aside
/əˈsaɪd/ (bre, ipa) · [əsˈaɪd] /əˈsaɪd/ (ame, ipa) · [əsˈaɪd] /ə-ˈsīd/ (ame, mw)
aside — adverb
1. positioned at or moving toward a side, away from the main area or other people,
positioned at or moving toward a side, away from the main area or other people, often to create space or privacy.
Jin stepped aside to let the paramedics pass with the stretcher.
verb + aside: step aside for physical movement
Aylin pulled the curtain aside and looked out at the rainy street below.
pull [object] aside: moving an object out of the way
The manager took the new employee aside to explain the office rules.
Tyler pushed the stack of old magazines aside and reached for his coffee cup.
- away
suggests greater distance; less specific about direction
- sideways
specifically lateral movement; more precise but less common
- to one side
more formal and literal than 'aside'
- forward
movement toward the front rather than the side
- into the open
movement into a visible or central position
文法句型
[verb] + aside
take/pull/step + aside
用法筆記
Common in phrasal combinations with movement verbs (step, pull, push, take, brush, move). The person or object being moved appears between the verb and 'aside'.
常見錯誤
2. kept or saved for a particular future use or purpose, especially money, time, or
kept or saved for a particular future use or purpose, especially money, time, or resources that are not to be used immediately.
Arjun sets aside ten percent of his salary for retirement every month.
set aside + [percentage] + for [purpose]
The hospital put aside two beds for emergency patients during the flu season.
put aside + [object] + for [purpose]
Tanvi keeps a small amount of money aside for unexpected car repairs.
The choir sets aside one hour each evening to practice for the concert.
- in reserve
more formal; typically used for tangible resources
- to one side
more literal; works for both physical objects and abstract resources
- by
as in 'put money by'; British English, slightly informal
文法句型
set/put/keep + [object] + aside
set aside + [noun]
用法筆記
Most commonly paired with 'set' ('set aside') and 'put' ('put aside'). The object being saved usually appears between the verb and 'aside' unless the object is long, in which case it can follow 'aside': 'set aside some money for emergencies.'
常見錯誤
3. kept out of discussion or thought for now; deliberately not dealt with so that m
kept out of discussion or thought for now; deliberately not dealt with so that more urgent matters can come first.
Reuben put aside his worry about the exam and enjoyed his birthday dinner.
put aside + [concern/feeling]
The two friends set aside their argument and walked home together in the rain.
Let us leave aside the question of cost for now and focus on the design.
The judge set aside the previous ruling and ordered a new trial on fresh evidence.
文法句型
set/put/leave + [object] + aside
set aside + [abstract noun]
用法筆記
Frequently used in legal and formal contexts ('set aside a ruling', 'set aside a decision'). The object is usually an abstract noun — disagreement, difference, issue, feeling, or legal matter. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 means saving something valuable; sense 3 means ignoring or postponing something unwanted or less important.
4. not including someone or something; used to introduce the only thing or person t
not including someone or something; used to introduce the only thing or person that a statement does not apply to.
Aside from a few scratches on the door, the car was in perfect condition.
aside from + [noun phrase] to express exception
Everyone attended the meeting aside from Mert, who was stuck in traffic.
Aside from the high rent, this apartment has everything a young family could need.
The museum was almost empty aside from two elderly visitors and a security guard.
- apart from
nearly identical; slightly more common in British English
- except for
same meaning; can replace 'aside from' in most contexts
- other than
informal; common in everyday speech
文法句型
aside from + [noun/noun phrase]
用法筆記
Grammatically a prepositional phrase ('aside from') that can appear at the beginning or end of a clause. In American English 'aside from' and 'apart from' are nearly interchangeable; 'aside from' is slightly more common in everyday use. 'Aside from' cannot be shortened to bare 'aside' for this meaning.
常見錯誤
aside — noun
- asidesingular
- asidesplural
1. a remark spoken quietly so that only certain people can hear it, especially one
a remark spoken quietly so that only certain people can hear it, especially one not meant for the whole group or, in theatre, a comment directed only to the audience.
"He is lying about the money," Léa whispered in an aside to her sister.
whisper + in an aside + to [person]
In the play the lead actor turns to the audience and delivers a short aside.
deliver an aside (theatrical context)
Asher made a funny aside about the food that made Ayana giggle quietly.
During the long ceremony the couple exchanged private asides to keep each other awake.
- whisper
focuses on the volume of speech rather than its private nature
- stage whisper
theatrical; a loud whisper meant to be heard
- murmur
soft speech, not necessarily secretive
- public statement
a remark intended for everyone to hear
- announcement
formal communication to the whole group
文法句型
[make/say/whisper] + an aside
in an aside
用法筆記
In literary and theatrical analysis, 'aside' is a technical term for a character's line that other characters onstage are not supposed to hear. In everyday conversation it simply means a quiet comment to one person while others are present.
常見錯誤
2. a brief remark or short story that takes the conversation or text away from its
a brief remark or short story that takes the conversation or text away from its central topic, usually offered to add colour, context, or amusement.
The professor's lecture was full of interesting asides about his research in Peru.
interesting asides about [topic]
Ramón added a brief aside about the building's history before continuing with his report.
A personal aside about her childhood became the most memorable moment of the whole interview.
The author's frequent asides about local food make the travel book feel warm and personal.
- digression
formal; a longer departure from the topic
- tangent
informal; often suggests the speaker has wandered far off-topic
- parenthesis
technical term for a word, phrase, or clause inserted into a sentence
- main point
the central topic being discussed
- theme
the core subject of a speech or text
文法句型
[adjective] + aside
[possessive] + aside about [topic]
用法筆記
Often used in the phrase 'as an aside' (meaning 'as a digression or extra comment'). Frequently signals a shift from formal to informal tone in speech or writing. The speaker or writer typically returns to the main topic after the aside.