assistance
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assistance
as·sis·tance
(ə-sĭs′təns)assistance
(əˈsɪstəns)as•sis•tance
(əˈsɪs təns)n.
Assistance
(See also COOPERATION.)
candle-holder An abettor; an assistant or attendant. The reference is to the Catholic practice of having someone hold a candle for the reader during a religious service. In everyday language, the expression applies to anyone who helps out in some small way, but who is not a real participant in the action or undertaking. Shakespeare used the term in Romeo and Juliet:
I’ll be a candle-holder and look on. (I, iv)
give a leg up To lend a helping hand; to give someone assistance through a difficult or trying time. This expression, originally meaning to help someone mount a horse, now carries the figurative sense of assisting another over life’s obstacles or helping someone advance through the ranks.
She was now devoting all her energies to give them a leg up. (William E. Norris, Misadventure, 1890)
good Samaritan A compassionate person who selflessly helps those in need; a friend in need; also simply a Samaritan. The allusion is to the Biblical parable (Luke 10:30-37) which tells of a man who had been beaten by thieves. He lay half-dead by the roadside while his neighbors, a priest and a Levite, passed him by. It was a Samaritan, his supposed enemy, who finally showed compassion for the man and took care of him. This expression dates from at least 1644.
I wish some good Samaritan of a Conservative with sufficient authority could heal the feuds among our friends. (Lord Ashburton, Croker Papers, 1846)
go to bat for To support actively, to stick up for or defend; to intercede for, to go to the assistance of. This American slang expression owes its origin to baseball—specifically the role of the pinch hitter. In the mid-1800s, go to the bat was used; by the turn of the century go or come to bat for gained currency. Now go to bat for is heard almost exclusively.
The daughter of old man Brewster who owns the Evening Tab, my meal ticket, came to bat when my show was ready to close. (J. P. McEvoy, Show Girl, 1928)
ka me, ka thee See RECIPROCITY.
pinch-hit To substitute for a regular worker, player, speaker, or performer, especially in an emergency; to take an other person’s place. In this expression, pinch refers to an emergency, a time of stress, and hit refers to a successful, or hopefully successful, attempt. A person called upon in such a predicament is called a pinch-hitter. Though it originated and is most commonly used in baseball to describe the substitution of a batter for the regularly scheduled one, usually at a crucial point in the game, pinch-hit has been expanded to include many other situations and contexts.
In his absence, he has called upon three good friends, also authors of daily columns, to pinch-hit for him and give his readers a “change of pace.” (Lubbock[Texas] Morning Avalanche, February, 1949)
| Noun | 1. |  assistance - the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose; "he gave me an assist with the housework"; "could not walk without assistance"; "rescue party went to their aid"; "offered his help in unloading"activity - any specific behavior; "they avoided all recreational activity" self-help - the act of helping or improving yourself without relying on anyone else facilitation - act of assisting or making easier the progress or improvement of something helping hand, hand - physical assistance; "give me a hand with the chores" recourse, refuge, resort - act of turning to for assistance; "have recourse to the courts"; "an appeal to his uncle was his last resort" thanks - with the help of or owing to; "thanks to hard work it was a great success" ministration, succor, succour, relief - assistance in time of difficulty; "the contributions provided some relief for the victims" lift - the act of giving temporary assistance service - an act of help or assistance; "he did them a service" accommodation - the act of providing something (lodging or seat or food) to meet a need boost, encouragement - the act of giving hope or support to someone comfort - assistance, such as that provided to an enemy or to a known criminal; "it gave comfort to the enemy" support - aiding the cause or policy or interests of; "the president no longer has the support of his own party"; "they developed a scheme of mutual support" |
| 2. |  assistance - a resource; "visual aids in teaching"resource - a source of aid or support that may be drawn upon when needed; "the local library is a valuable resource" |
assistance
opposition, resistance, obstruction, hindrance
assistance
nounassistance
[əˈsɪstəns] N → ayuda f, auxilio mto be of assistance to; give assistance to → ayudar a, prestar ayuda a
can I be of any assistance? → ¿puedo ayudarle?, ¿le puedo servir en algo?
to come to sb's assistance → acudir en ayuda or auxilio de algn
assistance
[əˈsɪstəns] n → aide fassistance in doing sth → aide pour faire qch
can I be of assistance?, can I be of any assistance? → je peux vous aider?
to come to sb's assistance → venir en aide à qn
assistance
assistance
[əˈsɪst/əns] n → aiuto, assistenzacan I be of any assistance? → posso esserle utile (in qualcosa)? (in shop) → desidera?
to come to sb's assistance → venire in aiuto a qn
assist
(əˈsist) verbassistance
→ مُسَاعَدَة pomoc hjælp Hilfeleistung βοήθεια asistencia apu assistance pomoć assistenza 援助 도움 assistentie assistanse pomoc assistência помощь hjälp ความช่วยเหลือ yardım sự hỗ trợ 协助as·sis·tance
- What's the number for directory assistance? (US)
What is the number for directory enquiries? (UK) - I need assistance