1 ~ sb (from doing sth) to order sb not to do sth; to order that sth must not be done:
[VN] He forbade them from mentioning the subject again. * Her father forbade the marriage. * [VNtoinf] You are all forbidden to leave. * [VNN] My doctor has forbidden me sugar. [also VN-ing, V-ing]
2 (formal) to make it difficult or impossible to do sth:
[VN] Lack of space forbids further treatment of the topic here. [also VNtoinf]
IDIOMS
God / Heaven forbid (that...) (spoken) used to say that you hope that sth will not happen:
'Maybe you'll end up as a lawyer, like me.' 'God forbid!'
HELPNOTE Some people find this use offensive.
