method

Useful expressions to express: METHOD 1

WAY/METHOD

1 a way or method of doing something

way

[n C]

There are several ways in which this can be done. | way to do sth I tried every way I could to make the child go to bed but she refused | What's the best way to remove wine stains? | way to do sth There's more than one way to build a house all builders work differently | way of doing sth A simple way of collecting examples of people talking naturally is to record a conversation at a dinner table | We're try ing to find a way of going to Russia overland | way (that) sb does sth Brenda is always finding fault in her son, she even criticizes the way he cleans his car | right/wrong way I'm going to tell you how to put on a plug Listen carefully because if you do it the wrong way you'll electrocute yourself

method

a way of doing something, especially a way that has several stages and is known about and used by a lot of people [n C]

When I bake cakes they always sink in the middle, I'm going to try a different method | method for/of doing sth A new method for trapping solar energy has been developed | Medical science has not yet found a satisfactory method of treating cholera | teaching methods In this school, staff are given complete freedom in their choice of language teaching methods

approach

a way of dealing with a particular problem, especially a way that has been carefully thought about [n C]

The main advantage of this approach is its simplicity | approach to sth Today's approach to advertising is very different to that of twenty years ago, | Space scientists had to adopt a whole new approach to material design and construction

technique

a special skill or way of doing something, especially one that has to be learned [n C]

Management by objectives is a well known management technique | Physiotherapists use a variety of techniques to aid recovery from injury | You'll have to improve your driving technique if you want to pass your test | Thanks to new surgical techniques, hip replacement operations have become much more successful | technique for doing sth A telephone survey is the most cost-efficient technique for screening a large number of households

strategy

a well-planned series of actions that are intended to achieve a particular aim, especially over a long period of time [n C]

strategy to do sth The company has to develop a strategy to increase exports | strategy for sth The government will today announce its new strategy for economic recovery | strategy of Terry achieved what he wanted through a strategy of persistence

system

a planned and effective way of doing something that you use every time you do it [n C]


I do the ironing and Andrew does the shopping, it's an excellent system | system of doing sth / work a lot more quickly now I've developed an efficient system of working | system for doing sth Renata thinks she's discovered a system for winning at roulette

tactics

methods that you use in order to achieve what you want, especially in a game or difficult situation [n plural]

Martin Luther King achieved great things by using nonviolent tactics | We discussed our tactics/or the forthcoming game observe the correct procedure for the use of ski lifts | correct/proper/standard procedure The stewards spent hours rehearsing the proper procedure for marshalling the huge crowds expected in the stadium | Sorry about the body search It's just standard procedure

2 the correct way of doing something

how to do sth

Could you show me how to change the tyre? | I don't know how to load this thing | My father taught me how to tie all the knots correctly | how to fill in your tax form

procedure

a planned and fixed method that is the correct or normal way of doing something [n C]

I wanted to get a new passport but I didn't know the procedure | follow the procedure It is very important to follow the safety procedures laid down in the hand book | procedure for doing sth The Personnel Officer will tell you what the procedure is for applying for a transfer | observe a procedure When ski ing do not push into queues and always

3 something you use as a way of achieving the result you want

means

(plural means) [n C]

means to do sth They were accused of using dishonest means to achieve victory in the election | means of doing sth Video is an excellent means of bringing living language into the classroom | means to an end (=a way, usually unpleasant, of achieving a particular result) The team wanted to win the match, so foul play was a means to an end

tool

a particular method or system that you use to obtain a result, especially in business or politics [n C]

Interest rates are one of the Finance Minister s main tools of economic policy | The subsidy system is the EEC's main tool for equalizing the agricultural incomes of member countries | Some international arms dealers see bribery as a marketing tool

instrument

system, method, or law that is used by people in power to get a particular result [n C]

instrument for doing sth Tax cuts are the most important instrument the government has for stimulating the economy | The Poor Laws were seen as an instrument of oppression

medium

(plural media) a technical word for a physical or electronic method used for giving people information, for example the telephone, television, newspapers etc [n C]


Newspaper advertising is the medium most frequently used by local shops | Video is a medium of great variety and flexibility in the classroom | Together the two directors explored the capabilities of the camera and the film medium

4 a way of achieving success, happiness etc

route/path

[n C usually singular]

route/path to An effective plan is the best route to a profitable business | Hard work was perceived by the child as the only available path to happiness and success | route/path Some people become managers by leaving school at an early age and working their way up through a company, but most choose the educational route

gateway to

an expression used especially in advertising, meaning a way of gaining success by studying, reading etc [n singular]

The college claims that its diplomas are a gateway to success | Our new range of English Language work books are the gateway to fluency in English

passport to

a way of gaining success that makes it easy for you to do things which most people cannot do [n singular]

This qualification is a passport to an excellent job | Being white, he possesses the natural passport to privileges in South Africa

key

the most important means of making progress or achieving success [n singular]

key to sth Good communication is the key to successful management | The key to survival in semi-desert regions is the careful use of land | key In all types of advice work, confidentiality is the key

secret

a way of becoming happy, healthy, successful etc that only one person knows and everyone else would like to know [n singular]

Mr Richie, you're a millionaire at the age of twenty, what's the secret of your success? | I don't know what her secret is but she always gets top marks in the exams.

recipe for/formula for

a method of getting a result has been carefully planned by someone who has considered a number of different ideas, suggestions etc [n singular]

The Minister offered a formula for economic progress | Patience and understanding are the recipe for a happy marriage | We thought that our new business strategy was a recipe for success but the recession has made it unworkable

5 a clever and perhaps dishonest way of getting what you want

lactic

[n C]

He threatened you with legal action? It's a tactic he's used before | tactic of We are all familiar with the tactic of turning our back on someone to keep them out of a conversation | change your tactics


His aggressive approach was not making his staff work harder so he had to change his tactics | delaying tactic The question was not serious, just a delay ing tactic to stop her leaving the room

ploy

a clever method of gaining an advantage, especially by deceiving someone [n C]

Susan tried to make Ian leave his wife and marry her, but her ploy failed | ploy to do sth He's not really ill, it's just a ploy to make us feel sorry for him | The opening of the new nursery was a cunning ploy to win women's votes in the election

device

an action intended to achieve a certain aim, especially an aim that is morally wrong [n C]

The meeting was a cheap device to get publicity for the new film | The proposed voting change is nothing but a device to secure dominance for Mr Lee's party

expedient

a clever way of dealing with a difficult situation, especially one that you have had to think of quickly and that is effective even though it may be morally wrong [n C]

The pact with the Social Democrats is just another sleazy little expedient to help the government to cling to power | by the expedient of I had locked myself out of the house, so I got in by the simple expedient of climbing through the window

ways and means

clever methods of getting an advantage, especially by doing something that is unusual or secret [n phrase]

"How are we going to make Julie believe us?" asked lan nervously "Don't you worry, there are ways and means," replied his friend | ways and means of Dealers have ways and means of making people smuggle drugs for them

6 ways of saying or asking by what method something is done

how

[adv]

This cake is really delicious How did you make it? | Some dogs are obedient and some dogs aren't, it depends on how you train them | how to do sth My uncle taught me how to ride a bike when I was eight years old

somehow

if you do something somehow you do it by using any method that is available [adv]

There's a bus strike but lan will get here somehow | I don't know how I'm going to get Susan to give up smoking, but I'm going to do it somehow | The newspaper had somehow got hold of some secret government papers | somehow or other I'll find out her address somehow or other

by

through the use of a particular method [prep]

by doing sth I persuaded her to come to the party by telling her Paul would be there | You can stop a cheque by making a simple telephone call to your bank | Make sure the patient is comfortable by lying them on their side and covering them with a blanket | by sth All decisions are made by a straight vote of all club members.

by means of


if you do something by means of a method, you achieve a result by using it [prep]

The easiest way of producing hydrogen from water is by means of electrolysis | The economic teacher showed, by means of a clear diagram, how an increase in demand affects profit

method

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