would rather

would rather
would rather phrase
used for saying that you would prefer to do something or that you would prefer that something happened

I’d rather you didn’t mention this matter to anyone else.

He doesn’t want to learn – he’d rather stay at home and play video games.

would rather...than:

They said they would rather die than abandon their homes.

would rather not (=would prefer not to do something):

You don’t need to come if you’d rather not.

Thesaurus: preferring and preferencesynonym
Main entry: rather

* * *

would rather
— used to indicate what you want or prefer to do, have, etc.

She would rather drive than take the train.

I would rather you didn't tell them. [=I would prefer it if you didn't tell them]

We'd rather go somewhere warm. [=we'd prefer to go somewhere warm]

“If you'd rather, we can go outside.” “No, thanks–I'd rather not.”

Which beach would you rather [=would you like to] go to?

• • •
Main Entry:rather

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Would rather — Rather Rath er (r[a^][th] [ e]r; 277), adv. [AS. hra[eth]or, compar. of hra[eth]e, hr[ae][eth]e, quickly, immediately. See {Rath}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. Earlier; sooner; before. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Thou shalt, quod he, be rather false than I.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • would rather — used for saying that you would prefer to do something or that you would prefer that something happened I d rather you didn t mention this matter to anyone else. He doesn t want to learn – he d rather stay at home and play video games. would… …   English dictionary

  • would rather … (than) — would rather… (than) idiom (usually reduced to d rather) would prefer to • She d rather die than give a speech. • ‘Do you want to come with us?’ ‘No, I d rather not.’ • Wo …   Useful english dictionary

  • would rather die — or would die first used for emphasizing that you refuse to do something …   English dictionary

  • would rather die — would die first phrase used for emphasizing that you refuse to do something Thesaurus: way of saying that you will not do somethingsynonym Main entry: die …   Useful english dictionary

  • would rather — See had better, had rather …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • would rather — indicating one s preference in a particular matter. → rather …   English new terms dictionary

  • Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch! — is an enduring slogan which appeared in magazine, newspaper, and television advertisements for Tareyton cigarettes from 1963 until 1981. It was the American Tobacco Company s most visible ad campaign in the 1960s and 1970s.BeginningsThe slogan… …   Wikipedia

  • had or would rather — idi had or would rather, to prefer that or to: I had much rather we not stay[/ex] …   From formal English to slang

  • rather — 1. Rather is common in BrE as a so called ‘downtoner’, i.e. an adverb that reduces the effect of the following adjective, adverb, or noun, as in It is rather expensive, You were driving rather fast, and He s rather a fool. With nouns, the… …   Modern English usage

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