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trade on sth
— phrasal verb with trade /treɪd/ verbDefinition
› to use something, especially a characteristic, for your own advantage and usually in an unfair way: People are always trading on his generosity. This kind of advertising trades on people's fears. He trades on his good looks.Using and misusing
(Definition of trade on sth from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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SMART Thesaurus: Using and misusing
Synonyms and related words:
- adopt verb (START USING)
- adoption noun (STARTING TO USE)
- avail yourself of sth phrasal verb
- be (of) (any/some) use idiom
- be/go heavy on sth idiom
- exhaust verb (USE)
- get/muscle in on the act idiom
- give/allow sth full play idiom
- go into sth phrasal verb (BE USED)
- go through sth phrasal verb (USE)
- gobble sth up phrasal verb
- spare verb (TRY HARD)
- spent adjective
- swallow verb (TAKE AWAY)
- take sth from sb phrasal verb
- tap verb (GET)
- turn sth over phrasal verb (USE)
- turn to sth phrasal verb
- turn/use sth to good account idiom
- underused adjective
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