favour

I UK [ˈfeɪvə(r)] / US [ˈfeɪvər] noun
Word forms "favour":
singular favour plural favours
***

1) [countable] something that you do for someone in order to help them

do someone a favour:

Could you do me a favour?

ask a favour of someone:

Can I ask a favour of you?

owe someone a favour:

I'll ask Steve. He owes me a favour.

return a favour:

Thanks very much for your help. I'll return the favour some time.

do something as a favour:

He wouldn't take any money for his work: he insisted he was doing it as a favour.

2) [uncountable] support or admiration from people

find/gain/win favour (with someone):

This approach has won more favour in the US than in Britain.

lose favour (with someone):

Nuclear power stations have lost favour in recent years.

curry favour (= try to get someone to support or admire you):

an ambitious young man willing to curry favour with his superiors

3) [uncountable] behaviour that helps someone and gives them an advantage in an unfair way

show favour to someone:

He was careful to show no favour to anyone.

4) favours

[plural] old-fashioned sexual acts that one person agrees to do with another

He was found guilty of selling secrets in return for sexual favours.

•

do me/us a favour — British

spoken used for showing that you think that someone has said or done something silly or annoying

£500? Do me a favour! It's worth twice that!

- in favour

- in someone's favour

- in favour of

- not do yourself any favours

- out of favour

II UK [ˈfeɪvə(r)] / US [ˈfeɪvər] verb [transitive]
Word forms "favour":
present tense I/you/we/they favour he/she/it favours present participle favouring past tense favoured past participle favoured
**

1) to support an idea and believe that it is better than other ideas that have been suggested

The report strongly favours reform of the electoral system.

2) to help someone and give them an advantage in an unfair way

These tax cuts will favour the rich.

3) to make a situation easier or better for someone or something

The wet conditions favoured the home team.

4) mainly American informal to look like one of your parents or an older relative

Phrasal verbs:

- favour with