cannot very well do something

cannot very well do something
mainly spoken
used for saying that it is difficult, wrong, or stupid for someone to do something

We have to help her – we can't very well just leave her stranded out here in the middle of nowhere.


English dictionary. 2014.

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  • cannot very well do something — mainly spoken phrase used for saying that it is difficult, wrong, or stupid for someone to do something We have to help her – we can’t very well just leave her stranded out here in the middle of nowhere. Thesaurus: difficult to do and involving a …   Useful english dictionary

  • cannot very well — cannot/can’t/very well phrase used for saying that it would not be wise or sensible to do something We can’t very well tell them now. Thesaurus: not sensible or reasonablesynonym Main entry: well …   Useful english dictionary

  • very — ver|y [ veri ] function word *** Very can be used in the following ways: as an adverb (before adjectives and adverbs): It had been a long day and he was very tired. I always walk very quickly. She writes very well. as an adjective (only before a… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • very — [[t]ve̱ri[/t]] ♦ 1) ADV: ADV adj/adv (emphasis) Very is used to give emphasis to an adjective or adverb. The problem and the answer are very simple... It is very, very strong evidence indeed... I m very sorry... They are getting the hang of it… …   English dictionary

  • very */*/*/ — UK [ˈverɪ] / US adjective, adverb Summary: Very can be used in the following ways: as an adverb (before adjectives and adverbs): It had been a long day and he was very tired. ♦ I always walk very quickly. ♦ She writes very well. as an adjective… …   English dictionary

  • can't very well — cannot/can’t/very well phrase used for saying that it would not be wise or sensible to do something We can’t very well tell them now. Thesaurus: not sensible or reasonablesynonym Main entry: well …   Useful english dictionary

  • well — well1 W1S1 [wel] adv comparative better [ˈbetə US ər] superlative best [best] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(satisfactorily)¦ 2¦(thoroughly)¦ 3¦(a lot)¦ 4 do well 5 as well 6 as well as something/somebody 7 may/might/could well …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • well — I [[t]we̱l[/t]] DISCOURSE USES ♦ (Well is used mainly in spoken English.) 1) ADV: ADV cl You say well to indicate that you are about to say something. Sylvia shook hands. Well, you go get yourselves some breakfast. ... Well, I don t like the look …   English dictionary

  • well — well1 [ wel ] (comparative bet|ter [ betər ] ; superlative best [ best ] ) adverb *** 1. ) in a skillful or effective way: She speaks Japanese well. very/rather/fairly/quite well: He plays the piano very well for someone of his age. a ) in a… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • well — I UK [wel] / US adverb Word forms well : comparative better UK [ˈbetə(r)] / US [ˈbetər] superlative best UK [best] / US *** Collocations: Well is used for making many compound adjectives (=formed from two or more words). In this dictionary, these …   English dictionary

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