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Key Words: INTEREST

Meaning and Usage  

Noun Expressions

show interest (in sth)

      e.g. The boy showed an interest in football.

lose interest (in sth) = stop being interested

      e.g. Soon after the play had started, I lost interest and decided to leave the theatre.

arouse/generate/attract interest = make sb interested

    e.g. The speech he made at the conference generated lots of interest.

great/keen interest

      e.g. I listened to the radio show with great interest.

    be of (no) interest (to sb) = be interesting or not interesting to sb

      e.g. It’s a book that will be of interest to a wide range of readers.

    be in sb’s (best) interest(s) (to do sth) = be the best thing for sb

      e.g. It was in the local residents’ best interests to build a new bridge over the river.

    have sb’s (best) interests at heart = care about sb and want to do what is best for them

      e.g. Her parents always have her best interests at heart.

    in the interest of justice/safety/efficiency etc = in order to make situation fair, safe etc

      e.g. In the interest of justice, this person had to appear before the court.

             (just) out of interest/as a matter of interest = (spoken) asking a question only because you are

               interested and not because you need to know 

      e.g. Just out of interest, how much did it cost?

  have no interest in doing sth = do not want to do sth

      e.g. I have no interest in watching the football match because I don’t like football.

 Verb Expressions

        interest yourself in sth = give sth a lot of attention because you want to find out more about it

      e.g. She has always interested herself in charity works.

  interest sb in sth =to persuade sb to buy, do or eat sth

      e.g. The salesman tried to interest me in the higher priced model.

            Could I interest you in a drink?

Exercise 1:  

Write one word in each gap:

1.   The private lives of celebrities              no interest      me.

2.   Smoking is forbidden in this area       the interest      safety.

3.   Just             interest, what time did the party finish last night?

4.   The girl started to          an interest in cooking.

5.   The tailor tried to             me       a different material.

6.   I think that it is       your         interests         remain in this company.

7.   The advertisement has been successful in                  public interest.

8.   I               interest       going to pubs, because I don’t like drinking.  

9.   He started to learn the French language, but soon he           interest and gave it up.

10. I have a ______ interest ___ birdwatching.  I go every weekend.

Answers

Answers

1.   The private lives of celebrities is of no interest to me.

2.   Smoking is forbidden in this area in the interest of safety.

3.   Just out of interest, what time did the party finish last night?

4.   The girl started to show an interest in cooking.

5.   The tailor tried to interest me in a different material.

6.   I think that it is in your best interests to remain in this company.

7.   The advertisement has been successful in attracting/generating/arousing public interest.

8.   I have no interest in going to pubs, because I don’t like drinking.  

9.   He started to learn the French language, but soon he lost interest and gave it up.

10. I have a keen/great interest in birdwatching.  I go every weekend.