Wordcyclopedia | English | direct one’s attention to

direct Adjective

— If something is direct, it is straight and as short as possible with nothing extra in between. It's a direct flight from Tokyo to Toronto with no stop in Vancouver. These improvement are a direct result of the recent changes. In talking to the president, she was more direct: "Your product is making me sick." There is growing contact, both direct and indirect, between the people.

direct Verb

— If you direct something somewhere, you point it there. He directed his light to the corner where he heard the noise. Can you please direct your attention to the screen. Can you direct me to the station, please? — If you direct something such as an organisation, you are in charge of if. She directed the investigation into the crash. — If you direct a play or film, you tell the actors how to act. — If you direct something, you tell people what to do. He directed that the money go to the church after he died. Please close your books where you are directed to do so.

direct Adverb

— If you go somewhere or do something direct, you do so by the shortest route without anything extra in between.

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attention Noun

— If you pay attention to something, you focus your mind on it. Pay attention to me when I'm speaking to you. He waved to draw attention to himself. She couldn't keep her attention on her books.

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to Verb phrase Subordinator

— To has no meaning. It is used to introduce verb phrases. It's important for you to understand. She told them to be quiet. You want me to do it, but I don't have to. To finish quickly, we must work fast. To continue like this would be foolish. I don't know how to get there. He got the keys to open the door. It's too small to see. You are all to be here at 7:30 tomorrow morning. Do you understand? He arrived only to find that everyone had gone home.

to Preposition

— To shows where something goes, the goal of movement. He went to her house. The train returned to the Shinjuku station. I went to bed but could not rest. They went to school together and played in the same soccer team. A squad car took him to hospital where he died. Many people came to me with suggestions. I wonder why you keep going to sea when you know it's dangerous. — To shows the receivers of an action or object. The goods were sold to customers at the downtown store. — To shows the result of a change or process. It switched from red to black. They came to the conclusion that I'm better than nothing. He fell on the play, but quickly got to his feet. He was crushed to death underneath the truck. — To shows the end or limit of something. Methods have been used to overcome these problems to some degree. The class is from 1:35 to 3:25. It's just another week to the end of classes. Right now it's ten minutes to four. — To shows that one thing is touching another. They stood back to back to see who was taller. — To shows how two things are connected. He attached the printer to the computer. She was married to a Canadian man. She was assistant to the general manager. — To shows a belonging or relationship. We don't owe anything to anyone. To whom does it belong? It's a benefit to the whole school. What's the answer to this problem? I can't remember the password to this account? — To shows a comparison between two things. Girls outnumber boys two to one. Older cars get fewer kilometers to a liter of gasoline. Right now you can get one Canadian dollar to $1.05 US. — To shows your feeling or opinion about something. It feels good to me. To their surprise, she got up and left. — To shows a timing relationship, often with a music. He likes to exercise to music.

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