soliciting
soliciting — noun
1. the criminal offence of offering sexual services in exchange for payment, especi
the criminal offence of offering sexual services in exchange for payment, especially in public or on the street
The police arrested two people for soliciting near the night market.
uncountable noun: charged with soliciting
Laws against soliciting in residential areas are different in every city.
domain label: law
Fatima read a report about the effects of new penalties for soliciting.
A local outreach program helps people leave soliciting and find other work.
The documentary examined why some teenagers end up involved in soliciting.
- prostitution
broader term for exchanging sex for money; less legal and more social
- sex work
neutral, modern term preferred by advocates; not a legal charge
文法句型
soliciting (uncountable)
用法筆記
This noun is uncountable and is almost always used in legal or social contexts. It refers to the act itself, not to a person — use 'prostitution' or 'sex work' for neutral discussion of the profession.
常見錯誤
soliciting — verb
1. to formally or urgently ask someone for money, help, information, or an opinion
to formally or urgently ask someone for money, help, information, or an opinion
The charity solicited donations from businesses across the city for the relief fund.
pattern: solicit [something] from [someone]
Mei-Lin solicited feedback from her classmates before submitting her final essay.
Universities often solicit applications from international students through online fairs.
The committee is soliciting opinions from local residents about the new park design.
Arjun wrote letters to several companies soliciting support for the community centre.
- request
more polite and less urgent; common in written notices
- seek
implies an active search; used with abstract nouns like 'advice' or 'help'
- ask for
neutral and everyday; appropriate in both formal and informal settings
- appeal for
stronger emotional urgency; used for aid or sympathy
文法句型
solicit + noun phrase
solicit + for + noun phrase
solicit + from + noun phrase
用法筆記
Subject is typically an organisation, institution, or someone acting in a formal role. When soliciting for money, the context is usually charitable or political rather than personal borrowing.
常見錯誤
2. to offer sexual services to someone in exchange for payment, especially in a pub
to offer sexual services to someone in exchange for payment, especially in a public place
The undercover police officer was approached by someone soliciting for money.
pattern: soliciting for money
Hassan read that the city council plans to increase fines for soliciting clients near schools.
A support group in Santiago helps young people who want to stop soliciting on the streets.
The court heard evidence that the woman had been soliciting customers near the harbour.
In many jurisdictions it is a crime for a person to solicit another person in a public place.
- prostitute oneself
more direct and explicit; carries a stronger moral judgment
- work the streets
informal idiom for street-based sex work
文法句型
solicit + noun phrase (person)
solicit + for + money
用法筆記
Frequently used in legal and law-enforcement contexts. The intransitive form ('solicit for money' or 'solicit on the streets') is very common. Distinguish from sense 1 ASK FOR, where the request is for charity or information, not sex.
常見錯誤
3. to approach someone and try to persuade them to buy a product or service
to approach someone and try to persuade them to buy a product or service
Telemarketers solicited Diego several times a week to switch his mobile plan.
pattern: solicit someone to do something
A door-to-door salesperson solicited the whole neighbourhood for magazine subscriptions.
Vendors on the beach solicit tourists to buy sunglasses and cold drinks.
The company was fined for soliciting customers without a valid licence.
Elena received a phone call from a broker soliciting investment in gold and silver.
文法句型
solicit + noun phrase (person)
solicit + for + noun phrase (business)
用法筆記
Often carries a slightly negative feeling because the approach is unsolicited and pushy. Common in complaints about telemarketing, doorstep selling, and aggressive advertising.
常見錯誤
4. to persuade or encourage someone to commit an illegal or dishonest act
to persuade or encourage someone to commit an illegal or dishonest act
The gang leader was convicted of soliciting teenagers to steal mobile phones.
pattern: solicit + person + to + verb (crime)
Prosecutors alleged that the manager solicited employees to falsify company records.
Oskar was arrested for soliciting a bribe from a government official.
The website was shut down for soliciting users to share stolen credit card data.
Nalini warned her brother not to let strangers solicit him into illegal betting schemes.
文法句型
solicit + person + to-infinitive
用法筆記
This is a legal term in many jurisdictions — 'solicitation to commit a crime' is a specific offence. The object is typically a vulnerable person, and the act encouraged is theft, fraud, or bribery.