1
general::
noun freedom to choose VERB + OPTION have You have the option of taking your holiday early. | give sb PREP. with/without the ~ of He was jailed without the option of a fine. PHRASES have little/no option but to We had no option but to leave without them. sth you choose/can choose ADJ. available, possible, viable | real, realistic | attractive, good Deciding on your best option is not easy. | preferred | practical | easy, soft He thought General Studies would be a soft option. | cheap | expensive | policy | menu (on a computer) VERB + OPTION choose, exercise, select, take Look at the on-screen menu and select the ‘File’ option. | give sb, offer (sb) | limit | look at Let's look at all the options available. PHRASES keep/leave your options open (= to avoid making a decision now so that you still have a choice later) right to buy/sell sth at some time in the future ADJ. first | share, stock VERB + OPTION have | exercise, take (up) She took up an option in her contract to buy three million shares. PREP. ~ on He's promised me first option on his car.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
2
general::
option
verbs
have an option
• At the moment, children have the option of leaving school at 16. • In a situation like this, you have two options.
give/offer somebody an option
• Some employees were given the option of retiring early. • Buyers will usually be offered the option of paying in instalments.
choose an option
• Fewer women are choosing the option of motherhood.
go for an option
(= choose an option )
• Which option do you think they'll go for?
take (up) an option
(= choose an option )
• America was persuaded not to take up the option of military action.
look at an option
(= consider an option )
• You have to look at every option as your business develops.
limit your options
(= limit what you can choose to do )
• If you don’t go to college, it may limit your options.
adjectives
a good/better option
• Renting a house may be a better option than buying.
an attractive option
(= one that sounds or is good )
• If time is short, taking the car to northern France is an attractive option.
a realistic/real/serious option
(= something that you can really choose to do )
• I wanted to start my own business but financially it was never a realistic option.
a viable/practical option
(= something you can choose that will be successful )
• Surgery may be a viable option when all else fails.
a popular option
• Independent sixth-form colleges are becoming a popular option.
a cheap option
• We urgently need to find a cheaper option than oil or gas.
a safe option
(= one that involves no risk )
• A special savings account can be a safe option.
sb’s preferred option
formal (= the option someone likes best )
• The new scheme appears to be the airport management’s preferred option.
an easy option
( also a soft option British English ) (= a choice which is not difficult, or which needs the least effort )
• For most people, divorce is never an easy option.
phrases
an option is open/available to somebody
(= a particular choice is available to someone )
• Giving a prison sentence is only one of the options open to the judge.
keep/leave your options open
(= to not limit what you can choose to do later )
• Studying a broad range of subjects helps to keep your options open.
have no/little option but to do something
(= have no other choice than to do something )
• I had no option but to fire him.
a range of options
• The council is considering a range of options for improving the city’s transport system.
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