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ask verb [ ɑːsk ]

• say something in order to obtain an answer or some information.
• "I asked her what she meant"
Similar: inquire (of), query, want to know, question, put a question to, interrogate, quiz, cross-question, cross-examine, catechize, grill, pump, give the third degree to, put, put forward, pose, raise, submit, propose, seek/get the answer to,
Opposite: answer,
• say to (someone) that one wants them to do or give something.
• "Mary asked her father for money"
Similar: request, demand, appeal to, apply to, petition, call on, entreat, beg, implore, exhort, urge, enjoin, importune, pray, solicit, beseech, plead with, sue, supplicate, seek, put in for, call for, crave,
• invite (someone) to one's home or a function.
• "it's about time we asked Pam to dinner"
Similar: invite, bid, have someone over/round, summon,

ask noun

• a demand or situation that requires a specified degree of effort or commitment.
• "it is a big ask for him to go and play 90 minutes"
• a request, especially for a donation.
• "it was an awkward ask for more funding"
Origin: Old English āscian, āhsian, āxian, of West Germanic origin.

ask me another

• used to indicate that one does not know the answer to a question.
"‘What do they quarrel about?’ queried Ruth. ‘Ask me another!’"

be asking for trouble

• behave in a way that is likely to result in difficulty for oneself.
"it would simply be asking for trouble for me to spend the night here"

don't ask me!

• used to indicate that one has no idea of the answer to a question.
"‘Is he her boyfriend then?’ ‘Don't ask me!’"

for the asking

• used to indicate that someone can easily have something if they want it.
"the job was his for the asking"

I ask you!

• an exclamation of shock or disapproval intended to elicit agreement from one's listener.
"ringing me up on Christmas Day, I ask you!"

if you ask me

• used to emphasize that a statement is one's personal opinion.
"if you ask me, it's just an excuse for laziness"

ask after

• inquire about the health or well-being of someone.
"if I see him I'll tell him you were asking after him"

ask around

• talk to different people in order to find out something.
"there are fine meals to be had if you ask around"

ask for

• say that one wants to speak to someone.
"when I arrived I asked for Katherine"

ask out

• invite someone out on a date.
"a few boys asked her out but never the right ones"

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