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Definition
A keyword: an important word to learn case   Show phonetics
noun
1 SITUATION [C] a particular situation or example of something
People were imprisoned, and, in some cases, killed for their beliefs.
We usually ask for references, but in your case it will not be necessary.
The whole film is based on a case of mistaken identity.

2 COURT OF LAW [C] something that is decided in a court of law
a libel/criminal/divorce case
He lost his case.

3 CRIME [C] a crime that police are trying to solve
a murder case
Police in the town have investigated 50 cases of burglary in the past month.

4 ILLNESS [C] an illness, or somebody with an illness
4,000 new cases of the disease are diagnosed every year.

5 be the case to be true
Bad diet can cause tiredness, but I don't think that's the case here.

6 REASONS [C] facts or reasons that prove a particular opinion
[usually singular] There is a strong case for/against bringing in the new legislation.
(mainly UK) He put the case for more funding very convincingly.

7 CONTAINER [C] a container for storing or protecting something
a pencil case
a cigarette case
The statues are kept in a glass case.

8 BAG [C] UK ANOTHER WORD FOR suitcase (= a rectangular bag or container with a handle which you use for carrying clothes in when you are travelling)

9 (just) in case because something might happen, or might have happened
I don't think that it's going to rain, but I'll bring a raincoat just in case.

10 in any case
used to give another reason for something that you are saying, or that you have done
I don't want to go skiing and, in any case, I can't afford it.

11 in that case/in which case because that is the situation/if that is the situation
"Peter's coming tonight." "Oh, in that case, I'll stay in."

12 be a case of doing sth to be necessary to do something
We know that we're right. It's just a case of proving it.

13 in case of sth FORMAL when something happens, or in preparation for when something happens
We keep a bucket of water backstage, in case of fire.

14 a case in point
a good example of something
Supermarkets often charge too much for goods. Bananas are a case in point.

15 be/get on sb's case INFORMAL
to criticize someone in an annoying way because of something that they have done
She's always on my case about something.

16 be on the case UK INFORMAL
to be doing what needs to be done
See also: lower case, upper case

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