beg

beg [ beg ] verb **

1. ) intransitive or transitive to ask for help, an opportunity, etc. in a way that shows you want it very much:

Don't go! he begged.

beg someone (not) to do something: She had written a letter begging him to come back.

We begged her for another chance.

beg to do something: I begged to be allowed to join them.

beg (someone) for something: The boy was screaming and begging for mercy.

a ) intransitive to ask for something in a way that shows you are not proud:

Yes, I do want him to give me the job, but I refuse to beg!

2. ) intransitive or transitive to ask people for money or food, usually because you are very poor:

homeless people begging on the streets

beg for: The boys went from door to door begging for money.

beg something from someone: He would beg food from other children at school.

3. ) intransitive if a dog begs, it sits and holds up its two front feet as a way of asking for food

be going begging BRITISH SPOKEN

if something is going begging, anyone can have it because no one else wants it

beg or borrow something or beg, borrow, or steal something

to manage to find something you need by whatever method you can: SCROUNGE:

See if you can beg, borrow, or steal a bicycle for the day.

beg the question

1. ) to make you want to know the answer to a particular question:

If she got caught stealing money and she's still here, it begs the question: What would she have to do to get fired?

2. ) FORMAL to discuss a problem, issue, or fact as if it definitely exists, even though it may not exist:

The whole idea of a Patients' Bill of Rights begs the question that the government should be involved in the first place.

I beg to differ SPOKEN FORMAL

used for saying that you disagree with what someone has just said

I beg your pardon

1. ) SPOKEN FORMAL used for asking someone to repeat something because you did not hear them. Pardon me? or Excuse me? are less formal ways of saying this:

Are you ready to leave? I beg your pardon? I was just asking if you're ready to leave.

2. ) SPOKEN FORMAL used for saying you are sorry because you have made a slight mistake, for example because you have stood on someone's foot. Sorry is a less formal way of saying this:

Oh, I beg your pardon, I didn't realize this was your chair.

3. ) SPOKEN used for showing that you disagree very strongly with what someone has just said:

Jenny doesn't concentrate when she's driving. I beg your pardon! She's a very good driver!

,beg `off phrasal verb intransitive INFORMAL

to say that you are not going to do something that you had previously agreed to do: CRY OFF