favor

fa|vor1 [ `feıvər ] noun ***

▸ 1 something you do to help someone

▸ 2 support/admiration

▸ 3 giving unfair advantage

▸ 4 small present for guest

▸ 5 sex

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count something that you do for someone in order to help them:

do someone a favor: Could you do me a small favor?

owe someone a favor (=feel you should do something to help someone because they have done something to help you): I'll ask Steve. He owes me a favor.

return a favor (=do something to help someone because they have done something to help you): Thanks very much for your help. I'll be sure to return the favor some time.

2. ) uncount support or admiration from people:

find/gain/win favor (with someone): a young player who has yet to gain favor with the coach

lose favor (with someone): Nuclear power stations have lost favor in recent years.

curry favor (with someone) (=try to get someone to support or admire you): an ambitious young man willing to curry favor with the boss

3. ) uncount behavior that gives someone an unfair advantage:

show favor to someone: He was careful to show no favor to anyone.

4. ) count AMERICAN a small present given to a guest at a party

5. ) favors plural OLD-FASHIONED the opportunity to have sex with someone:

He was found guilty of trading information for sexual favors.

in favor

popular or fashionable at a particular time:

Art Deco designs seem to be back in favor in some neighborhoods.

in someone's favor

helping you or giving you an advantage:

The delay might work in our favor because we can prepare a better defense.

in favor of

1. ) supporting a person or something such as an idea or a proposal:

All those in favor of the motion, please raise your hands.

The document outlines the arguments in favor of the proposal.

be all in favor of someone/something: I am all in favor of trying to find ways to save money, but we have to maintain certain standards of quality.

vote in favor of something: Last night people voted in favor of the recycling plan.

find/decide/rule in favor of someone: The court ruled in Mrs. Adams' favor.

come out in favor of someone/something (=decide to support them): They have come out very strongly in favor of the proposed merger.

2. ) preferring to choose someone or something that you believe is better:

Downtown was rejected in favor of the harbor area as the site for the new stadium.

out of favor

no longer popular or fashionable:

The microskirt is currently out of favor with American women.

These stocks have steadily fallen out of favor with institutional investors.

favor

fa|vor 2 [ `feıvər ] verb transitive **

1. ) to support an idea and believe that it is better than other ideas that have been suggested:

The report strongly favors reform of the electoral system.

2. ) to give someone an unfair advantage:

more tax cuts that favor the rich

3. ) to make a situation better for one person or thing, rather than another:

The cold conditions favored the home team.

4. ) INFORMAL to look like one of your parents or an older relative:

Wouldn't you say he favors his mother?

`favor ,with phrasal verb transitive MAINLY LITERARY

favor someone with something to give someone something such as a look, smile, or answer to a question:

Peter sat back down, favoring Simone with a broad smile.