Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - same

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. If two or more things, actions, or qualities are the same, or if one is the same as another, they are very like each other in some way. In essence, all computers are the same... People with the same experience in the job should be paid the same... Driving a boat is not the same as driving a car... I want my son to wear the same clothes as everyone else at the school... ADJ: the ADJ, oft ADJ as n/-ing 2. If something is happening the same as something else, the two things are happening in a way that is similar or exactly the same. I mean, it’s a relationship, the same as a marriage is a relationship... He just wanted the war to end, the same as Wally did. PHRASE 3. You use same to indicate that you are referring to only one place, time, or thing, and not to different ones. Bernard works at the same institution as Arlette... It’s impossible to get everybody together at the same time... John just told me that your birthday is on the same day as mine. ADJ: the ADJ, oft ADJ n as n, ADJ n that 4. Something that is still the same has not changed in any way. Taking ingredients from the same source means the beers stay the same... Only 17% said the economy would improve, but 25% believed it would stay the same. ADJ: the ADJ 5. You use the same to refer to something that has previously been mentioned or suggested. We made the decision which was right for us. Other parents must do the same... We like him very much and he says the same about us. PRON: the PRON • Same is also an adjective. Dwight Eisenhower possessed much the same ability to appear likeable. ADJ: the ADJ 6. You say ‘same here’ in order to suggest that you feel the same way about something as the person who has just spoken to you, or that you have done the same thing. (INFORMAL, SPOKEN) ‘Nice to meet you,’ said Michael. ‘Same here,’ said Mary Ann... = likewise CONVENTION c darkgreen]formulae 7. You say ‘same to you’ in response to someone who wishes you well with something. (INFORMAL, SPOKEN) ‘Have a nice Easter.’—‘And the same to you Bridie.’ CONVENTION c darkgreen]formulae 8. You say ‘same again’ when you want to order another drink of the same kind as the one you have just had. (INFORMAL, SPOKEN) Give Roger another pint, Imogen, and I’ll have the same again. PHRASE 9. You can say all the same or just the same to introduce a statement which indicates that a situation or your opinion has not changed, in spite of what has happened or what has just been said. ...jokes that she did not understand but laughed at just the same. PHRASE: PHR with cl 10. If you say ‘It’s all the same to me’, you mean that you do not care which of several things happens or is chosen. (mainly SPOKEN) Whether I’ve got a moustache or not it’s all the same to me... PHRASE 11. When two or more people or things are thought to be separate and you say that they are one and the same, you mean that they are in fact one single person or thing. Luckily, Nancy’s father and her attorney were one and the same person... I’m willing to work for the party because its interests and my interests are one and the same. PHRASE: v-link PHR 12. at the same time: see time