecture who wrote the original text in the fifteenth century.pure conjecture (=based only on guessing, and not on facts): · The judge dismissed the evidence as pure conjecture.
a guess that is based on very little information the answer you give when you are trying to guess a number or amount but are not able to be exact: · I'd say Mrs Roberts was about 35, but that's only a rough guess.make/take/have a rough guess: · It's terribly difficult to calculate, but I could make a rough guess and say the cost will be about half a million.at a rough guess: · "How long will the journey take?" "At a rough guess, about six hours."
a strange feeling that you know the answer to something, even though you have very little information to help you to guess: · It's just a hunch, but it's possible the murderer may have been a woman.hunch that: · My hunch that he was lying turned out to be correct.have a hunch: · I have a hunch that Jodie may be planning a surprise party.hunch about: · "How did you know the answer?" "I just had a hunch about it."
a guess, especially an answer, that seems stupid or is very likely to be wrong: · This is a wild guess, but is the answer Michael Jackson?
a guess that you make when you have no information at all, so that it is almost certainly wrong: · Let's see if she's at Fiona's house. It's a shot in the dark, but we've got to start looking somewhere.
approximately a number or amount a little more or a little less than a number, amount, distance, or time: · It should cost about $1500.· The church is about a mile away.· It's been about five years since I've seen Linda.· The chance of men being born colourblind is about 1 in 12.
a little more or a little less than a number, amount, distance, or time. Approximately is a little more formal than about and is used especially in written English: · Approximately 30% of the community is Polish.· Each disk stores approximately 144 pages of text.
approximately - used especially when you are trying to give someone a general idea of the number or amount: · A new kitchen would cost roughly $6,000.· The man was roughly my own age.· There were roughly 50 people there.
: 3 days/a minute/fifteen people etc or so approximately 3 days, a minute etc, or perhaps even more: · The baby usually sleeps for an hour or so after breakfast.· He suggested that I take a week or so off work.· There must be thirty people or so in the class.
informal spoken: a hundred/forty/thirty etc odd use this after numbers in tens, hundreds, or thousands: · "How old do you think he is?'' "Oh, I don't know. Seventy odd.''· It's been 30 odd years since I last saw him.
spoken: give or take a few miles/a couple of minutes/a pound etc use this when saying approximately what a number or amount is, when it may be a few miles more or less, a few minutes more or less etc: · The village is about fifty miles north of here, give or take a few miles.· He's said to be worth $26 million, give or take a few million.· "How long will the meeting last?" "A couple of hours, give or take."
spoken approximately, especially when you do not know the correct number or amount and are guessing what it is: · At a guess, I'd say around 3000 people took part in the demonstration.· It was a cold night. About two or three degrees at a guess.· "How much will it cost?" "A hundred and twenty pounds, at a guess."
ways of saying that no one knows something · Maybe the world will end tomorrow. Who can say?· He might come back and say he still loves me, who knows? Who cares?who knows/who can say what/where/why etc · Who knows whether Mimi ever made it to Paris.
spoken say this when you mean that it is impossible to know something: · "Where'd she go?" "God knows."God knows/heaven knows what/who/why etc: · I've just missed my train, so God knows what time I'll get home now.· Heaven knows why she feels she can't trust her own parents.
spoken say this when neither you, nor anyone else knows the answer to a question or the truth about something, and any answer could be correct: · How he'd lived through it all is anybody's guess.it's anybody's guess who/what/why etc: · It's anybody's guess who will come out on top when the winners are announced at the Grammy Awards this year.
spoken say this when it is impossible to know what will happen, especially when you are worried that something bad might happen: there's no telling/knowing who/what/why etc: · "He's a desperate man. There's no telling what he'll do next," said Holmes.· There was no knowing when the flood waters might recede with so much rain in the forecast.
spoken say this when someone asks you a question and you do not know the answer, so that they are just as likely to guess the right answer as you are: · "Who do you think will win the World Cup?" "Your guess is as good as mine."
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs Investors must make an educated guess as to the company’s potential. I’m not sure, but I could make a good guess. $50,000? I don’t know. I’m only hazarding a guess. I’m just making a wild guess here, so correct me if I’m wrong.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· I didn't know the answer to question 7, so I just had to make a guess.
British English, take a guess American English:· Go on, have a guess at how much it cost.· Take a guess. How many people do you think showed up?
(=guess something, when you feel very uncertain)· No one at this stage is prepared to hazard a guess about the outcome of the elections.
adjectives (=one that is not exact)· This is just a rough guess, but I think it would cost about $50.
(=one made without much thought or information)· I made a wild guess and I got the answer right first time.
· ‘How did you know?’ ‘It was just a lucky guess.’
(=one that is likely to be right)· I'm not sure how old she is, but I can make a good guess!
(=one that you think is most likely to be right)· My best guess is that it will take around six months.
(=a guess based on things that you know are correct)· Stockbrokers try to make educated guesses as to which stocks will do well.
· Analysis of the archaeological site will help us make an intelligent guess as to what it was used for.
(=a very good guess that you make suddenly)· It’s hard to believe he got that right with just an inspired guess.
phrases· My guess is there won’t be many people there.
British English (=used when saying that you are making a guess)· I'd say it was built around the turn of the century, at a guess.
(=used to tell someone that it should be easy for them to guess the answer to their question)· ‘Where is he?’ ‘I’ll give you three guesses.’
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· If you don’t know the answer, try guessing it.
Investors must make an educated guess as to the company’s potential. I’m not sure, but I could make a good guess. $50,000? I don’t know. I’m only hazarding a guess. I’m just making a wild guess here, so correct me if I’m wrong.· Are at least able to make an educated guess as to who is collapsing the scrummage. 7.· Other of the source studies, however, used patient values, clinician values, or educated guesses.· But, beyond hunches and educated guesses, what about other human characteristics such as beliefs, prejudices and emotions?· The law requires the chief of police to make educated guesses about the likelihood that disorder, damage or disruption will occur.
· April is the best guess for first deliveries.· About once a century is our best guess of how often such a cosmic calamity must occur somewhere on Earth.· Ellen made a best guess as to how likely each one was to happen in the current situation.· The best guess put her in her late twenties.· A good guess, but false none the less.· Still, money managers, analysts, and economists are taking their best educated guesses.· My best guess is that the forests will not recover for a long time, no matter what we do.
· It had been a lucky guess, that was all.· Maybe they made a lucky guess.· That had just been a lucky guess.· The reporters could not tell whether this was because Kalmbach was a lucky guess or a ridiculous one.· And a rather malicious lucky guess to boot.· It is a very addictive game of logic, deduction, and lots of lucky guesses when you first play.
· At the side put down a rough guess of the cost that might be involved.· At a rough guess, Pierremont Gardens today stands where the real gardens of Pierremont used to be.
· It had thrown her when Luke Calder had made that seemingly wild guess about her, but now she could understand it.· Shall we take a wild guess?· The glitter in his hooded eyes made it impossible for her to hazard even the wildest guess at what he was thinking.· That was Renato, still entertaining the class with wild guesses.· If any child makes wild random guesses note quietly who it is: those pupils will need your attention.· Still, it was discouraging that no one had ventured even a wild guess.
VERB· Not being a builder, nor an architect, I can only hazard a guess.· It would be foolish even to hazard a guess.· The glitter in his hooded eyes made it impossible for her to hazard even the wildest guess at what he was thinking.· We hazard a guess that they're lurking in a shoebox or, worse still, the ubiquitous carrier bag!· What on earth the referee had done to incur such mindless, moronic abuse, one can only hazard a guess.· I hazard a guess that there are not only pure stallions on the moor; fate and carelessness always complicates herd life.· It was hard to say, even hazard a guess.
· I guessed, but did not make him confirm my guess.· Maybe they made a lucky guess.· So let me begin by making some impressionistic guesses about the views women do in fact currently hold on morality.· Ellen made a best guess as to how likely each one was to happen in the current situation.· Nor is there much existing evidence, here or in other countries, on which to make a reasonable guess.· That sometimes means making educated guesses.· Why do I make this bold guess?
· Shall we take a wild guess?· Every time the father took a wrong guess, the youngest daughter laughed loudly.· Still, money managers, analysts, and economists are taking their best educated guesses.· Where does all that money come from and where does it go? Take a guess.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1an attempt to answer a question or make a judgment when you are not sure whether you will be correct: - It's anybody's guess where he's disappeared to.
- And how many days and weeks and years made up a duration was anybody's guess.
- Disenfranchised voters are believed to number at least 100,000 - though why the lenders want their business is anybody's guess.
- How often, when and where women-only units would see active service is anybody's guess.
- It is anybody's guess as to how the sale will fare.
- Strangely, what may happen at the taking of the sample itself seems to be anybody's guess.
- What the Spice Girls' eight-year-old girl fans make of this is anybody's guess.
- Whether the idea will catch on is anybody's guess.
- Which came first is anybody's guess, but the two are now working together to make the patient even more ill.
- "When's the next bus coming?" "Your guess is as good as mine."
- "Who do you think will win the World Cup?" "Your guess is as good as mine."
- Conservative estimates indicate at least 150 people were killed in the military coup.
- All the data published on the effect of gill-nets on small cetaceans probably represents a conservative estimate of the number of deaths.
- At a conservative estimate the water was nearly a yard deep, even near the edge.
- At a conservative estimate they had cost considerably more than she had just paid for her night's lodging.
- By even a conservative estimate, about 10,000 Dall's porpoise were harpooned each year from 1976 to 1987.
- I understand that is a conservative estimate.
- Narcotics agents believe a conservative estimate of the number of laboratories is between 200 and 300.
- On a conservative estimate, there are now about 5,000 books or articles that deal with it, at least in part.
- On this basis imitation tasks ought to be regarded as giving a conservative estimate of the child's grammatical knowledge.
- Are at least able to make an educated guess as to who is collapsing the scrummage. 7.
- But, beyond hunches and educated guesses, what about other human characteristics such as beliefs, prejudices and emotions?
- Other of the source studies, however, used patient values, clinician values, or educated guesses.
- Still, money managers, analysts, and economists are taking their best educated guesses.
- That sometimes means making educated guesses.
- The law requires the chief of police to make educated guesses about the likelihood that disorder, damage or disruption will occur.
- Where and what kinds they will be is an open question that is, at best, an educated guess.
- As it happens, he made an inspired choice.
- But my father's was an inspired guess.
- If he can be persuaded to keep religion out of politics, he could prove an inspired choice.
- In Whitham's case it was different and he certainly was what could be termed an inspired choice by the Lightweight club.
- It could prove an inspired choice for New Zealand.
- All those years I might have known her!
- Although I might have known you'd arrive just as drinks were being ordered!
- Dear little Papa, as I might have known!
- If you'd had a big fat bottom I might have guessed.
- It was nothing I might have guessed.
- Of course, I might have known that you'd have some clever way of dealing with everything, though.
- Ooh! I might have known it!
- Some years before, I might have guessed Bond's enigmatic presence in the scene.
- Enclosed his picture - no prizes for guessing his breed.
- There are no prizes for guessing why this should be.
I’d say she’s about 35, but that’s only a guess.2be anybody’s guess to be something that no one knows: What she’s going to do with her life now is anybody’s guess.3your guess is as good as mine spoken used to tell someone that you do not know any more than they do about somethingCOLLOCATIONSverbsmake a guess· I didn't know the answer to question 7, so I just had to make a guess.have a guess British English, take a guess American English:· Go on, have a guess at how much it cost.· Take a guess. How many people do you think showed up?hazard a guess (=guess something, when you feel very uncertain)· No one at this stage is prepared to hazard a guess about the outcome of the elections.adjectivesa rough guess (=one that is not exact)· This is just a rough guess, but I think it would cost about $50.a wild guess (=one made without much thought or information)· I made a wild guess and I got the answer right first time.a lucky guess· ‘How did you know?’ ‘It was just a lucky guess.’a good guess (=one that is likely to be right)· I'm not sure how old she is, but I can make a good guess!somebody’s best guess (=one that you think is most likely to be right)· My best guess is that it will take around six months.an educated/informed guess (=a guess based on things that you know are correct)· Stockbrokers try to make educated guesses as to which stocks will do well.an intelligent guess· Analysis of the archaeological site will help us make an intelligent guess as to what it was used for.an inspired guess (=a very good guess that you make suddenly)· It’s hard to believe he got that right with just an inspired guess.phrasesmy guess is (that)· My guess is there won’t be many people there.at a guess British English (=used when saying that you are making a guess)· I'd say it was built around the turn of the century, at a guess.I’ll give you three guesses (=used to tell someone that it should be easy for them to guess the answer to their question)· ‘Where is he?’ ‘I’ll give you three guesses.’