1
general::
noun ADJ. big, considerable, huge, major, real, significant, substantial This change in the tax system will mean big gains for some companies. | modest, small | long-term, short-term | potential | pre-tax | net, overall Labour made an overall gain of 39 seats. | ill-gotten She tucked her ill-gotten gains into her purse and left. | personal, private using the investments for their private gain | commercial, economic, financial, material There will be no financial gain for mothers from this new system. | electoral, political the far right made huge electoral gains | military, territorial | weight She was most upset by her recent weight gain. | efficiency, productivity There is still scope for efficiency gains (= gains to be made by being more efficient). VERB + GAIN make | bring (sb) Better workplace design can bring real gains in productivity. PREP. for ~ It's amazing what some people will do for gain. | ~ from £3.9 million gains from the sale of stock | ~ in Last year there was only a modest gain in earnings., verb ADV. certainly, undoubtedly Consumers have certainly gained from the increased competition in the telecommunications industry. | clearly | quickly, rapidly | gradually, slowly His ideas gradually gained acceptance. | steadily | eventually, finally, ultimately | successfully | automatically Husbands and wives of British nationals do not automatically gain citizenship. | easily VERB + GAIN stand to The company stands to gain (= is likely to gain) quite a lot from this government scheme. | expect to, hope to What do you hope to gain by this action? | attempt to, seek to, strive to, try to Protesters tried to gain access to the presidential palace. | fail to PREP. by There is nothing to be gained by forcing people to comply. | from We all gained a lot from the experience. PHRASES have everything/much/little/a lot/nothing to gain/be gained Why not give it a go? You've nothing to lose and everything to gain. I don't think there's anything to be gained from this course of action.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
2
general::
In addition to the idiom beginning with GAIN, Also see ILL-GOTTEN GAINS; NO PAIN, NO GAIN; NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED.
American Heritage Idioms
5
general::
gain
nouns
gain control
• The government of mainland China gained control of the island in 1683.
gain power
• Many women wanted to gain power in a male-dominated world.
gain independence
• Jamaica has had this flag since 1962, when it gained independence from Britain.
gain a reputation
• He had gained a reputation as a crook.
gain notoriety
(= become famous, especially for doing something bad )
• He gained notoriety as the author of a controversial novel.
gain support
• The proposal failed to gain support.
gain popularity
• Governments gain popularity by cutting taxes.
gain acceptance
• The theory has gradually gained acceptance among scientists.
gain credibility
(= start to be believed or trusted, or start to be thought of as good )
• Screen actors feel that they gain credibility when they perform on stage.
gain experience
• In her first job, she gained experience as a programme manager.
gain knowledge
• Knowledge gained from the research will be used directly to help patients.
gain confidence
• The managers were gaining confidence in their ability to take calculated risks.
gain strength
• He is beginning to gain strength again after his illness.
gain an understanding
(= get knowledge based on learning and experience )
• Drama is one of the key ways in which children can gain an understanding of themselves and of others.
gain an insight (into something)
(= get a chance to understand more about something )
• You can gain an insight into horses’ feelings by the physical signs they give out.
gain momentum
(= keep increasing )
• In the 1850s and 1860s, the British colonisation of India gained momentum.
adverbs
quickly/rapidly gain something
• Adam quickly gained the respect of the soldiers under his command.
steadily gain something
• The king was steadily gaining more support.
gradually gain something
• He is gradually gaining confidence in his own abilities.
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