remaining part / people / things
1 [sing.] the ~ (of sth) the remaining part of sth:
the rest of the world / my life / her money * How would you like to spend the rest of the day? * Take what you want and throw the rest away.
2 [pl.] the ~ (of sth) the remaining people or things; the others:
Don't blame Alex. He's human, like the rest of us. * The first question was difficult, but the rest were pretty easy.
period of relaxing
3 [C,U] ~ (from sth) a period of relaxing, sleeping or doing nothing after a period of activity:
I had a good night's rest. * We stopped for a well-earned rest. * to have / take a rest from all your hard work * Try to get some rest-you have a busy day tomorrow. * There are no matches tomorrow, which is a rest day, but the tournament resumes on Monday.
support
4 [C] (often in compounds) an object that is used to support or hold sth:
an armrest (= for example on a seat or chair) * a headrest / footrest
in music
5 [C,U] a period of silence between notes; a sign that shows a rest between notes
IDIOMS
and (all) the rest (of it) (spoken) used at the end of a list to mean everything else that you might expect to be on the list:
She believes in God and heaven and hell and the rest. * He wants a big house and an expensive car and all the rest of it.
and the rest (spoken) used to say that the actual amount or number of sth is much higher than sb has stated:
'We've run up a cost of 250 quid...' 'And the rest, and the rest!'
at rest
1 (technical) not moving:
At rest the insect looks like a dead leaf.
2 dead and therefore free from trouble or anxiety. People say 'at rest' to avoid saying 'dead':
She now lies at rest in the churchyard.
come to rest to stop moving:
The car crashed through the barrier and came to rest in a field. * His eyes came to rest on Clara's face.
for the rest (BrE, formal) apart from that; as far as other matters are concerned:
The book has some interesting passages about the author's childhood. For the rest, it is extremely dull.
give it a rest (BrE, spoken) used to tell sb to stop talking about sth because they are annoying you:
Give it a rest! You've been complaining all day.
give sth a rest (informal) to stop doing sth for a while
lay sb to rest to bury sb. People say 'to lay sb to rest' to avoid saying 'to bury' sb:
George was laid to rest beside his parents.
lay / put sth to rest to stop sth by showing it is not true:
The announcement finally laid all the speculation about their future to rest.
the rest is history used when you are telling a story to say that you do not need to tell the end of it, because everyone knows it already
moreatMINDn., WICKEDn.
relax
1 to relax, sleep or do nothing after a period of activity or illness; to not use a part of your body for some time:
[V] The doctor told me to rest. * I can rest easy (= stop worrying) knowing that she's safely home. * (figurative) He won't rest (= will never be satisfied) until he finds her. * [VN] Rest your eyes every half an hour. * I awoke feeling rested and refreshed.
support
2 [VN+adv./prep.] to support sth by putting it on or against sth; to be supported in this way: [V, VN] His chin rested on his hands. * He rested his chin in his hands. * [VN] Rest your head on my shoulder. * [V] Their bikes were resting against the wall.
be left
3 if you let a matter rest, you stop discussing it or dealing with it:
The matter cannot rest there-I intend to sue. * And there the matter rested until an interested journalist uncovered the file.
be buried
4 [V+adv./prep.] to be buried. People say 'rest' to avoid saying 'be buried':
She rests beside her husband in the local cemetery. * May he rest in peace.
seealsoRIP
IDIOMS
I rest my case (spoken, law or humorous) to have no more to say about sth, especially because you think you have proved your point
rest assured (that...) (formal) used to emphasize that what you say is true or will definitely happen:
You may rest assured that we will do all we can to find him.
moreatGOD, LAUREL
PHRASALVERBS
rest on / upon sb/sth
1 to depend or rely on sb/sth:
All our hopes now rest on you.
2 to look at sb/sth:
Her eyes rested on the piece of paper in my hand.
rest on sth to be based on sth:
The whole argument rests on a false assumption.
rest with sb (to do sth) (formal) if it rests with sb to do sth, it is their responsibility to do it:
It rests with management to justify their actions. * The final decision rests with the doctors.
