What Does “Ply sb with sth” Mean?
“Ply sb with sth” means to give someone a lot of something, usually food, drink, or questions, often to persuade or overwhelm them.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “ply sb with sth” is commonly used in English to describe the act of offering or supplying someone with a large amount of something, such as drinks, food, or even questions. It often suggests a sense of persistence or insistence, sometimes to influence the person or keep them busy. Understanding the “ply sb with sth meaning” helps learners recognize situations where someone might be overwhelmed or persuaded by repeated offers. This phrase is useful in social contexts, business, or storytelling, adding color and depth to conversations.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: ply somebody with something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to give someone a lot of something, often repeatedly
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Ply sb with sth” is a transitive phrasal verb and is inseparable. This means you cannot separate “ply” and “with” by inserting the object between them.
- Correct: She plied him with questions.
- Incorrect: She plied with him questions.
The structure follows this pattern:
- Subject + ply + somebody + with + something
How to Use “Ply sb with sth”?
You use “ply sb with sth” when describing situations where someone is offered or given a lot of something. This can be food, drinks, gifts, or even information. It often implies that the giving is persistent or intended to influence the other person.
For example, you might say, “They plied the guests with wine all evening,” meaning the guests were offered a lot of wine repeatedly.
Examples
Imagine you are at a party, and the host keeps offering you drinks. You could say:
- They plied me with champagne until I lost count.
- She plied the reporter with questions to get the full story.
- The salesperson plied customers with free samples to encourage buying.
- During the interview, the candidate was plied with difficult questions.
- He plied the children with sweets to keep them quiet.
These sentences show “ply sb with sth in a sentence” naturally in different contexts.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the order or misuse the preposition “with.” Here are some common errors:
- Incorrect: She plied with him drinks.
- Correct: She plied him with drinks.
- Incorrect: They plied us a lot of questions.
- Correct: They plied us with a lot of questions.
Remember, “ply” is always followed by the person, then “with,” then the thing given.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “flood sb with sth” and “bombard sb with sth.” While all can mean giving a lot of something, “ply sb with sth” often implies a more personal, repeated offering, usually to persuade or influence.
- Flood sb with sth: to give too much information or too many things at once.
- Bombard sb with sth: to overwhelm someone, especially with questions or information.
- Ply sb with sth: to offer repeatedly and often politely, usually food or drinks.
Use “ply sb with sth” when focusing on the act of persistent offering, especially in social or persuasive contexts.
Common Collocations
“Ply sb with sth” is often used with drinks, food, questions, or gifts. Here are common collocations:
- Drinks: wine, champagne, beer, cocktails
- Food: sweets, snacks, meals
- Questions: difficult questions, endless questions, personal questions
- Gifts: presents, freebies, samples
These collocations help you sound natural when using the phrase.
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “ply sb with sth”:
Anna: The host kept plied us with drinks all night!
Ben: Yeah, I had so many cocktails I almost lost count.
Anna: It’s a nice way to make guests feel welcome, but I had to say no at some point.
Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct form of “ply sb with sth”:
- They __________ the visitors __________ free samples throughout the event.
- She was __________ with questions during the interview.
- We were __________ delicious food at the party.
Answers:
- plied / with
- plied
- plied
FAQs
- What does “ply sb with sth” mean?
It means to give someone a lot of something, often repeatedly, like food or questions.
- Is “ply sb with sth” formal or informal?
It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Can you separate “ply” and “with”?
No, “ply sb with sth” is inseparable; you must keep “with” after the person.
- What kinds of things can you ply someone with?
Commonly drinks, food, questions, or gifts.
- Is “ply sb with sth” the same as “give sb sth”?
Not exactly. “Ply sb with sth” implies repeated or persistent offering, often to persuade.
