ASK
seek information or an answer to a question / request
- I’m not sure what to do.
- Why don’t you ask Chuck Norris?
ASK FOR
provoke a negative reaction
- Sue broke off the engagement. Poor Chris.
- He was asking for trouble, wasn’t he? He’d been cheating on her since the day they met.
request to have
- He asked for my phone number after the party, but I didn’t give it to him. I’m no fool.
ASK AFTER
enquire about someone’s health
- I saw your your ex-wife this morning. She asked after you.
ASK AROUND
ask a number of people for information
- Do you think the neighbours would mind if we kept pigs in our garden?
- I don’t know, but I’ll ask around and find out.
ASK ROUND / ASK OVER
invite
- I’ve asked round my mother for dinner. I hope you don’t mind.
- No, not at all. She’s my favourite person in the world after you.
ASK IN
invite somebody into your house
- I walked Kate home, but she didn’t ask me in.
- Better luck next time.
ASK OUT
invite somebody on a date
- I think I’m falling in love with Jessica.
- Why don’t you ask her out?
ASK ABOUT
ask how somebody is doing
- George Clooney was asking about you the other day.
