1
general::
misunderstanding
verbs
avoid a misunderstanding
• State clearly what you expect, to avoid misunderstandings later on.
cause/lead to a misunderstanding
• Hearing loss can cause misunderstandings, when what you say is not correctly heard. • Don’t just assume that you know what he means; that can lead to misunderstandings.
a misunderstanding arises
(= a misunderstanding starts )
• Misunderstandings can easily arise when people from different cultures meet.
clear up/correct a misunderstanding
(= get rid of a misunderstanding )
• I want to talk to you, to try and clear up any misunderstandings.
be based on a misunderstanding
(= happen or be done as a result of a misunderstanding )
• The whole argument was based on a misunderstanding.
phrases
there has been a misunderstanding
• There’s been a misunderstanding about what I meant.
there must be some misunderstanding
(= used when you think someone has not understood something correctly )
• I think there must be some misunderstanding - I don’t know anyone called Barry.
there is no misunderstanding
• I am writing to make sure there is no misunderstanding between us.
something is all a misunderstanding
(= used when saying that a situation happened because of a mistake )
• Why don’t you call him and tell him it was all a misunderstanding?
a bit of a misunderstanding
British English
• I’m afraid it’s all a bit of a misunderstanding.
adjectives
a serious/terrible misunderstanding
• There have been some serious misunderstandings which have led to conflict.
a little misunderstanding
(= one that is not serious )
• We need to clear up this little misunderstanding.
a simple misunderstanding
(= one that is not serious and is easy to correct )
• It was a simple misunderstanding: I thought the meeting was on Wednesday, not Thursday.
a complete/total misunderstanding
• There seems to be a complete misunderstanding of how the changes will affect us.
a fundamental misunderstanding
(= a misunderstanding of the main point of something )
• a fundamental misunderstanding of Freud’s theories
a widespread misunderstanding
(= a misunderstanding that many people share )
• There is a widespread misunderstanding of the purpose of the law.
a cultural misunderstanding
(= a misunderstanding caused by different cultures doing things in a different way )
• Cultural misunderstandings have led to fights between students.
transnet.ir
2
general::
noun ADJ. serious, terrible | complete, total | considerable, widespread | simple, slight | fundamental | genuine | possible VERB + MISUNDERSTANDING cause, give rise to, lead to | avoid I am anxious to avoid any possible misunderstanding. | clear up, correct MISUNDERSTANDING + VERB arise, occur, result Somehow a misunderstanding arose. | be based on sth, stem from sth PREP. ~ about There was considerable misunderstanding about the aim of the project. | ~ between There must have been some misunderstanding between the minister and his secretary. | ~ by The oversimplification results in the possibility of misunderstanding by the reader. | ~ over a slight misunderstanding over the terms of the contract PHRASES a possibility/risk of misunderstanding, room/scope for misunderstanding Leave no scope for misunderstandings of any type.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary