Cannot / can ’ t help doing smth . - I can not do something
When I saw him I couldn't help laughing . When I saw him, I couldn't help but laugh.
Cannot/can't but do smth . - I can't...
I cannot but suggest. .. I can't offer...
We cannot but hope he is right . “We can only hope that… (we can’t help but hope…)
One cannot but wonder - you can't stop thinking
as can be - expression-amplifier
They are as pleased as can be . They are very (terribly) happy.
It's as ugly as can be. - It's extraordinarily ugly (it's hard to imagine anything more disgusting).
I couldn't care less- I don't care at all
I can't possibly….- I just can not
I can't possibly come - I just can't come
could do with something — (informal) consider something useful
That man could do with a shave This man could use a shave
You look as if you could do with a good night's sleep- Judging by your appearance, you should get a good night's sleep.
Do you know what I could do with? You know what I wouldn't give up now?
I could do with a drink right now- I wouldn't mind a drink right now.
I may/might as well + infinitive - soft, not emphatic expression of intention, decision. “You can do (something)”, “perhaps ...”. We offer action without enthusiasm.
There's nothing else to do, I May as well go to bed- nothing else to do, you can go to sleep
I May as well take you with me. You can take you too.
I might as well begin - Perhaps I'll start.
You may as well give him the letter. You better give him the letter
Might just as well denotes alternative actions that have the same result in a given situation. in essence, this expression has the same meaning as the previous one, but “just” makes the statement more emphatic.
— I'll go on Monday by a slow train.
— You might just as well wait till Tuesday and go by the fast one.(You might as well wait until Tuesday and take the fast train)
— I'll do it at six.
— That's far too late. You might just as well not do it at all.
Come what may come what may; no matter what
Be as it may- whatever it may be; come what may
Be that as it may, I still think he should come
you may well say so- absolutely right, you are absolutely right
that's as maybe- so-and-so (it) so (but ...)
"He's a perfect fool" "You may well say so!" - "He's a real fool" - "That's it!"
The modal verb must can be used for emphasis, i.e. enhance the effect of the utterance. In this case, it does not translate in any way, it is only a word-amplifier.
Just when we were ready to go away for the holidays, the baby must catch meats (the child suddenly fell ill with measles / take the child and get sick with measles).
Of course after I gave her my advice she must go and do the opposite (... she suddenly go and do the opposite).
if you must know- so that you know
Well, if you must know, I never saw her before yesterday. “If you want to know, I never met her until yesterday.
needs must- It is necessary, necessary, necessary. This combination is a truncated form of the proverb needs must when the devil drives appeared in the 15th century. (cf. Russian you can’t trample on the pricks, you can’t break your butt with a whip; you can’t do anything, circumstances are stronger than us, “you have to go when the devil drives you”, that is, what you can’t do when need forces;).
Because of the transport strike I shall have to walk to work. Needs must, I'm afraid. - Because of the transport strike, I have to walk to work. There's nothing to be done here.
What am I to do? What should I do? What do i do?
What is to become of me? What will (will) happen to me?
Where am I to go? Where am I to go?
It was to be expected- this is to be expected
Who is to blame?- who is guilty?
Ought to + infinitive used when describing something beautiful, exciting, strange in statements with the meaning I wish you could.
You ought to hear the way he plays the piano! You should only hear her playing the piano!
how should I know?- How should I know?
(To think)that it should come to this! “Just think what it has come to!
Who/what should…but…?“And who/what do you think…?”
What should I find but a big spider? And what do you think I find? Huge spider!
Whatwill be will be — What will be, what will not pass
Truth will out- You can't hide the truth / Everything secret becomes clear
Boys will be boys. - Boys are boys
Will do!- There is such a thing! Enough! Will do! Will be done!
Would you, would you?- Ah, you are!
Wouldrather/ sooner + do = would prefer to - I would prefer; it would be better/more willing/rather
I wouldrather play tennis than watch TV I would rather play tennis than watch TV.
I would sooner give up sleep than miss my evening class
I would rather not!(I) don't want to! No thanks! Perhaps not worth it! (rejection of offer)
You dare! Don't you dare- Do not dare! Just laugh!
How dare you?- How dare you?
I dare say I suppose/dare I say...
I dare you to do smth- Weak? (to incite someone to do smth.)
I dare you to jump the stream!"I bet you can't jump over that stream!" Weak to jump over that stream?
I dare not protest. - I dare not object.
Who dares wins. - Who does not risk, he does not win.
Translation and use of this phrase in English.
Can't help doing translation.
It's quite simple, but very useful expression, friends! I think that you met him very often, talking with a native speaker, reading a book or watching a movie in English.
I can't help asking you about it.
(I can't help but ask you about it)
can't help doing something — I can not do anything;
I can't help saying that I'm very happy.
(I can't help but say I'm very happy)
I can't help buying this book.
(I can't help but buy this book)
I can't help giving you a gift.
(I can't help but give you a present)
Elvis Presley has a great song - Can't help falling in love with you (I can't help but fall in love with you).
By the way, I somehow parsed her translation on the blog. Here you can read
Phrase Can't help it.
This expression is not always used with a gerund. For example, the phrase "I can't help it" is also possible. It means that you can't do anything about it (literally - you can't help it in any way).
Your shoes are so dirty Your shoes are so dirty.
It's slushing outside. I can't help it Mud outside. I can not do anything.
Good luck, friends! Take care of yourself!
-Translation
can not help
Phrases
can "t help — not be able to do something
can "t help it — can't help it
I can "t help it — I can't help it; it's not my fault
can "t help doing — can't resist h-l
I can "t help the rain — it's not my fault that it's raining
I can "t help his bad manners"— I can't help his bad manners
she can "t help thinking of it"
I can "t help thinking he" s wrong - I can not get rid of the thought (that) he is wrong
I can "t help his being so foolish" - he does stupid things, but I can't help him
it can "t be helped — nothing can be done
well, it can "t be helped!"
Examples
Can't help it.
I can't help it.
She can't help thinking of it.
She can't stop thinking about it.
I can "t help myself - I have to smoke.
I can't help myself - I really want to smoke.
Sorry, I can't help you, he said simply.
"Sorry, I can't help you," he said.
"Stop biting your nails." "I can't help it."
"Stop biting your nails!" - "I can't help myself"
Sorry, I can't help you, he said simply.
I'm sorry I can't help you, he said. ☰
I can't help myself - I have to smoke.
I can't help myself - I really want to smoke. ☰
If I can't help her, how can you expect to?
If I can't help her, how can you count on it? ☰
"Stop biting your nails." "I can't help it."
"Stop biting your nails!" - "I can't help myself"☰
I can't help thinking that he's made a mistake.
I can't help thinking that he made a mistake. ☰
I can't help feeling penned in by this long winter.
The winter is too long, I feel like I'm in a prison. ☰
I can't help feeling that there has been a mistake.
I can't help feeling that there's some sort of mistake. ☰
My heart is full and I can't help writing my mind.
My heart is overwhelmed with feelings, and I can not help writing everything as it is. ☰
You can't help the country by overtaxing its people.
You don't help a country by over-taxing its people. ☰
I "ve been onto the director, but he says he can't help.
I talked to the director, but he says he can't help. ☰
You can't help but be humbled when you enter this cathedral.
Entering this cathedral, you involuntarily feel a sense of humility. ☰
You can't help thinking badly of any man who would degrade himself like that.
It is impossible to treat a person well who is so humiliated. ☰
Although I can't help admiring the man "s courage, I do not approve of his methods.
While I cannot help but admire the man's courage, I do not approve of his methods. ☰
He can't help it! *
He can't help himself. *
He can't help himself. ☰
He can't help the way he is. *
I can't help being so smart. *
Well, what can I do if I'm so smart. ☰
I"m afraid I can't help you right now. *
I'm sorry, but I can't help you at the moment. ☰
You"re dead. You can't help us more. *
You are no longer the same. Now you are no helper. ☰
I can't help it if he always comes late. *
It's not my fault if he's always late. ☰
He can't help it, he"s just made that way. *
There's nothing you can do about it, that's the kind of person he is. ☰
Sorry, I can't help you. I'm flat on my ass. *
Sorry I can't help you. I am empty as a drum. ☰
I can't help it. That's the name of the game. *
I can not do anything. Here's the catch. ☰
Clever as they make them but can't help boasting of it. *
Smart as hell, but not averse to bragging about it. ☰
Sorry, I can't help you. I "m a little pushed this week. *
☰
Sorry, I can't help you. I "m a little pinched this week. *
I'm sorry, but I can't help you. I'm tight on money this week. ☰
Sorry, I can't help you. I "m a little pressed this week. *
I'm sorry, but I can't help you. I'm tight on money this week. ☰
23 more examples collapseExamples marked with * may contain slang and colloquial phrases.
somebody can't help but do something- sb can (not) help (doing) sth | sb can not help but do sth idiom used to say that it is impossible to prevent or avoid sth I can t help thinking he knows more than he has told us. He can't help being ugly. … Useful english dictionary
help- I UK / US verb Word forms help: present tense I/you/we/they help he/she/it helps present participle helping past tense helped past participle helped *** Get it right: help: The verb help is not used with the ing form of another verb. It… … English dictionary
help- help1 W1S1 v[:Old English; Origin: helpan] 1.) to make it possible or easier for someone to do something by doing part of their work or by giving them something they need ▪ If there s anything I can do to help, just give me a… … Dictionary of contemporary English
help- [[t]he̱lp] ♦ helps, helping, helped 1) VERB If you help someone, you make it easier for them to do something, for example by doing part of the work for them or by giving them advice or money. He has helped to raise a lot of… … English dictionary
help- [c] /hɛlp / (say help) verb (helped or, Archaic, holp, helped or, Archaic, holpen, helping) –verb (t) 1. to cooperate effectively with a person; aid; assist: to help a man in … Australian English dictionary
help- helpable, adj. /help/, v.t. 1. to give or provide what is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy a need; contribute strength or means to; render assistance to; cooperate effectively with; aid; assist: He planned to help me with my work. Let me… Universalium
help*/*/*/- verb I 1) to give someone support or information so that they can do something more easily Can you help me find my glasses? Her brother offered to help her with her homework. Her work involves helping people to find… … Dictionary for writing and speaking English
help- v.t. 1. to make things easier or better for (a person); aid; assist; specif., a) to give (one in need or trouble)… … English World dictionary
help- 1 /help/ verb 1 MAKE POSSIBLE OR EASIER (I, T) to make it possible or easier for someone to do something by doing part of their work or by giving them something they need: If there s anything I can do to help , just give me a call. | She devoted… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
help- help1 [ help ] verb *** 1.) intransitive or transitive to give someone support or information so that they can do something more easily: If you are finding that difficult I could help you. Mary was anxious to help. help someone (to) do something ... Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
Books
- Work is Love Made Visible. A Collection of Essays About the Power of Finding Your Purpose From the World's Greatest Thought Leaders , Marshall Goldsmith. Channel happiness and find your purpose with stories from the world's leading minds Work is Love Made Visible offers the insights of some of the world's greatest thought leaders as they… Buy for 2185.33 RUB electronic book
- Can "t Not Do. The Compelling Social Drive that Changes Our World , Paul Shoemaker. With so many social challenges facing our world, trying to effect change feels daunting. The problems are complex, the politics murky, and the players innumerable. Yet, every day there are…
