pledge

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: College

pledge1 /pledʒ/ ●○○ noun [countable]  1  promise 保证,诺言 formalPROMISE a serious promise or agreement, especially one made publicly or officially 〔尤指公开或正式作出的〕誓言，誓约；保证pledge of a pledge of support for the plan 支持该计划的誓约pledge to do something the government’s pledge to make no deals with terrorists 政府不向恐怖分子妥协的保证make/take/give a pledge Parents make a pledge to take their children to rehearsals. 家长作了保证答应带孩子去参加排练。keep/fulfil/honour a pledge Eisenhower fulfilled his election pledge to end the war in Korea. 艾森豪威尔结束了战争，履行了他的竞选承诺。2  money 金钱 a promise to give money to an organization 捐款承诺 Donors have made pledges totaling nearly $4 million. 捐款人承诺提供总额近400万美元的捐助。pledge of a pledge of $200 to the public TV station 向公共电视台捐款200美元的承诺3. STH valuable 有价值的东西PROMISE something valuable that you leave with someone else as proof that you will do what you have agreed to do 抵押物4. us colleges 美国大学SEC someone who has promised to become a member of a fraternity or sorority at an American university 宣誓加入男生[女生]联谊会的人n COLLOCATIONSverbsmake/give a pledgeSeveral European countries made similar pledges.take a pledge literary (=make one, especially formally)He took a pledge never to drink again.keep a pledge (=do what you promised to do)He has not kept his election pledges.fulfil/honour a pledge (=more formal than keep)The time is coming when they will have to honour that pledge.renege on a pledge formal (=not keep it)The government reneged on its electoral pledges.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + pledgean election/campaign/manifesto pledgeThe governor had kept her campaign pledge to slash taxes.a spending pledge British English:I asked him to clarify Labour’s spending pledges.a firm pledgeHe also gave a firm pledge to build up the National Health Service.a solemn pledgeWe will not forget. That is a solemn pledge.

Examples from the Corpus

pledge• Reminiscing about events that are now more than 50 years old, Dole said he could still remember being a pledge trainer.• Insured bonds carry a pledge from a private backer to pay interest and principal on the bonds if the issuer defaults.• Today, at Shiv Shakti, a health post is being opened; a pledge that the people intend to stay here.• All 43 Texas Cowboys and pledges who were at the initiation picnic in Bastrop County tell strikingly similar stories about that night.• The Government has fulfilled at least 50% of its election pledges.• Some studies of specific election pledges and their fulfilment by governments have already been made.• He said he hopes Clinton will follow through on his pledge to restore aid to legal immigrants in later legislation.• We have received pledges of help from various organizations.• The coup leaders have ignored their pledges to hold democratic elections.• Therefore they do not apply to pledges.pledge to do something• Lewis was perfectly correct, even politically correct, to insist that Bowe had reneged on a pledge to fight him first.• To keep campaign pledges to make education his top priority, Clinton wants two new middle-class tax breaks for college tuition.• The President has pledged to make welfare reform a success.• Last month they promised to deal with Gordon Brown's November pledge to reduce road tax.• The suit further alleges that the sheik reneged on repeated oral pledges to provide for her long-term care.• It didn't improve the band's pledge to give value for money.• His speech carried a surprising pledge to end by March a nationwide plague of salary arrears.• Anne and Sarah were true to their pledge to enjoy every moment of their lives after their fright the previous September.

Related topics: College

pledge2 ●○○ verb [transitive]  1  PROMISEpromise 发誓 to make a formal, usually public, promise that you will do something 发誓，保证，许诺pledge something to something/somebody Moore pledged $100,000 to the orchestra at the fund-raising dinner. 在筹款晚宴上穆尔承诺向那支管弦乐队提供10万美元资助。pledge to do something The new governor pledged to reduce crime. 新任州长承诺降低犯罪率。pledge that Herrera pledged that his company would give aid to schools. 赫雷拉承诺他的公司将向学校提供援助。pledge (your) support/loyalty/solidarity etc He pledged his cooperation. 他保证合作。pledge yourself to (do) something Trade unions pledged themselves to resist the government plans. 工会发誓要抵制政府的计划。► see thesaurus at promise2  PROMISEmake SB promise 使某人保证 to make someone formally promise something 使〔某人〕发誓[保证，许诺] Employees were pledged to secrecy. 员工被要求保证严守秘密。3. PROMISEleave STH 留下某物 to leave something with someone as a pledge1(3) 抵押，典当4. SECus colleges 美国大学 to promise to become a member of a fraternity or sorority at an American university 〔在美国的大学〕宣誓加入男生[女生]联谊会→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

pledge• Britain has pledged £1.3 million to the UN for refugee work.• Moore has pledged $100,000 to the symphony.• The government has pledged £500,000 worth of aid to the drought- stricken area.• The U.S. has pledged aid to the country.• Should new citizens of Canada pledge allegiance to the queen of Great Britain?• Our switchboard was flooded with calls and thousands bombarded our appeal hotline to pledge donations.• And he pledged that the hospital will be only one facet of a much wider menu of mental health programs.• Rakhmanov immediately pledged to end the fighting.• He recalls Joe Scott blaming the problems on an improperly updated computer system, and pledging to make corrections.• Later Tesco pledged to replace the trees at Golden Hill, Bristol.• Many rock stars have pledged to support the campaign to save the rainforests.• President Clinton supports most of the bill, but has pledged to veto it if the education amendment is included.pledge to do something• Couples who register pledge to be jointly responsible for their basic living expenses.• On Jan. 5 he pledged to continue and consolidate the free-market reforms started by the Mazowiecki government.• Three successive Home Secretaries have stood at the Dispatch Box and pledged to do away with holding prisoners in police cells.• It has pledged to end the deeply unpopular draft and to reduce the 80,000-strong army.• The film companies, however, were pledged to fight the new medium to the last ditch.• More than 400 Wensleydale Smokebusters have pledged to help support some one wanting to give up cigarettes.• The Government stopped it and pledged to save the mountain.From Longman Business Dictionarypledgepledge1 /pledʒ/ noun [countable]1journalism a formal, usually public, promise that you will do somethingthe President’s pledge to make employment his priority2LAWFINANCEsomething that you offer as SECURITY (=an asset that lenders can take if you do not repay) when you borrow moneyHe may have given the painting to someone as a pledge to secure a loan.pledgepledge2 verb [transitive]1journalism to make a formal, usually public, promise that you will do somethingSeveral national charities have pledged money to build the centre.pledge to do somethingThe government pledged to draw up a program for growth and employment.2LAWFINANCEwhen you borrow money, to offer something you own as SECURITY (=something that lenders have a right to take and sell if you do not repay)He will pledge virtually all of his assets, including his personal residences, to secure his borrowings.→ See Verb tableOrigin pledge1 (1300-1400) Old French plege, from Late Latin plebium, from plebere “to pledge”

pledge1 noun →n COLLOCATIONS1pledge2 verbLDOCE OnlineChinese  

or promise serious Business especially agreement, one a publicly made Corpus

pledge

I

pledge¹ /pledʒ/ noun [countable]1.  PROMISE formal a serious promise or agreement, especially one made publicly or officially
    pledge of
    a pledge of support for the plan
    pledge to do something
    the government’s pledge to make no deals with terrorists
    make/take/give a pledge
    Parents make a pledge to take their children to rehearsals.
    keep/fulfil/honour a pledge
    Eisenhower fulfilled his election pledge to end the war in Korea.
2.  MONEY a promise to give money to an organization:
    Donors have made pledges totaling nearly $4 million.
    pledge of
    a pledge of $200 to the public TV station
3.  SOMETHING VALUABLE something valuable that you leave with someone else as proof that you will do what you have agreed to do
4.  US COLLEGES someone who has promised to become a member of a fraternity or sorority at an American university
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ make/give a pledge Several European countries made similar pledges.
   ▪ take a pledge literary (=make one, especially formally) He took a pledge never to drink again.
   ▪ keep a pledge (=do what you promised to do) He has not kept his election pledges.
   ▪ fulfil/honour a pledge (=more formal than keep) The time is coming when they will have to honour that pledge.
   ▪ renege on a pledge formal (=not keep it) The government reneged on its electoral pledges.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + pledge
   ▪ an election/campaign/manifesto pledge The governor had kept her campaign pledge to slash taxes.
   ▪ a spending pledge BrE: I asked him to clarify Labour’s spending pledges.
   ▪ a firm pledge He also gave a firm pledge to build up the National Health Service.
   ▪ a solemn pledge We will not forget. That is a solemn pledge.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ promise a statement that you will definitely do or provide something, which may not be reliable: ‘I’ll call you tomorrow.’ ‘Is that a promise?’ | Politicians are always making promises.
   ▪ pledge a public or official promise to do a particular thing in the future: The Government has fulfilled at least 50% of its election pledges. | We have received pledges of help from various organizations.
   ▪ vow a very serious promise to do something or not to do something that you choose to make: He made a vow never to drink alcohol again. | your marriage vows
   ▪ oath a formal promise, especially one that someone makes in a court of law: Witnesses swear a solemn oath to tell the truth. | Public officials must take an oath to support the US Constitution.
   ▪ undertaking a serious or public promise to do something, especially something difficult which needs a lot of effort or money: The police have given an undertaking to reduce street crime in the city centre. | He was made to sign a written undertaking that he would not go within a mile of her house.
   ▪ assurance a promise that something will happen or is true, made so that someone is less worried or more confident: You have my assurance that it won’t happen again. | The manager gave me his personal assurance that the goods would be delivered today.
   ▪ guarantee a very definite promise that something will happen. A guarantee is also a formal written promise by a company to repair or replace a product free if it has a fault within a fixed period of time.: With any diet, there’s no guarantee of success. | I’m afraid I can’t give you a 100% guarantee. | Is the camera still under guarantee (=within the period during which it can be repaired or replaced free)?

II

pledge² verb [transitive]
1.  PROMISE to make a formal, usually public, promise that you will do something
    pledge something to something/somebody
    Moore pledged $100,000 to the orchestra at the fund-raising dinner.
    pledge to do something
    The new governor pledged to reduce crime.
    pledge that
    Herrera pledged that his company will give aid to schools.
    pledge (your) support/loyalty/solidarity etc
    He pledged his cooperation.
    pledge yourself to (do) something
    Trade unions pledged themselves to resist the government plans.
2.  MAKE SOMEBODY PROMISE to make someone formally promise something:
    Employees were pledged to secrecy.
3.  LEAVE SOMETHING to leave something with someone as a pledge¹(3)
4.  US COLLEGES to promise to become a member of a fraternity or sorority at an American university
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ promise to tell someone that you will definitely do something, or that something will happen: He promised to give the book back. | The organisers have promised that this year’s event will take place.
   ▪ swear to make a very serious and sincere promise, for example in a law court: He had sworn to tell the truth. | I would never do that, I swear.
   ▪ give somebody your word especially spoken to promise sincerely that you will do something or that something is true – often used when you are trying to persuade someone that they can trust you: I give you my word that your money is safe with me. | I’ll let you go out tonight if you give me your word that you’ll be home by 11.
   ▪ vow to make a very serious promise, often to yourself: She vowed that she would never drink alcohol again. | They vowed to carry on their campaign for justice.
   ▪ assure to promise someone that something will happen or that something is true, in order to try to make them feel less worried: Police have assured the public that they are doing everything they can to find the killer.
   ▪ guarantee to promise that you will make sure that something will definitely happen, so that there is no question of it not happening: I guarantee that you will have the documents by tomorrow. | How can you guarantee that this won’t happen again?
   ▪ pledge to promise publicly or officially that you will do something, for example to give help or money: The government has pledged to increase overseas aid to $4 billion over the next five years.
   ▪ undertake formal to make an official or legal promise to do something: The government undertook to keep price increases to a minimum. | The two sides undertook to respect each other’s territory.
   ▪ commit to something formal to make a firm and definite promise to do something important, which will affect you for a long time and which could result in serious effects if you fail: Bobby felt unready to commit to a romantic relationship. | A group of 11 companies has committed to developing a new passenger plane.