case

Universal Words noun, verb noun situation 1 [C] a particular situation or a situation of a particular type: In some cases people have had to wait several weeks for an appointment. * The company only dismisses its employees in cases of gross misconduct. * It's a classic case (= a very typical case) of bad planning. seealsoWORST-CASE 2 (the case) [sing.] ~ (that...) the true situation: If that is the case (= if the situation described is true), we need more staff. * It is simply not the case that prison conditions are improving. 3 [C,usually sing.] a situation that relates to a particular person or thing: In your case, we are prepared to be lenient. * I cannot make an exception in your case (= for you and not for others). police investigation 4 [C] a matter that is being officially investigated, especially by the police: a murder case * a case of theft in court of law 5 [C] a question to be decided in a court of law: The case will be heard next week. * a court case * to win / lose a case * When does her case come before the court? seealsoTESTCASE arguments 6 [C,usually sing.] ~ (for / against sth) a set of facts or arguments that support one side in a court of law, discussion, etc: the case for the defence / prosecution * Our lawyer didn't think we had a case (= had enough good arguments to win in a court of law). * the case for / against private education * The report makes out a strong case (= gives good arguments) for spending more money on hospitals. container 7 [C] (often in compounds) a container or covering used to protect or store things; a container with its contents or the amount that it contains: a pencil case * a jewellery case * a packing case (= a large wooden box for packing things in) * The museum was full of stuffed animals in glass cases. * a case (= 12 bottles) of champagne 8 [C] = SUITCASE: Let me carry your case for you. of disease 9 [C] the fact of sb having a disease or an injury; a person suffering from a disease or an injury: a severe case of typhoid * The most serious cases were treated at the scene of the accident. person 10 [C] a person who needs, or is thought to need, special treatment or attention: He's a hopeless case. grammar 11 [C,U] the form of a noun, an adjective or a pronoun in some languages, that shows its relationship to another word: the nominative / accusative / genitive case * Latin nouns have case, number and gender. IDIOMS as the case may be used to say that one of two or more possibilities is true, but which one is true depends on the circumstances: There may be an announcement about this tomorrow-or not, as the case may be. be on sb's case (informal) to criticize sb all the time: She's always on my case about cleaning my room. be on the case to be dealing with a particular matter, especially a criminal investigation: We have two agents on the case. get off my case (spoken) used to tell sb to stop criticizing you a case in point a clear example of the problem, situation, etc. that is being discussed in any case whatever happens or may have happened: There's no point complaining now-we're leaving tomorrow in any case. (just) in case (...) because of the possibility of sth happening: You'd better take the keys in case I'm out. * You probably won't need to call-but take my number, just in case. * In case (= if it is true that) you're wondering why Jo's here-let me explain... in case of sth (often on official notices) if sth happens: In case of fire, ring the alarm bell. in that case if that happens or has happened; if that is the situation: 'I've made up my mind.' 'In that case, there's no point discussing it' moreatRESTv. verb [VN] IDIOMS case the joint (informal) to look carefully around a building so that you can plan how to steal things from it at a later time \