opiniono‧pin‧ion /əˈpɪnjən/ ●●● S1 W2 noun 
What’s your opinion of Cathy?opinion on He asked his wife’s opinion on every important decision.opinion about The two women had very different opinions about drugs.in my opinion (=used when giving your opinion) In my opinion, the law should be changed.GRAMMAR Don’t say: on my opinion | according to my opinion → view1(1)RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say I think ... rather than my opinion is ... or in my opinion .... In questions, people usually ask what do you think? rather than what is your opinion? · What do you think of Cathy?2[countable] judgment or advice from a professional person about something: When choosing an insurance policy it’s best to get an independent opinion. My doctor says I need an operation, but I’ve asked for a second opinion (=advice from a second doctor to make sure that the first advice is right). They took the painting to get an expert opinion (=an opinion from someone who knows a lot).3have a high/low/good/bad etc opinion of somebody/something to think that someone or something is very good or very bad: They have a very high opinion of Paula’s work.4be of the opinion (that) to think that something is true: I was firmly of the opinion that we should not give Jackson any more money.COLLOCATIONSverbshave/hold an opinion· Everyone seemed to have a different opinion.· He holds strong opinions on these issues.ask somebody (for) their opinion (also ask for somebody’s opinion)· We asked people for their opinions about the Olympics.· Nobody asked my opinion.· It’s a good idea to ask people for their opinions and suggestions.give/express an opinion (=say what your opinion is)· He gave his opinion only when asked.voice/state an opinion written (=give your opinion, especially in a formal situation)· She has every right to voice her opinion.form an opinion (=gradually decide what your opinion is)· Olson had not yet formed an opinion as to Mark’s reliability.adjectivesthe general opinion (=the opinion that most people have about something)· The general opinion seems to be that the government has made a mess of the war.popular/public opinion (=what ordinary people think about something)· How much do newspapers influence popular opinion?somebody’s personal opinion· My personal opinion is that his first film was better.strong opinions· People have strong opinions about this subject.phraseshave a difference of opinion (=two people disagree)· He and Luke had a difference of opinion.something is a matter of opinion (=used to say that you disagree, or that people disagree about something)· ‘He’s a very nice man.’ ‘That’s a matter of opinion,’ thought Sam.contrary to popular opinion (=in spite of what most people think)· Contrary to popular opinion, many cats dislike milk.in my humble opinion (=used when giving your opinion, especially when you want to emphasize what you are about to say)· In my humble opinion, he is the greatest sportsman Britain has produced.keep your opinions to yourself (=not say what you really think)· As the youngest person there, I knew enough to keep my opinions to myself.opinion is divided as to/on/over something (=people have different opinions about it)· Opinion was divided as to whether the program will work.everyone is entitled to their opinion (=used especially when politely disagreeing with what someone says)· Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I can't accept what he is saying.COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘say your opinion’. Say give your opinion or express your opinion.THESAURUSopinion what you think about something or someone: · People didn’t usually ask his opinion about anything.· She has rather a low opinion of young people.view your opinion about a serious or important issue: · She has strong views about education.· In my view, footballers are paid too much.point of view your opinion, especially when this is influenced by the situation you are in: · From a farmer’s point of view, foxes are a nuisance.· It all depends on your point of view.position the official opinion of a government, political party, or someone in authority: · The prime minister has made his position perfectly clear.· The party has changed its position on nuclear weapons.attitude your opinions and feelings about something or someone, especially when this shows in your behaviour: · My parents and I have very different attitudes to life.· It was his attitude to women that shocked me.school of thought an opinion that one group of people have about a subject, especially when this is different from that of another group: · There is one school of thought that says that coffee is addictive and is therefore a bad thing.· There are two schools of thought on this.
WORD ORIGINopinion
Origin:
1300-1400 French, Latin opinioEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Opinion seemed to be moving in favor of the president's accusers.
- Opinions vary widely on this matter.
- About 100 people showed up to express their opinions about the project.
- an expert opinion
- Do you really want my opinion?
- He's entitled to his opinion, of course, but it does not give him the right to be offensive.
- He acknowledged that he had no evidence to support his opinion.
- In 10 years of teaching, I have never been asked my opinion on any matter of policy.
- In my opinion, most lawyers are overpaid.
- Many board members said they had no opinion on Goldman's proposal.
- Medical opinion is divided as to the effectiveness of the new drug.
- Please phone in with your comments and opinions.
- Politicians generally have a low opinion of the press.
- The coroner was of the opinion that the man had been dead for only 24 hours.
- The rating a film gets reflects the opinions of our reviewers.
- Their refusal to obey UN regulations had a major effect on world opinion.
- They have very different opinions about religion.
- This is, in the opinion of the critics, their best record for years.
- Although this conversation too has sequences of opinion and justification, it does not proceed in a linear fashion.
- He might well have formed his own opinion but he knew that would not bear cross-examination at some later date.
- I just have a difference of opinion with Sen.
- The difficulty is in knowing what local opinion really has to say on these matters.
- The Lords can publicise matters and delay action for long enough to allow public opinion to make itself felt.
- The only difference of opinion so far has been over boxing.
- There may be a complicated chain of cause and effect on which opinions will differ.
- Yet at the same time he can not afford to ignore hardline opinion at home.
THESAURUS
what you think about something or someone: · People didn’t usually ask his opinion about anything.· She has rather a low opinion of young people.
your opinion about a serious or important issue: · She has strong views about education.· In my view, footballers are paid too much.
your opinion, especially when this is influenced by the situation you are in: · From a farmer’s point of view, foxes are a nuisance.· It all depends on your point of view.
the official opinion of a government, political party, or someone in authority: · The prime minister has made his position perfectly clear.· The party has changed its position on nuclear weapons.
your opinions and feelings about something or someone, especially when this shows in your behaviour: · My parents and I have very different attitudes to life.· It was his attitude to women that shocked me.
an opinion that one group of people have about a subject, especially when this is different from that of another group: · There is one school of thought that says that coffee is addictive and is therefore a bad thing.· There are two schools of thought on this.
Longman Language Activatorwhat you think about something · Please phone in with your comments and opinions.· Opinions vary widely on this matter.opinion of · The rating a film gets reflects the opinions of our reviewers.my/your/her etc opinion · Do you really want my opinion?· He acknowledged that he had no evidence to support his opinion.opinion on/about · They have very different opinions about religion.· Many board members said they had no opinion on Goldman's proposal.in my/our etc opinion · In my opinion, most lawyers are overpaid.· This is, in the opinion of the critics, their best record for years.have a high/low opinion of something/somebody (=think somethingor someone is good or bad) · Politicians generally have a low opinion of the press.give/express an opinion · About 100 people showed up to express their opinions about the project.ask somebody's opinion · In 10 years of teaching, I have never been asked my opinion on any matter of policy.somebody is entitled to their opinion (=say this when you disagree with someone else's opinion) · He's entitled to his opinion, of course, but it does not give him the right to be offensive.be of the opinion that (=have a particular opinion) formal · The coroner was of the opinion that the man had been dead for only 24 hours.
especially spoken your opinion about something, especially whether you think it is good or bad: · What do you think of her new CD?· Tell me what you think about the design.· No one ever really stops and asks kids what they think about things.· Well, I know what I think, but you might not agree.
your opinion about something, especially about a serious or important subject: · It is natural for children to have different views from their parents.view that: · I don't agree with the view that longer prison sentences stop people from committing crime.in my/his/John's etc view: · In Freud's view, people's dreams often reveal their unconscious fears.view about/on: · Malthus will always be known mainly for his views on population.· The survey reflected a very conservative view about what the ideal family structure should be.express a view: · Stein was expressing the view of many fellow war veterans.take a view that: · Most nineteenth century scientists took the view that the universe had no purpose or meaning.
what you think and feel about something or someone, especially when this is shown in the way you behave towards them: · I don't understand your attitude. Why don't you like her?· The book explains some of the attitudes and values of the Victorians.attitude to/towards: · Since the 1960s, there has been a big change in people's attitudes to sex before marriage.take the attitude that: · Officials took the attitude that the problem was not their responsibility.
your opinion about something, especially about what should be done about it, after you have thought about it carefully: thoughts about/on: · Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions about how we should spend the money?· I was anxious to hear his thoughts on the scenes I had written.have thoughts: · Please get back to me with any thoughts you might have on this.
what you think about something, especially when you have very strong or angry feelings about it: · He makes decisions without ever taking my feelings into account.feelings about: · Kids' feelings about everything from reading to exercise are influenced by their parents.strong feelings: · She has very strong feelings about this election.
what you think about something, especially about the best way to deal with something: · I'm not sure his ideas will be very popular with the voters.ideas about/on: · His ideas about marriage and divorce were very old-fashioned.· I'd like your ideas on how we can improve our working relationship.
especially written an opinion, especially one that is based on emotion: · The speeches were full of nationalist sentiments.· Most people were outraged by the bombing, and their letters of sympathy reflected this sentiment.public/popular sentiment (=what most people think): · Several meetings were held to determine what public sentiment was on the issue.
an opinion that is influenced by the situation you are in what you think about something, especially when this is influenced by the situation you are in: · People seemed afraid to express a point of view that was different from the government's.· If Allen had ever been the victim of a crime, he might have a slightly different point of view.from somebody's point of view: · The story is told from the daughter's point of view.· From a farmer's point of view, foxes are a nuisance.listen to somebody's point of view: · She's always ready to listen to other people's point of view.
a particular way of thinking about a problem or subject: · We need to seriously consider all the different viewpoints on the issue.from a historical/feminist/democratic etc viewpoint: · The book looks at the Royal family from a sociological and historical viewpoint.from the viewpoint of somebody: · The TV series examines childhood from the viewpoints of twelve different families.
a particular way of thinking about something, especially of someone who is involved in a situation or who has to make a professional judgment about it: from somebody's standpoint: · From the teacher's standpoint, the new tests just mean more work.from a financial/political/literary etc standpoint: · His books have sold in the millions, but from a literary standpoint they aren't really very good.
one of a number of ways of thinking about something that should be considered when dealing with a particular problem or subject: · Advertisers need to find the right angle to make their product appeal to consumers.· The article gives the reader a fresh angle on pop culture.look at/view/examine etc something from an angle: · Thompson says his committee has looked at the problem from every possible angle.angle on: · They wanted an ordinary worker's angle on the new system.
a way of thinking about something which is influenced by the kind of person you are or by things that have happened to you: · You believe him, but you've only heard his perspective.· Different people bring different perspectives and values to the workplace.from somebody's perspective: · Feminists say that the book was written from a male perspective.perspective on: · A prisoner has a different perspective on prison life than a guard.
what a particular group think about something an opinion shared by a group of people, especially a particular profession or group of people who can influence what is decided: government/professional/medical etc opinion: · Medical opinion is divided as to the effectiveness of the new drug.world opinion: · Their refusal to obey UN regulations had a major effect on world opinion.
an opinion that a group has at a particular time, especially about the best way of doing something: · His statements closely reflect government thinking.· There has been a change in thinking in terms of the influence of diet on the disease.thinking on: · The report goes against current thinking on what is best for working parents.
an opinion shared by a group of people who have a very different way of looking at a problem or subject from that of another group of people: · There are two schools of thought. One wants to control inflation, while the other is more interested in boosting employment.· According to one school of thought, the disease is caused by a genetic defect.
an opinion shared by a large group of people, that is considered to be important or that should be listened to: · A significant body of opinion is strongly opposed to the new proposals.· There is a growing body of opinion that says we should put the environment first.
what most people think about something what most of the people of a country think about a particular subject, idea, or problem: · Responding to public opinion, the government introduced new controls on guns.· Popular opinion is quite easily swayed by the media.· Public opinion should not influence every policy decision.· The shooting of an intruder by a farmer has sharply divided popular opinion.
a basic opinion with which most of the people in a particular group agree in a general way: · Events in Eastern Europe shifted popular consensus against a new generation of nuclear weapons.consensus that: · There was a growing consensus that the Prime Minister should resign.consensus of opinion: · There appears to be a consensus of opinion that the pilot was not at fault.
what most of the people in a group or a society think about something: · The majority view seems to be that we need more police officers on local streets.· The mayor was quick to point out that the racist group did not represent a majority view in the community.
the official opinion of a person or group what a government, political party, or a person has decided to be their official or public opinion: · It's important that the Socialists clarify their position before the conference.position on: · We have made our position on disarmament perfectly clear.take a position: · She takes the position that all asylum seekers should be made welcome.
the publicly stated opinion of a political party, government etc, which all their members are supposed to agree with: party/government/official etc line: · The whip's job is to persuade members of his party to support the party line on issues that come before Congress.line on: · What's his line on abortion?take a line on something: · There was pressure for the President to take a tough line on welfare issues.
the publicly stated opinion of a person, group, newspaper etc towards something, especially a political matter: · The political stance of the paper means it is unlikely to report the affair in a balanced way.· The official stance is that the lottery money should be used for the arts and education.stance on: · His tough stance on crime appeals to voters.take a stance on something: · The council has taken a pro-growth, pro-business stance on development issues.
the publicly stated opinion of a person or group, especially when previously this may not have been clear: · Voters need to know where each candidate stands.where sb stands on: · Where do the Democrats stand on the issue of sanctions?
to admire someone to have a very good opinion of someone, either because they have achieved something special or because they have skills or qualities that you would like to have: · Corbin is a superb musician. I really admire him.· I admire the way Sarah has brought up the children on her own.· What I admire most about Lee is his patience.admire somebody for something: · People admired her for her beauty and intelligence.· Rollins is most admired for her poetry, but she also writes fiction.be greatly/much admired: · Morrow's new production of 'The Nutcracker' has been greatly admired.
to have a good opinion of someone, even if you do not agree with them or want to be like them, because they have high standards and good personal qualities: · He's a very strict teacher, but the students respect him.· Logan, a long-serving Congressman, was both feared and respected by his political opponents.respect somebody for something: · She always told me exactly what she thought, and I respected her for that.
to respect and admire someone who is older than you or who has authority over you: · I've always looked up to my older brother, Jerry.· The children need someone they can look up to.
if someone is highly regarded or respected, they are admired very much because they are very good at what they do: · a highly respected surgeonhighly regarded/respected by: · Dr. Franklin was highly regarded by his colleagues at Syracuse University.
to admire someone very much, especially because they do their job very well and always work hard: · Most of the students and staff think very highly of Dr. Smith.be highly thought of: · Sally is an excellent administrator. She is highly thought of here.
also hold somebody in high regard/esteem formal to admire a person or their abilities very much, especially because they have special skills or very high standards in their work: · Film critics continue to hold Bergman in high esteem.have a high opinion of somebody as something: · Croft had a high opinion of Marx as a political thinker.
to admire someone and the work that they do, especially a leader, writer, artist etc: · I've always been an admirer of Potter's work, and was very sad to hear of her death.be a great/real admirer of somebody: · My tutor was a great admirer of Shakespeare, and often quoted him.
to have the same opinion as someone else to have the same opinion: · I think it's too expensive. Do you agree?· "Yes, I'm sure you're right," agreed Tony.agree with: · Mr Johnson thinks it's too risky, and I tend to agree with him.· Lee agreed with Jackson that more opportunities should be created for minorities in film . agree that: · Most experts agree that drugs like heroin can cause permanent brain damage.agree on/about: · I agree with you about the color -- it looks awful.· The one thing all the parties agreed on was the need for fair elections.I quite agree British (=I agree completely): · Yes, I quite agree. Why should poor people pay so much tax?I couldn't agree more (=I agree completely): · "I wish it was time to go home." "I couldn't agree more."
formal if people are in agreement, they have the same opinion about something, especially after discussing it a lot and trying to agree: · No decision can be made until everyone is in agreement.be in agreement on: · The two sides are in agreement on the need for arms reduction.be in agreement with: · I found myself in agreement with the lawyer, for once.
formal to have the same opinion as someone on a particular subject: · Both teachers were of the same opinion -- she should be expelled from school immediately.· Mrs Ford clearly disapproved, and her sister appeared to be of the same opinion.
formal to have the same opinion as someone, especially about something important, in politics, business, science etc: · I share the view that peace can only be achieved through dialogue.share somebody's view: · Many people shared Duvald's view, and thought the plan should be stopped.share this/that view: · This view is shared by many doctors.
to have the same opinion or belief as a lot of other people: · She has always subscribed to the view that children should be given responsibility from an early age.· There is a business philosophy I subscribe to, which says that if you are not making mistakes, you are not doing it right.
formal to say that you have the same opinion as someone else: · "My opinion exactly", he concurred.concur with: · He resigned three years later, because he did not concur with the division of the country into separate republics.
to change your opinion or belief about something to change your opinion about something or someone: · At first the doctor said I was suffering from a virus, but now he's changed his mind.· Everyone has a right to change their mind.change your mind about: · I'm hoping Dad will change his mind about Louise after he meets her tonight.· I've changed my mind about the Riviera. I do like it after all.
formal to change your opinion because something has happened that has made you realize that you were wrong before: revise your opinion about/of: · Mrs Pemberton revised her opinion of her future son-in-law when he was accepted into law school.· Since visiting the refugee camps, I have revised my opinion about immigration quotas.
to change your mind about something and talk about it in a very different way from how you did before: · She used to be a Communist, but she changed her tune when her parents left her all that money.· You've changed your tune all of a sudden! Only yesterday you were saying you thought Christmas presents were a waste of money.
when you begin to feel differently about something or someone so that your attitude completely changes: · It's hard to explain this apparent change of heart.have a change of heart: · He didn't want kids at first, but he's had quite a change of heart.change of heart about: · We can only hope Congress may have a radical change of heart about welfare benefits.
also come round British to change your mind so that you gradually begin to agree with someone else's idea or opinion, especially after they have persuaded you that they are right: · He'll come around eventually. He doesn't have any choice, does he?· My mother stopped speaking to me when I first married Tom, but she's slowly coming around now.come around to somebody's view/way of thinking: · We had to talk to Sam for a long time before he came round to our way of thinking.come around to the idea/view that: · A lot of employers are coming around to the idea that older employees have a lot to offer a company.come around to doing something: · We're hoping that they'll eventually come round to accepting our offer.
formal to say publicly or formally that you have changed your mind and stopped believing what you used to believe, especially about religion or politics: · During the Moscow Show Trials in the 1930s, prisoners were forced to publicly recant.· After the Reformation, many Catholics recanted to avoid punishment.
when people disagree when people disagree with each other: · The party is seriously split by internal rivalries and disagreements.disagreement about/over: · Disagreement over who should produce the next album caused the band to split.disagreement between/among: · There is some disagreement among medical experts about the best treatment for back pain.
when people are unable to agree, especially about something important - use this as a way of avoiding more direct words like 'argument' and 'disagreement': difference of opinion about/over: · There were major differences of opinion over who should command the UN forces.difference of opinion between/among: · There is a difference of opinion between the chairman and the board as to the best way to handle the takeover.
a serious disagreement about a decision, plan, or action, that causes arguments for a long time in newspapers, on television etc: · Controversy surrounds the TV show, which many consider to be racist, sexist, and homophobic.controversy over: · There has been a huge controversy over where to put the city's new sports stadium and who should build it.
a situation in which two groups disagree, and no agreement is possible because each group refuses to change its mind even slightly: · Parents believe that pressure from city hall could force an end to the stalemate with the school board.deadlock/stalemate over: · the political deadlock over allowable levels of greenhouse emissionsbreak the deadlock/stalemate (=end the situation): · US negotiators met with representatives from both countries today in an attempt to break the deadlock.
continuous disagreement and angry feelings or unfriendliness between people: · Teenage children begin to assert their independence and this can lead to a good deal of friction in the family.friction between: · There has been serious friction between the two army commanders.
formal strong disagreement that makes people feel unfriendly towards each other: · Money is the single biggest cause of discord in marriage.discord over: · There has always been discord over NATO's role in world conflict.
a refusal to accept an official opinion or an opinion that most people accept: · During the Prime Minister's speech there were several murmurs of open dissent from the crowd.· Anti-war dissent was increasing by the time Nixon took office.
to think that someone or something is bad or morally wrong to think that someone or something is bad, morally wrong, or very stupid: · I could tell from my mother's face that she disapproved.disapprove of: · A lot of church leaders disapproved of the book when it was first published.disapprove of somebody doing something: · My friends disapprove of me smoking.strongly disapprove (=disapprove very much): · I strongly disapprove of any form of gambling.
to think that someone or something is bad, morally wrong, or very stupid: do not approve of: · His mother clearly did not approve of Sophie.do not approve of somebody doing something: · You know I don't approve of you smoking.
how you feel when you think someone's ideas, behaviour, or actions are bad or morally wrong: do something with disapproval: · She looked at our clothes with obvious disapproval.somebody's disapproval/the disapproval of somebody: · Peter was determined to go to art school, despite his parents' disapproval.
to think that something is morally wrong and should not happen: · A lot of people now think that killing animals for food is wrong.think it is wrong to do something: · I think it's wrong to hit a child, whatever the circumstances.
if a group of people frown on or upon a particular kind of behaviour, they think that it is not the right way to behave: · The people who went to church frowned on those who spent Sunday mornings in bed.· Romantic relationships between teachers and students are frowned upon by the college authorities.
to disapprove of someone's behaviour - use this especially about someone in authority or someone who could take action to stop the behaviour: · The school takes a very dim view of this behaviour.· The electorate took a dim view of the tax increase.
to think that a particular person or group of people has a bad character, so that you do not respect them: · I'm afraid I have a rather low opinion of Mr Evans.· He had a very low opinion of insurance salesmen.
to disapprove of someone because of a particular thing they have done: · I didn't want my parents or teachers to think badly of me.· Please, Harry, you mustn't think badly of me. I had no choice.
informal to strongly disapprove of a particular kind of behaviour, attitude, or idea: · I don't hold with racism. Never have, never will.· Many of the older generation simply don't hold with mixed marriages.
what you say when giving your opinion spoken say this when giving your opinion. I believe is more formal than I think: I think/believe (that): · I think it's a great idea.· I believe that we can do better than this.
use this especially in formal contexts: · In my opinion, most people learn best by doing, not by sitting in a classroom and reading about it.· She is, in my opinion, one of the foremost artists of our time.
especially spoken use this especially when you do not care if other people do not agree with your opinion: · He says he tried hard to make the relationship work, but it wasn't hard enough as far as I'm concerned.· I will not go on a plane. As far as I'm concerned, they're just accidents waiting to happen.
spoken say this especially when you are giving your opinion about a particular problem: · If you ask me, getting rid of the death tax is the best thing they could do.· All this stuff about poisons in the water supply is a load of hogwash, if you ask me.
spoken say this when giving your opinion: · To me, the system seemed too complicated for most people. · They call Ned Kelly a criminal, but to me he will always be a hero.
say this when giving your opinion: · As I see it, there are two alternatives. We can either stay with your parents or rent a place.· The way I see it, if you don't borrow money now, you'll lose the opportunity to expand the business.
spoken say this to emphasize that something is your opinion: · Personally, I think it's a crazy idea.· Personally, I don't care how it gets done, as long as it's done quickly.personally speaking: · Personally speaking, I think it's a great name for a cigarette.
to have a particular opinion: think (that) · We didn't think that the concert was very good.· She thinks I'm crazy to leave my job.· I thought we had a good meeting yesterday.what do you think of somebody/something (=what is your opinion about them?) · What did you think of the new car? Did you drive it?
to have an opinion that you are sure is right, especially about something important such as life, religion, or politics: believe (that): · The party believes strongly that health care should be provided for everyone.· We believe human rights are more important than economic considerations.
to have a strong opinion, but one which is based on your feelings rather than on facts: feel (that): · Liz's parents feel she isn't old enough to leave home.· I feel that we're just beginning to make progress, and that it would be wrong to stop now.
especially American, informal to develop a particular opinion about a situation after considering it carefully: · What do you figure his chances of winning are?figure (that): · The operation went fine, and they figure he'll be home next week.· I'm telling you because I figure you're the only one who can keep a secret.
especially British, informal to have a particular opinion about something or someone: · What do you reckon - would this make a good present for Donald's birthday?reckon (that): · They reckon the French team's better than ours.be reckoned to be something: · This hotel is reckoned to be one of the best in the country.
formal to have an opinion about someone or something after thinking carefully about them: consider somebody/something something: · We do not consider this film suitable for young children.· I would consider it an honour to serve on the Executive Committee.consider somebody/something to be something: · She is considered to be one of the finest pianists of her generation.
to think that someone or something is a particular kind of person or thing: regard somebody/something as something: · She regards herself more as an entertainer than a singer.· America was seen as the land of opportunity.· Several members of the government have said they regard the Minister's statement as ridiculous.
to think that someone or something is a particular kind of person or thing, especially when your opinion is wrong, unusual, or unfair: · Most people think of Leonardo da Vinci as a great artist, but he was also a great scientist.· Learning a language should be thought of as a natural process.· Even doctors may look on these patients as drug addicts and treat them as social outcasts.
to decide to have a particular opinion about a situation or about life in general, especially when other people have different opinions - use this in formal or written contexts: · Nineteenth century scientists took the view that the Universe was meaningless.· Aristotle was of the opinion that there would always be rich and poor within society.· The committee is of the opinion that the contract is not legally binding.
to be thought of as being important or very good by a large number of people: · Von Braun was then acknowledged as the world's foremost expert on rocket engineering.· Lawrence's novel was rejected at first, but it later came to be recognized as a work of genius.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs He hadn’t had time to form a considered opinion. There is a groundswell of opinion that tougher laws are needed. I’ve always had a high opinion of her work. Public opinion is gradually shifting in favor of the imprisoned men. It is unlikely that the court will render an opinion before November 5. I asked the doctor for a second opinion (=when you ask another person to repeat an examination, test etc for you). Plato draws all the strands of the argument together. The ratings were based on the subjective judgement of one person. If we had more information, it would be easier to venture a firm opinion. Roy ventured a tentative smile.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· Everyone seemed to have a different opinion.· He holds strong opinions on these issues.
(also ask for somebody’s opinion)· We asked people for their opinions about the Olympics.· Nobody asked my opinion.· It’s a good idea to ask people for their opinions and suggestions.
(=say what your opinion is)· He gave his opinion only when asked.
written (=give your opinion, especially in a formal situation)· She has every right to voice her opinion.
(=gradually decide what your opinion is)· Olson had not yet formed an opinion as to Mark’s reliability.
adjectives (=the opinion that most people have about something)· The general opinion seems to be that the government has made a mess of the war.
(=what ordinary people think about something)· How much do newspapers influence popular opinion?
· My personal opinion is that his first film was better.
· People have strong opinions about this subject.
phrases (=two people disagree)· He and Luke had a difference of opinion.
(=used to say that you disagree, or that people disagree about something)· ‘He’s a very nice man.’ ‘That’s a matter of opinion,’ thought Sam.
(=in spite of what most people think)· Contrary to popular opinion, many cats dislike milk.
(=used when giving your opinion, especially when you want to emphasize what you are about to say)· In my humble opinion, he is the greatest sportsman Britain has produced.
(=not say what you really think)· As the youngest person there, I knew enough to keep my opinions to myself.
(=people have different opinions about it)· Opinion was divided as to whether the program will work.
(=used especially when politely disagreeing with what someone says)· Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I can't accept what he is saying.
COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘say your opinion’. Say give your opinion or express your opinion.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· Dad always liked being asked for his opinion.
(=the opinion which most people have about a subject)· The climate of opinion is still favorable for the president.
(=make you believe something more strongly) The expression on his face confirmed me in my suspicions.
The expression on his face confirmed me in my suspicions.· There are conflicting opinions on what causes the disease.
· There are still areas where no consensus of opinion has been reached.
He hadn’t had time to form a considered opinion. (=the opinions of people who know a lot about something)· Expert opinion on the matter is deeply divided.
· Everyone who attends the meeting will be given the opportunity to express their opinions.
There is a groundswell of opinion that tougher laws are needed. I’ve always had a high opinion of her work. (=carried out by or given by an independent person or organization) Human rights groups have called for an independent inquiry into the killings. the results of an independent study
Human rights groups have called for an independent inquiry into the killings. the results of an independent study· This is a minority view among scientists.
· My personal opinion is that the project was started too soon.
(=that measures what people think about something)· A recent opinion poll showed strong support for the government.
· Contrary to popular belief, cats are solitary animals.
Public opinion is gradually shifting in favor of the imprisoned men. (=the opinion most people have) The received wisdom is that he will retire within the next year.
The received wisdom is that he will retire within the next year. It is unlikely that the court will render an opinion before November 5. I asked the doctor for a second opinion (=when you ask another person to repeat an examination, test etc for you).· It was clear that the police did not share her opinion.
Plato draws all the strands of the argument together.· She has strong views on education.
The ratings were based on the subjective judgement of one person.· Opinion surveys showed consistently that unemployment remained a matter of concern.
If we had more information, it would be easier to venture a firm opinion. Roy ventured a tentative smile.· We each had a different opinion.· To make effective decisions, they need to be open to different opinions and good at analyzing contradictory information.· They had different opinions about tennis.· If both parents witnessed the act and had different opinions, they simply alternated being the referee.· In the research branch of the Local Education Office a different opinion was expressed.· But Elena Ortiz has a different opinion.· These remarks were highly embarrassing for the government and brought out the different opinions within the party on the open-door policy.· In many cases, first impressions were different from the opinion that later developed.
· They are drafted by permanent government officials who are concerned to seek out expert opinion on the issues in question.· But now it sits scowling outside the conversation of humankind, offering expert opinion with a sneer.· Or was he entitled to act solely on his own expert opinion?· Process assessments compare the documented care with what is accepted as optimum practice based on current scientific nutrition knowledge and expert opinion.· Which is what Mr Walker said last week, against the flood of expert opinion on what his vote would mean.· Here is where the most important split of all divides expert opinion.· These commissions have drawn on expert opinion from the social science community, and found evidence for both sides.· For it to be expert opinion is invaluable.
· The general opinion was yes, but certain it was that no-one had ever seen her.· The general opinion was that it had fizzled out; like a spent squib, it hadn't even given one burst.· The general consensus of opinion is that a successful action under s.62 for insider dealing will be hard to sustain.· The general opinion is that Real are tighter in defence, but less interesting and inventive.· The general opinion was that this long-awaited package definitely wasn't a good Windows product.
· This, however, is no indication that they have a particularly high opinion of the spiritual contribution of women.· Surely the Buckleys have risen to higher station, or at least a higher opinion of themselves.· Kate adored Toby's self-confidence and shared his high opinion of himself.· He did not, in any case, have a high opinion of Santayana - an animus which Santayana reciprocated towards Eliot.· All I can say to that is that I have a higher opinion of your judgement than he has.· That was why he relied chiefly on Simenon, an author for whom he preserved a high opinion all his life.
· Sir Bruce hat a low opinion of civilian intelligence officers.· Politicians generally have a low opinion of the press, just as the press generally has a low opinion of lawmakers.· The Stock Market had originally marked prices lower as opinion polls indicated a hung Parliament.· Politicians generally have a low opinion of the press, just as the press generally has a low opinion of lawmakers.· She had made a complete fool of herself and had successfully lived down to every low opinion that Piers harboured about her.· He did this with calculated cynicism, for he had but a low opinion of most of mankind.· Then, too, Niki has a low opinion of the media.· To live up to his low opinion of her.
· And that's the medical opinion.· The learned medical opinion here is that Young needs at least a week off.· I wonder what medical opinion is of this wasteful practice?· Barton has sought four medical opinions, most recently from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.· What is in the best interests of the patient will be judged by the standards of a responsible body of medical opinion.· Much medical opinion also assures us that hypnosis is not essential.· That, too, depends on individual choice, though medical opinion usually favours the hard mattress.· W's solicitor Madeleine Rees commented, ` Informed medical opinion says transsexualism is a medical condition.
· The disconnected personal opinion Concluding with your own words, however, requires caution, particularly in the handling of personal response.· My personal opinion is that the project was started too soon, as in any fast-track project like this.· Even when referring to personal opinion it is not normally considered good style to do so directly.· The concept of reason and all speculation about personal opinion would ever after be dismissed as tribal, beliefs fabricated by sects.· At the very beginning of the play Shakespeare demonstrated how easily the people changed their personal opinions.· If I should wander into the uncharted minefield of personal opinion it is only with the benefit of hindsight.· Variations in practice reflect the personal opinions of managers.· It is essentially a compilation of known facts, without intrusion of personal opinions or beliefs.
· This shift in political opinion was partly due to a succession of further scandals involving the insurance and commodities markets.· The magazine began shortly after Kristol spent about a year faxing unsolicited political advice and opinion all around Washington.· This has been corroborated in many surveys of political opinion.· And rather than depicting various hues of political opinion, the new murals make an environmental statement.· The peer group of the extremist-activist typically shares her political opinions.· He has to share in some conservative political opinions.· Useful detail supporting diversity of political opinion in Cortes on the losing side in the 1931 election.
· Contrary to modem popular opinion these were splendid ships with excellent accommodation and many modern conveniences for both crew and passengers.· Well, popular opinion is wrong.· But the fullness of the material makes possible qualitative study with particularly interesting insights into popular opinions and activities.· Mary Pinciotti knows that red clay is good for your garden, despite popular opinion.· These large juries were clearly intended to provide a reasonably representative sample of popular opinion.· She said that, contrary to popular opinion, traumas caused by such a disaster were not short-lived.· There are various ways in which popular opinion can be represented with reasonable accuracy.· Contrary to popular opinion, the non-conformist Sunday was not a dismal day full of restrictions.
· By far the strongest weapon we have is the weapon of public opinion.· The newspapers' solution was to rake a few of the slum owners across the coals of public opinion.· The recent well publicised survey of public opinion showed a clear preference for treatment in centres of excellence.· Republicans, battered as they are in the public opinion polls, succeeded in dramatically transforming the terms of the national debate.· Thus we are in for a prolonged battle to win over public opinion.· They tend to respond to and reinforce public opinion, rather than shape it and lead it.· His problem seemed to be that he believed a Government could do exactly as it liked without taking public opinion into account.· The independent experts uniformly discounted the accuracy of earlier public opinion surveys awarding Clinton an enormous lead.
· A recent opinion poll showed that 89 percent of the public said they would oppose plans to bury waste in their neighbourhood.· A recent opinion poll found that 45 percent believe personal qualifications to be the most important measure of a candidate.· The message of recent opinion polls has clearly got through.· But his problems extend far beyond Capitol Hill, as recent opinion surveys have shown.· Again, this is uncertain, although some recent opinion has been favourable to the idea.· A five-phased approach begins with desk research, to identify and evaluate recent opinions of the contribution of marketing to corporate success.· A recent opinion poll revealed that only 5% of those questioned thought the existing parties represented their interests.· Even before the decision Netanyahu had led the struggling Barak in recent opinion polls.
· He has his spiky hair, strong opinions and wacky humour.· And though there were plenty of strong opinions, much of the parish still seemed profoundly ambivalent about the protest.· He's a shy man with strong opinions and assertive ideas.· He now had carte blanche to pursue any major story in town and to inject his strong opinions unabashedly into his writings.· Boiotia itself was wavering, knowing that there was a strong current of opinion among the Peloponnesians in favour of defending only their peninsula.· Steven feels that prior to Vassar he always had strong opinions but had never been political.· There is widespread concern and strong opinion throughout the country that the Government are handling this issue most inappropriately.· They prompted strong readership and opinion.
NOUN· Sometimes agreement is apparent rather than real because of the tendency to conform and fall in with majority opinion.· Toward the end of his career, he wrote more dissents than majority opinions.· Let's get a majority opinion on this.· Third, government is supposed to be representative of society's group preferences i.e. majority opinion.
· In those days of fewer opinion polls they seemed to play a much smaller, less intrusive part in the elections.· Then, they were the footfalls of voters turning away from him in the opinion polls as scandals sucked him downward.· A year before their re-election victory the Conservatives lagged behind Labour in the opinion polls.· Public opinion polls show as many as 70 percent of respondents oppose gay marriages.· The conference opened with Labour buoyed by a series of weekend opinion polls giving leads of from 5 to 12 points.· Public opinion polls showed the public blamed Congress, not Clinton, for the debacle.· According to the latest opinion polls, the noes have 50%, the yeses 35% and the rest are undecided.· Clinton still holds a healthy lead over Dole in California, according to most public opinion polls.
· The very questions used in public opinion surveys indicate the importance of the assumption.· Clinton enjoys a wide lead over Dole, according to the latest nationwide public opinion survey.· An opinion survey by the party's communications group showed women had significantly different political views from men.· As part of management training in the computer company, new managers were required to have their subordinates complete opinion surveys.· Wartime opinion surveys showed consistently, however, that unemployment remained a matter of concern.· Clinton remains far ahead of Republican rival Bob Dole, according to the latest public opinion surveys.· But his problems extend far beyond Capitol Hill, as recent opinion surveys have shown.· The independent experts uniformly discounted the accuracy of earlier public opinion surveys awarding Clinton an enormous lead.
VERB· The Permanent Court was asked for an opinion on the correct interpretation of the Athens Agreement.· And they asked us for our opinions.· The panel members then receive regular questionnaires asking for their opinions of selected programmes over the past week.· Your editor should ask for your opinions, why you chose certain words or decided to include or omit information.· She always used to ask my opinions of things and that now a lot of my answers made sense.· It depended on whom you asked for an opinion.· Therefore, I recommend either giving the instrument a thorough test, or else asking for an opinion by an optical expert.· Well, the caller asked for my opinion, so here it is.
· Even if Guy believed her tale, surely he couldn't change his opinion of her so completely?· Although the pharmacological properties of opium had not changed, opinions about opium had changed.· I saw people who came in pretty straight but who changed their attitudes and opinions drastically.· This gorgeous product, bursting with black-cherry fruit, will do nothing to change their opinions.· The company insists Vinik spoke his mind at the time comments were made and he simply changed his opinions.· Seven months after Peter Robinson and I penned those damning words, have we cause to change our opinion?· Times change, issues change, public opinion changes and, of course, politicians change.
· Garvey's condition has confirmed his opinion.· Thornton knew of various incidents which confirmed his opinion that Walsh made a distinctly negative impression in the hunt for backers.· Her life and career after she and Burton split up confirms the opinion of her energy and flair - and her directness.· I confirmed their own opinion that the picture was a very competent version of a missing Saraceni composition executed by a follower.· A senior international referee of my acquaintance was standing nearby and confirmed my opinion.
· Pro-Republican Catholics did express their opinions in newspapers such as the Leeds Citizen.· In the election day exit poll, two-thirds of Virginia voters expressed a negative opinion of Robertson.· Before expressing a qualified opinion an auditor should always try to resolve problems with the management of the organization concerned.· They still gets points from me for expressing an opinion.· The Companies Act 1948 required auditors to express an opinion on the profit and loss account as well as the balance sheet.· Another is expressing controversial opinions, so we obligingly lined up a few that focus on guitars and amps ....· This chapter examines what it means rhetorically to express an opinion.· Critics are free to express opinions on such matters, but most of what you hear is pure speculation.
· It is the auditor's responsibility to form an opinion on the truth and fairness of the accounts.· They respect that you have a mind and you can form your own opinions.· He might well have formed his own opinion but he knew that would not bear cross-examination at some later date.· He conceded to Franceschelli that actually being present during the autopsy might have given him better information to form an opinion.· It went on to discuss what form the opinion should take, including where a reservation of opinion would be required.· I formed my own opinion, and was pleased with this Constitution....· I formed the opinion that there was absolutely nothing undesirable in the case.· Among those who have formed an opinion, more say public projects should go on the ballot than not.
· So that each member of staff got a chance to give her own opinion, the staff were interviewed individually.· These are a lot cheaper than natural sponges and give, in my opinion, an equally good effect.· It may have been these factors that encouraged the Court to give a restrictive opinion on the powers of the member States.· Auditors will also be able to give an opinion without resolution of all uncertain matters so removing an argument for delay.· I gave my opinion but, of course, it was a big shot so early in the game.· And get some one who has not been involved in the production to give you an honest opinion of the end product.· Or you could ask people to give their opinions of a subject on which they have strong views.
· It is orthodox doctrine that the Archbishop of York ought not to hold exactly the same opinions as the Archbishop of Canterbury.· We hold too high an opinion of Huckelberry to classify him as the lackey of a lackey.· Presented with case studies, it takes no time for pupils to express strongly held opinions.· Pupils of all ages and abilities have deeply held opinions about the way things actually are, about reality, about truth.· You don't have to believe it, but it looks good if you can pretend to hold an opinion.· Thoughts ... It is easy enough to hold an opinion, but hard work to actually know what one is talking about.· Caesarius of Arles seems to have held a similar opinion.· Section 57, for example, protects employers who discriminate on the grounds that the employee or potential employee holds certain political opinions.
· I introduced myself and upon learning my identity they naturally begged me to examine their treasure and offer an authoritative opinion.· But now it sits scowling outside the conversation of humankind, offering expert opinion with a sneer.· No one in the room was quite sure what would happen next as Romanov offered no opinion.· Solomon agreed to help but offered the opinion that a breakthrough was unlikely during 1990.· My colleagues may offer their opinions on the latter.· Perhaps the bus is offering its opinion on the political climate.· Engineers should only offer an opinion if they know what they are talking about.· I listened contentedly without offering an opinion.
· They are drafted by permanent government officials who are concerned to seek out expert opinion on the issues in question.· The importance of the results should be such that there is adequate time to seek opinions from employees. 2.· Still, she was pleased he had sought her opinion.· Barton has sought four medical opinions, most recently from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.· The Profitboss takes his secretary into his confidence, seeks her opinion, takes her advice.· As part of the process, the company must seek an advisory opinion from the California Attorney General.· Having sought counsel's opinion, the solicitor was contacted by the union.· Right down to strapping prospects into driving simulators and seeking their opinions on dashboard and instrument layouts.
· Kate adored Toby's self-confidence and shared his high opinion of himself.· They did projects in school together and shared opinions of teachers and other kids.· This is an occupational hazard shared by sportswriters and opinion pollsters.· The former governor likes to share his opinions with the world, sounding off regularly on his own radio show.· If Serif had shared your opinion about PagePlus 1.2, you might wonder why they bothered to produce a version 2 at all.· Although I have come to share her opinion of Joe, it has not brought us any closer.· Do other solicitors share my opinions?· He recognized some brokers who he knew shared the same opinions as the Journal, but that no longer seemed to matter.
· Five out of six opinion polls yesterday showed Labour in the lead, pointing to a hung Parliament as the most likely outcome.· Public opinion polls show crime and violence to be a major issue in the November elections.· A recent opinion poll showed that 89 percent of the public said they would oppose plans to bury waste in their neighbourhood.· Public opinion polls showed the public blamed Congress, not Clinton, for the debacle.· But his problems extend far beyond Capitol Hill, as recent opinion surveys have shown.· The recent well publicised survey of public opinion showed a clear preference for treatment in centres of excellence.· At the end of January an opinion poll showed support for the war at less than 30 percent.
· The facts are stated in the opinion of Lord Keith of Kinkel.· The townspeople: Loved their emperor and were too worried about being thought of as fools to state their real opinions.· The symposium was not the first place I had stated unpopular opinions.
· When you write send me your opinion of this.· Perhaps, you say, the judges were rushing home to write opinions in the privacy of their dens.· The technique of solving academic problems is almost the same as the technique of writing a legal opinion upon a practical point.· On Friday, the nine members of the court will vote behind closed doors and begin work on writing opinions.· You said you were going to write a piece on opinion polls and then you wrote a story slandering the Prime Minister.· When the Texas attorney general wrote an informal opinion saying the records should be released, the school district sued Lett.· The pupil spends his days far better drafting a pleading or writing an opinion and having his master criticise his work afterwards.· Mr Justice Frankfurter wrote a concurring opinion.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► colour somebody’s judgment/opinions/attitudes etc► have fixed ideas/opinions► winds of change/freedom/public opinion etc
1[countable, uncountable] your ideas or beliefs about a particular subjectopinion of- All I can say to that is that I have a higher opinion of your judgement than he has.
- He did not, in any case, have a high opinion of Santayana - an animus which Santayana reciprocated towards Eliot.
- Politicians generally have a low opinion of the press, just as the press generally has a low opinion of lawmakers.
- She does not seem to have a high opinion of married life.
- The committee is of the opinion that Barnes was wrongfully dismissed.
- I was of the opinion that such homage should be preserved for the National Anthem alone.
- Jess is of the opinion that Red cares only about herself and not about the team.
- Moreover, Uzzell said, companies are of the opinion that there are always more important things to be done.
- She was of the opinion there was more to the girl than might reasonably be expected.
- Some people were of the opinion that every time he fluttered his eyes he was fudging on the truth.
- The Board of Trade were of the opinion that the Corporation's permission to lay double track was not necessary.
- Contrary to popular belief, gorillas are shy and gentle creatures.
- Actually, contrary to popular belief, hallucinations were not part of the original definition of schizophrenia.
- And contrary to popular belief, we don't want to wear the trousers at home.
- There is a difference of opinion between the chairman and the board as to the best way to handle the takeover.
- There were major differences of opinion over who should command the UN forces.
- And here lies a fundamental difference of opinion - how should a National Park operate?
- Despite these economically based differences of opinion, those passing initiative petitions claim to have found widespread public support.
- Has the case resulted in significant differences of opinion in the courts below?
- I just have a difference of opinion with Sen.
- Miss Diane died of a brain haemorrhage after a sharp difference of opinion with the producer about salary.
- Some difference of opinion exists as to the order of drugs to be administered.
- The split reflects a difference of opinion simmering for months within the Republican Party.
- There were also differences of opinion about the degree of malice involved.
- Members of the jury must not have formed opinions from publicity before the trial.
- Among those who have formed an opinion, more say public projects should go on the ballot than not.
- He conceded to Franceschelli that actually being present during the autopsy might have given him better information to form an opinion.
- He was in no state to form an idea of what we were talking about.
- It is the auditor's responsibility to form an opinion on the truth and fairness of the accounts.
- Nor that we should not form opinions or make evaluations.
- So gather information about your child, rather than forming opinions and judgments.
- Yet, along with journalists, poets, literary figures, and agitators, they do help form opinions.
- You should try to form an impression of the person the adjectives describe.
- He has the highest regard for his hamster-locating abilities.
- It was a display which earned high praise, not least from Coventry boss Bobby Gould.
- Perhaps surprisingly, the indications are that Offa continued to hold Canterbury in high regard.
- Surely the Buckleys have risen to higher station, or at least a higher opinion of themselves.
- This, however, is no indication that they have a particularly high opinion of the spiritual contribution of women.
- While I hold these scholars and practitioners in the highest regard, I have not relied exclusively on their work.
- Excellently done nevertheless, in my humble opinion.
- In my humble opinion, he should not be called upon for such justification.
- In my humble opinion, Sarah is not so much interested in old relationships as new.
- Deciding which bag is easier to carry is a matter of opinion.
- How successfully it is done is a matter of opinion on the part of the individual reader.
- It is a grand conception; whether it is a useful one may be a matter of opinion.
- Many of these answers are a matter of opinion; some issues will matter more to some people than others.
- Q: Well, that is a matter of opinion.
- That would be a matter of opinion; he had a newspaper which he kept looking at, and shaking out.
- Whether Innocent could have achieved his ends earlier or by better means must in the final analysis be a matter of opinion.
- As a solo instrument following a melodic line, the violin can convey every imaginable shade of feeling.
- From a sociologist's point of view, work has shades of meaning which are individual to each of us.
- In this more tolerant environment several newspapers representing different shades of opinion have already sprung up, especially in the urban areas.
- It represented all shades of opinion, but it was dominated by Sukarno.
- There was in most works an allowance for shades of feeling and meaning, and for the existence of doubt.
- These two directions or shades of opinion are not necessarily as starkly polarised as may appear.
- To teach me to perceive the shades of beauty and the shades of meaning ...
What’s your opinion of Cathy?opinion on He asked his wife’s opinion on every important decision.opinion about The two women had very different opinions about drugs.in my opinion (=used when giving your opinion) In my opinion, the law should be changed.GRAMMAR Don’t say: on my opinion | according to my opinion → view1(1)RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say I think ... rather than my opinion is ... or in my opinion .... In questions, people usually ask what do you think? rather than what is your opinion? · What do you think of Cathy?2[countable] judgment or advice from a professional person about something: When choosing an insurance policy it’s best to get an independent opinion. My doctor says I need an operation, but I’ve asked for a second opinion (=advice from a second doctor to make sure that the first advice is right). They took the painting to get an expert opinion (=an opinion from someone who knows a lot).3have a high/low/good/bad etc opinion of somebody/something to think that someone or something is very good or very bad: They have a very high opinion of Paula’s work.4be of the opinion (that) to think that something is true: I was firmly of the opinion that we should not give Jackson any more money.COLLOCATIONSverbshave/hold an opinion· Everyone seemed to have a different opinion.· He holds strong opinions on these issues.ask somebody (for) their opinion (also ask for somebody’s opinion)· We asked people for their opinions about the Olympics.· Nobody asked my opinion.· It’s a good idea to ask people for their opinions and suggestions.give/express an opinion (=say what your opinion is)· He gave his opinion only when asked.voice/state an opinion written (=give your opinion, especially in a formal situation)· She has every right to voice her opinion.form an opinion (=gradually decide what your opinion is)· Olson had not yet formed an opinion as to Mark’s reliability.adjectivesthe general opinion (=the opinion that most people have about something)· The general opinion seems to be that the government has made a mess of the war.popular/public opinion (=what ordinary people think about something)· How much do newspapers influence popular opinion?somebody’s personal opinion· My personal opinion is that his first film was better.strong opinions· People have strong opinions about this subject.phraseshave a difference of opinion (=two people disagree)· He and Luke had a difference of opinion.something is a matter of opinion (=used to say that you disagree, or that people disagree about something)· ‘He’s a very nice man.’ ‘That’s a matter of opinion,’ thought Sam.contrary to popular opinion (=in spite of what most people think)· Contrary to popular opinion, many cats dislike milk.in my humble opinion (=used when giving your opinion, especially when you want to emphasize what you are about to say)· In my humble opinion, he is the greatest sportsman Britain has produced.keep your opinions to yourself (=not say what you really think)· As the youngest person there, I knew enough to keep my opinions to myself.opinion is divided as to/on/over something (=people have different opinions about it)· Opinion was divided as to whether the program will work.everyone is entitled to their opinion (=used especially when politely disagreeing with what someone says)· Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I can't accept what he is saying.COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘say your opinion’. Say give your opinion or express your opinion.THESAURUSopinion what you think about something or someone: · People didn’t usually ask his opinion about anything.· She has rather a low opinion of young people.view your opinion about a serious or important issue: · She has strong views about education.· In my view, footballers are paid too much.point of view your opinion, especially when this is influenced by the situation you are in: · From a farmer’s point of view, foxes are a nuisance.· It all depends on your point of view.position the official opinion of a government, political party, or someone in authority: · The prime minister has made his position perfectly clear.· The party has changed its position on nuclear weapons.attitude your opinions and feelings about something or someone, especially when this shows in your behaviour: · My parents and I have very different attitudes to life.· It was his attitude to women that shocked me.school of thought an opinion that one group of people have about a subject, especially when this is different from that of another group: · There is one school of thought that says that coffee is addictive and is therefore a bad thing.· There are two schools of thought on this.