can ill afford (to do) something — phrase used for saying that someone should definitely not do something because it will cause problems We could ill afford another argument with the publisher. The soldiers can ill afford to wait another 24 hours before receiving orders. Thesaurus … Useful english dictionary
ill — ill1 [il] adj. worse, worst [ME < ON illr (replacing OE yfel, evil, in many senses): prob. < Gmc * ilhila < IE base * elk , hungry, bad > OIr elc, bad] 1. characterized by, causing, or tending to cause harm or evil; specif., a)… … English World dictionary
ill — [[t]ɪ̱l[/t]] ♦♦ ills 1) ADJ GRADED: usu v link ADJ Someone who is ill is suffering from a disease or a health problem. In November 1941 Payne was seriously ill with pneumonia... I was feeling ill... If damp, musty buildings make you ill, mould is … English dictionary
ill — ill1 W3S3 [ıl] adj [Date: 1100 1200; : Old Norse; Origin: illr] 1.) especially BrE suffering from a disease or not feeling well American Equivalent: sick ▪ Bridget can t come she s ill. ▪ I was feeling ill that day and decided to stay at home. ▪… … Dictionary of contemporary English
ill — ill1 W3S3 [ıl] adj [Date: 1100 1200; : Old Norse; Origin: illr] 1.) especially BrE suffering from a disease or not feeling well American Equivalent: sick ▪ Bridget can t come she s ill. ▪ I was feeling ill that day and decided to stay at home. ▪… … Dictionary of contemporary English
ill — ill1 [ ıl ] adjective ** 1. ) not healthy, because of a medical condition or an injury: He s been ill for a couple of weeks. She was too ill to travel. mentally ill patients terminally ill (=going to die because of an illness)… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
ill — I UK [ɪl] / US adjective Word forms ill : adjective ill comparative worse superlative worst *** 1) not healthy, because of a medical condition or an injury. The usual American word is sick He s been ill for a couple of weeks. She was too ill to… … English dictionary
afford — v. 1) to well afford 2) (formal) (A) it afforded great pleasure to him; or: it afforded him great pleasure 3)(E; preceded by the forms: can cannot can t could) we cannot afford to buy a new house; we can ill afford to lose this contract 4)… … Combinatory dictionary
ill — 1 /Il/ adjective 1 (not usually before noun) especially BrE suffering from a disease or not feeling well; sick: Bridget can t come she s ill. | feel ill: I was feeling ill that day, and decided to stay at home. | be taken ill/fall ill (=become… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
afford — verb ADVERB ▪ easily, well ▪ She can well afford to pay for herself. ▪ barely, hardly, ill, just, not really … Collocations dictionary