benefit - noun

ben‧e‧fit

1

advantage

 [uncountable and countable] an advantage, improvement, or help that you get from somethingCOLLOCATIONS 
be of benefit (to somebody) (=be useful to someone)have the benefit of somethingget/gain/derive benefit (from something)reap the benefits (of something) (=enjoy the advantages of something)the full benefit (of something)for somebody's benefitbe to the benefit of somebodymutual benefit (=useful to two or more people)with/without the benefit (of something) (=using/not using something)economic/financial/social benefitshealth benefitssomething outweighs the benefits of something (=something is more important than the benefits)

benefit of

 the benefits of contact lenses

 The new credit cards will be of great benefit to our customers.

 I never had the benefit of a university education.

 We want him to get maximum benefit from the course.

 We're just beginning to reap the benefits of all our hard work.

You need to spend at least a week there to get the full benefit.

Could you just explain again for Mark's benefit?

I hope that the decision taken today will be to the benefit of the whole nation.

My proposition, I assure you, would be to our mutual benefit.

 Most motorists manage without the benefit of four-wheel drive.

 the airport's economic benefit to the region

 the health benefits of moderate wine consumption

How does one decide whether the economic costs of regulation willoutweigh the economic benefits?

2

money from government

 [uncountable and countable] British Englishmoney provided by the government to people who are sick, unemployed, or have little money [= welfare American English]

unemployment/housing/child etc benefit

You might be entitled to housing benefit.

on benefit

families on benefit

those people eligible to claim benefit

3

extra things

 [countable usually plural] extra money or other advantages that you get as part of your job or from insurance that you have:

We offer an excellent benefits package.

medical benefits

➔ fringe benefit

4

 give somebody the benefit of the doubt

to accept what someone tells you even though you think they may be wrong or lying, but you cannot be sure:

The referee gave him the benefit of the doubt.

5

 with the benefit of hindsight/experience

used to say it is easier to know the right thing to do after something has happened or if you have a lot of experience:

He admitted that with the benefit of hindsight the original launch had not been large enough.

6

 benefit concert/performance/match

a concert, performance etc arranged to make money for charity:

a benefit concert for famine relief

deal - noun

deal

1

agreement

 [countable] an agreement or arrangement, especially in business or politics, that helps both sides involvedCOLLOCATIONS 
make/do a dealstrike/cut a deal (=make a deal)negotiate a dealclose/clinch a deal (=successfully complete a deal)get a good deal (on something) (=buy something at a good price)business dealpay dealsomething is a done deal informal (=something has been completely and finally agreed)

They made a deal to sell the land to a property developer.

deal with

rumors that the company had struck a deal with Microsoft to market its products

deal between

Twelve US soldiers were released after a deal between the army and the guerillas.

Cash incentives worth £45 million helped to clinch the deal.

You can get some good deals on the internet.

She and Branson have been discussing a possible business dealtogether.

The merger is still far from being a done deal.

a new band signing a major record deal

2

 a great deal

also a good deal a large quantity of something [= a lot]

a great deal of

It took a great deal of time and effort.

His work has been attracting a great deal of attention.

a great deal more/less etc (=a lot more, less etc)

He knew a good deal more than I did.

She's married to a man a good deal older than herself.

! Only use a great/good deal of with uncountable nouns: a great deal of time/money/work/interest/information

3

treatment

 [countable usually singular] treatment of a particular type that is given or received

a better/fairer etc deal

a better deal for nurses

 (=a new and fairer system)

a rough/raw deal (=unfair treatment)

Women tend to get a raw deal from employers.

4

 it's a deal

spoken used to say that you agree to do something:

OK, it's a deal.

5

cards

 [singular] when you give out cards to players in a card game[↪ dealer]:

It's your deal, Alison.

6

wood

 [uncountable] British English fir or pine wood used for making things:

a deal table

7

 a deal of something

old-fashioned a large amount of something

➔ big deal

big deal [singular] spoken

1 used to say that you do not think something is as important as someone else thinks it is:

It's just a game. If you lose, big deal.

What's the big deal? It's only a birthday, not the end of the world.

It's no big deal. Everybody forgets things sometimes.

2 an important or exciting event or situation:

This audition is a big deal for Joey.

3

 make a big deal of/out of/about something

to get too excited or upset about something, or make something seem more important than it is:

I know I'm probably making a big deal out of nothing, but I'm worried about you.

deal - verb

deal past tense and past participle dealt

1 [intransitive and transitive] also deal something ↔ out to give playing cards to each of the players in a game:

Whose turn is it to deal?

2 [intransitive] informal to buy and sell illegal drugs:

Many users end up dealing to support their habit.

3

 deal a blow (to somebody/something)

to cause harm to someone or something - used in news reports

deal a heavy/severe/serious etc blow

The sanctions have dealt a severe blow to the local tourism industry.

This will deal a blow to consumer confidence.

deal in 

phrasal verb

1

 deal in something

to buy and sell a particular type of product[↪ dealer]

deal in shares/securities etc

investors dealing in stocks and shares

deal in drugs/stolen goods etc

He then began dealing in heroin.

deal in antiques/second-hand books etc

2

 deal in something

to be interested or involved in something:

As a scientist, I do not deal in speculation.

3

 deal somebody in

to include someone in a game of cards

deal something ↔ out 

phrasal verb

1 to give playing cards to each of the players in a game:

I began dealing out the cards.

2 to decide what kind of punishment someone will get

deal with somebody/something 

phrasal verb

1 to take the necessary action, especially in order to solve a problem[= handle]:

a strategy for dealing with disruptive pupils

Don't worry, I'll deal with this.

deal with a problem/issue/matter etc

The council has failed to deal with the problem of homelessness in the city.

deal effectively/adequately etc with something

They should deal properly and fairly with any complaint.

2 if a book, speech etc deals with a particular subject, it is about that subject:

These ideas are dealt with more fully in Chapter Four.

3 to do business with someone or have a business connection with someone:

Most travel agents do not deal directly with these companies.

4 to succeed in controlling your feelings about an emotional problem so that it does not affect your life [= cope with]:

How's he dealing with the whole thing?