buys
buys — verb
- buyspresent simple I / you / we / they
- buyses3rd person singular
- buysing-ing form
- buysedpast simple
1. To hand over a sum of money in order to receive goods, a service, or something e
To hand over a sum of money in order to receive goods, a service, or something else you want or need.
Nikos bought a second-hand bicycle from his neighbour for forty euros.
buy + something + from + someone
Adina is saving up to buy a new laptop before university starts in September.
Elena bought some vegetables and fresh fruit at the weekly morning market.
The city library bought a collection of old maps from a private seller last month.
Kasia bought two concert tickets and received one free entry as part of the offer.
- sell
to give something in exchange for money
文法句型
buy + something
buy + something + from + someone
buy + someone + something
用法筆記
Commonly followed by 'from' + seller and 'for' + price. Can also take an indirect object without a preposition: 'He bought his daughter a bike.'
常見錯誤
2. To pay or reward someone in a position of power or authority so that they act in
To pay or reward someone in a position of power or authority so that they act in your favour, often in a dishonest or illegal way.
The construction company tried to buy the local officials with cash payments.
buy + person (object of bribery)
A wealthy businessman bought two city councillors to get his project approved quickly.
Soraya refused to be bought, even when the contractor offered her money under the table.
Critics say the government buys electoral support by handing out well-paid jobs to supporters.
文法句型
buy + person
buy + person + with + something
用法筆記
The direct object of 'buy' in this sense is always a person or the favour/cooperation of a person, not a product or service. Frequently used in legal contexts involving corruption.
常見錯誤
3. To give money or favours to someone specifically so that they keep a secret, rem
To give money or favours to someone specifically so that they keep a secret, remain silent, or do not report something you did wrong.
The celebrity tried to buy off the journalist who had discovered the hidden story.
phrasal verb: buy off + person
Felix believed the security guard could be bought to keep quiet about the break-in.
The company bought off the local residents with free home repairs before the inspection.
Key witnesses were bought off before they could testify in court against the accused.
文法句型
buy + someone + off
buy off + someone
buy + someone + to keep quiet
用法筆記
Often used in the phrasal verb form 'buy off', where 'off' is a particle. The emphasis is on preventing disclosure rather than securing a favour. Distinguish from sense 2 (BRIBE), which is about getting someone to act for you, while this sense is about stopping someone from speaking.
4. To accept that a particular story, explanation, or claim is true, even though it
To accept that a particular story, explanation, or claim is true, even though it may not be completely convincing.
Hao did not buy the excuse about the dog eating his son's homework.
The jury bought the defendant's story that he was at home alone that night.
buy + that-clause
Charlotte could not buy her colleague's explanation for why the files were missing.
No one at the station bought the claim that birds on the line caused the delay.
The teacher did not buy the student's reason for arriving thirty minutes late to class.
文法句型
buy + that-clause
buy + something + as + explanation
not buy + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used in negative contexts, questions, or sentences expressing doubt. Rarely used in simple affirmative statements — instead of 'I buy his story', a native speaker would say 'I believe his story' or 'I don't buy his story.'
常見錯誤
5. To obtain something valuable by giving up something else, often at a great perso
To obtain something valuable by giving up something else, often at a great personal or collective cost.
Peace was bought at the cost of many thousands of lives during the long conflict.
passive: be bought at the cost of
Vikram bought his freedom by agreeing to leave the country and never return.
buy + freedom + by + sacrifice
Short-term success was bought with years of sleepless nights and tireless hard work.
The team bought their place in the final with a desperate and costly last-minute goal.
- lose
to fail to keep or obtain something despite sacrifice
文法句型
buy + noun + with + sacrifice
buy + noun + at the cost of
buy + freedom / peace / time
用法筆記
Frequently used in passive constructions. The sacrifice is typically introduced by 'with', 'at the cost of', or 'at the price of'. Often carries a serious or solemn tone.
6. To be enough money to pay for something; to have a stated purchasing power or va
To be enough money to pay for something; to have a stated purchasing power or value when exchanged for goods.
Ten dollars buys a full lunch at the food court near my office building.
amount + buys + item
A hundred years ago, a gold coin could buy a comfortable house in town.
One ticket buys you entry to every museum in the city for an entire week.
With rising prices, a hundred dollars does not buy what it used to.
Andrew wondered what his savings could buy in the current housing market.
- pay for
more literal; 'buy' in this sense is about what money achieves
文法句型
amount + buys + item
money + buys + something
what + amount + can buy
用法筆記
The subject is always a sum of money, a price, or an amount that represents value. The object is what can be obtained for that amount. Very common in economic discussions about inflation and purchasing power.
常見錯誤
buys — noun
1. An item that has been bought and is considered good value for the amount of mone
An item that has been bought and is considered good value for the amount of money paid, especially when the price was lower than expected.
Arjun thought the old wooden sofa at the garage sale was a real buy.
collocation: a real buy
At fifty percent off the original price, those winter boots are a great buy.
collocation: a great buy
The handmade dining table was a good buy even though it cost more than expected.
Ife said the stainless steel cooking pots were the best buy she made this year.
Smart shoppers always look for buys with the best quality at the lowest price.
- rip-off
informal; something that costs far more than it is worth
文法句型
a + adjective + buy
be a buy
用法筆記
Almost always modified by an adjective such as 'good', 'great', 'real', or 'best' to indicate the quality of the value. Usually used in the singular form.