acquaintance
acquaintance — noun
1. a person you have met, but do not know well enough to call a friend — for exampl
a person you have met, but do not know well enough to call a friend — for example, someone you talk to at work or see at a social event a few times.
Amara invited several acquaintances from her yoga class to the birthday party.
collocation: acquaintance from [place/class]
Diego is just an acquaintance — I have only talked to him twice at conferences.
collocation: just an acquaintance
Wei ran into an old acquaintance at the train station and stopped for a chat.
- close friend
someone you know very well and trust deeply; the opposite degree of closeness
文法句型
acquaintance + from/in/at [place]
用法筆記
Countable. Often modified by old, mutual, or casual to describe the kind of relationship (e.g. an old acquaintance from college, a mutual acquaintance introduced us).
常見錯誤
2. used in a small set of fixed phrases that refer to first contact with a person,
used in a small set of fixed phrases that refer to first contact with a person, a slight level of knowledge, or the act of getting to know someone.
It is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance, Professor Amara Okafor.
fixed expression: make someone's acquaintance
On first acquaintance, Lucia seemed quiet, but she was actually very friendly.
fixed expression: on first acquaintance
Siti has only a passing acquaintance with the rules of cricket.
文法句型
make the acquaintance of [someone]
on first acquaintance
[someone] of your acquaintance
have a passing acquaintance with
用法筆記
This sense only appears in a few fixed patterns. Make the acquaintance of... (or make someone's acquaintance) means 'meet someone for the first time'. On first acquaintance means 'when you first meet someone'. A passing acquaintance with something means 'a small amount of knowledge about it'. These phrases are moderately formal; in everyday speech, learners can use meet or know instead.
常見錯誤
3. a small amount of knowledge or experience of a subject, not enough to be conside
a small amount of knowledge or experience of a subject, not enough to be considered deep or expert.
Emma picked up a practical acquaintance with car repairs while helping her uncle in his garage.
collocation: acquaintance with [subject]
Omar has a nodding acquaintance with Korean history from the documentaries he watches.
collocation: nodding acquaintance (means very slight)
- familiarity
slightly stronger and more neutral; can range from casual to expert
- knowledge
broader and more general; does not imply the 'slight' quality that acquaintance carries
- expertise
deep, specialist knowledge of a subject
文法句型
[have] an acquaintance with [subject]
用法筆記
Uncountable. Often used with a — a passing acquaintance, a nodding acquaintance, a practical acquaintance — to indicate the type or depth of knowledge. The phrase a nodding acquaintance with sounds slightly old-fashioned but is still used in formal writing.
常見錯誤
4. the state of knowing someone slightly, without the closeness or trust of a frien
the state of knowing someone slightly, without the closeness or trust of a friendship — the relationship itself, not the person.
Zanele and Sofia's acquaintance began when they shared a taxi during a sudden rainstorm.
collocation: acquaintance began/started
After years of casual acquaintance, Yuna and Kofi finally decided to start a business together.
collocation: casual acquaintance (state/relationship)
Noor renewed her acquaintance with an old schoolmate at the wedding reception.
- familiarity
can refer to knowledge of a person, but often sounds more distant or formal
- association
emphasises the connection itself, often in a work or professional context
- friendship
a closer, warmer relationship with mutual trust and affection
文法句型
acquaintance between [people]
acquaintance with [person]
用法筆記
Usually uncountable when it refers to the general state (e.g. a relationship of casual acquaintance). It can be used with a when describing a specific connection (e.g. strike up an acquaintance, renew an acquaintance). Distinguish from sense 1 (NOT CLOSE FRIEND): sense 1 names a person; sense 4 names the tie between people.