left
/left/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- On or relating to the side of the body that is west when facing north: Refers to the side opposite the right hand for most people.
- Belonging to or supporting the political left: Relating to political groups or ideologies that generally support social equality, reform, and government intervention.
- Remaining, not used or consumed: Describes what remains after the rest has been used, taken, or gone.
Noun:
- The left side or direction: The location or direction that is opposite of right.
- The left hand: The hand on the left side of the body.
- Political groups collectively supporting left-wing policies: Often capitalized as "the Left."
Adverb:
- On or towards the left side: Indicates movement or position in a leftward direction.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- He writes with his left hand.
- She holds left-wing political views.
- There is no food left in the fridge.
Noun:
- Turn to your left at the traffic light.
- He threw the ball with his left.
- The party's policies are supported by the Left.
Adverb:
- At the intersection, look left and right before crossing.
- The political spectrum has shifted left in recent years.
Advanced Usage
"To have two left feet": To be clumsy or awkward, especially when dancing.
- I can't dance; I have two left feet.
"Out in left field": To be unconventional, strange, or mistaken.
- His proposal was completely out in left field.
"The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing": Used to describe a situation where different parts of a group or organization are not communicating or coordinating.
- The management is so disorganized; the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.
Variants and Related Words
Leftover (n/adj): Something, especially food, remaining after the rest has been used.
- We ate the leftover pizza for breakfast.
Leftist (n/adj): A supporter of left-wing political views.
- He is a well-known leftist activist.
Leftward (adj/adv): Toward the left.
- The road curves leftward.
Synonyms
- Port: The left side of a ship or aircraft when facing forward (nautical/aviation term).
- Remaining: Still existing or present after other parts have been removed or used.
- Liberal: (In a political context) favoring policies that promote social and political change.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Left off: Stopped doing or including something.
- We left off at chapter three last week.
Left out: Excluded or omitted.
- He felt left out of the conversation.
Related Idioms
Right and left: On all sides; everywhere.
- He was giving away money right and left.
Left, right, and centre (or center): In all directions; everywhere; from all sides.
- The company is cutting costs left, right, and centre.
Adjective
- of or belonging to the political or intellectual left
- intended for the left hand
- I rarely lose a left-hand glove
- not used up
- leftover meatloaf
- she had a little money left over so she went to a movie
- some odd dollars left
- saved the remaining sandwiches for supper
- unexpended provisions
- being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north
- my left hand
- left center field
- the left bank of a river is bank on your left side when you are facing downstream
Noun
- a turn toward the side of the body that is on the north when the person is facing east
- take a left at the corner
- the piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher's left
- the batter flied out to left
- the hand that is on the left side of the body
- jab with your left
- those who support varying degrees of social or political or economic change designed to promote the public welfare
- location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
- she stood on the left
Adverb
- toward or on the left; also used figuratively
- he looked right and left
- the political party has moved left