Aid & Assistance: English Vocabulary List

to offer help to someone who cannot provide their basic needs for themselves or are in an extremely difficult situation

"He helped a lame dog over a stile."

"She always helps a lame dog over a stile, even when she is very busy with her own problems."

to give a person help or assistance in doing something

"Can you lend me a hand?"

"My neighbor kindly gave me a hand when I was trying to move the heavy furniture into my new apartment."

to protect or hide another person's mistakes or misdeeds, often by providing a false or misleading account of the situation

"She covered for her friend yesterday."

"He tried to cover up for his brother by telling the teacher a completely different story about the incident."

a way of showing one's support or approval of someone by shouting loudly to encourage them or inviting others to do the same

"Three cheers for the winner."

"Three cheers for the brave firefighters who saved the family from the burning building."

to be strict, especially toward someone close to one, to help them improve or become stronger

"He plays the bad guy."

"The coach decided to play the bad guy and shout at the team to motivate them to try harder."

to stop acting passively and start to have a helpful role in doing something

"Make yourself useful."

"Instead of just standing there, try to make yourself useful by helping with the dishes."

to say or do something with the intention of helping someone even though it might hurt their feelings or seem unkind

"Sometimes you must be cruel to be kind."

"The doctor was cruel to be kind by telling the patient the truth about his serious illness."

to suddenly appear to help someone

"He rode in on white horse."

"The team was struggling until the star player arrived, riding in on a white horse to save the game."

in the process of being taken care of or dealt with by someone who has the skill or experience

"Your children are in good hands here."

"Do not worry about your children because they are in good hands with our experienced babysitter."

to be willing to provide someone with help and support whenever they need it

"Her friends were there for her."

"My best friend has always been there for me whenever I needed someone to talk to during difficult times."

to show concern about someone, often someone who is in trouble, and do one's best to help them

"She has your best interests at heart."

"I really believe that the new manager has our best interests at heart when she makes these difficult decisions."

an act that can be helpful to someone

"A good turn helped."

"One good turn deserves another and he helped his neighbor who had helped him last week."

an encouraging and motivational speech or conversation given to boost someone's enthusiasm, confidence, or determination, especially before a challenging task or event

"The coach gave a pep talk."

"The coach gave a pep talk and the team ran onto the field with renewed energy and determination."

in a difficult, desperate, or vulnerable situation where help or intervention may be needed

"He was on his knees."

"The small business owner found himself on his knees, desperately seeking a loan to avoid bankruptcy."

a person or a place that can help one overcome a difficult situation

"The library was a port in a storm."

"The small caf� was a port in a storm when we got caught in the sudden downpour without umbrellas."

to surrender oneself to the mercy or control of another

"They lie before him."

"After their defeat, the defeated soldiers had no choice but to lie before the victorious general."

to save someone or something from a difficult or dangerous situation

"He pulled the fat from the fire."

"My best friend always pulls the fat from the fire whenever I make a terrible mistake at work."

in the process of being taken care of or dealt with by someone who has the skill or experience

"The baby is in good hands."

"With the experienced surgeon, the patient's health was undoubtedly in good hands."

in a state of weakness, exhaustion, or desperation, reduced to begging or pleading

"He was on one's knees."

"After losing his job and savings, he found himself on one's knees, begging for help."