beholden
Being under a moral or legal obligation to someone in return for a favor, service, or help. It describes a state of being indebted or bound by gratitude to another party.
Exemples
3 sur 5I don’t like asking for favors because I hate feeling beholden to anyone.
I dislike requesting assistance because I do not want to feel obligated to others.
The judge was accused of being beholden to the political interests of the ruling party.
The judge was criticized for being under the influence and obligation of the ruling party's interests.
You helped me out big time, but don't think I'm beholden to you forever!
You assisted me significantly, but do not assume I am permanently in your debt.
Antonymes
Famille de mots
Astuce mémo
Think of the phrase 'to be held'. If you are 'be-hold-en', someone is 'holding' a favor over you, and you are tied to them until the debt is paid.
Quiz rapide
After the bank bailed out the small firm, the owners felt ________ to the board of directors.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : beholden
Exemples
I don’t like asking for favors because I hate feeling beholden to anyone.
everydayI dislike requesting assistance because I do not want to feel obligated to others.
The judge was accused of being beholden to the political interests of the ruling party.
formalThe judge was criticized for being under the influence and obligation of the ruling party's interests.
You helped me out big time, but don't think I'm beholden to you forever!
informalYou assisted me significantly, but do not assume I am permanently in your debt.
Economic historians argue that the colony remained beholden to the empire long after formal independence.
academicScholars suggest the colony stayed dependent and obligated to the empire after achieving independence.
The CEO made it clear that the company is not beholden to its minor shareholders.
businessThe chief executive stated that the corporation has no specific obligations to its small-scale investors.
Antonymes
Famille de mots
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
beholden to special interests
controlled or influenced by groups seeking special advantages
to be beholden to someone's charity
to rely on and be obligated by someone's kindness
remain beholden
to continue to be in a state of obligation
Souvent confondu avec
'Beholding' is the present participle of 'behold' (meaning to see), while 'beholden' means being obligated.
'Behold' is a verb meaning to see or observe, whereas 'beholden' is an adjective describing a state of debt.
Notes d'usage
The word is almost always used with the preposition 'to'. While it can express simple gratitude, it often carries a negative connotation of being controlled by the person to whom one is indebted.
Erreurs courantes
Learners often try to use 'beholden' as a verb (e.g., 'I beholden him'). It must be used as an adjective with the verb 'to be' or 'to feel'.
Astuce mémo
Think of the phrase 'to be held'. If you are 'be-hold-en', someone is 'holding' a favor over you, and you are tied to them until the debt is paid.
Origine du mot
Originally the past participle of the Middle English 'beholden', which meant 'to hold' or 'to keep', implying that one is 'held' by an obligation.
Modèles grammaticaux
Contexte culturel
Often used in American political commentary to describe candidates who accept large donations from corporations.
Quiz rapide
After the bank bailed out the small firm, the owners felt ________ to the board of directors.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : beholden
Vocabulaire associé
Mots lis
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
people
A1People refers to a group of human beings or the general public. It is the standard plural form of the word 'person'.
put
A1To move something into a particular place or position. It is a fundamental verb used to describe the act of placing an object or setting a situation in a specific location.
mean
A1To have a specific sense or significance, especially when explaining a word or sign. It can also describe a person's intention or the importance of something to someone.
keep
A1To continue to have or hold something in your possession or at your disposal. It also means to remain in a specific state, condition, or position without changing.
begin
A1To start doing something or for an event to happen for the first time. It is often used to describe the first point of a process or activity.
seem
A1To give the impression of being something or having a particular quality based on what you see or hear. It is used to describe an appearance or feeling that may or may not be the actual truth.
help
A1To make it easier for someone to do something by offering your services, resources, or support. It can involve physical effort, providing information, or giving money to assist a person or a cause.
talk
A1To speak in order to give information or express ideas, feelings, or thoughts. It typically involves a conversation between two or more people or a person addressing an audience.
start
A1To begin doing something or to cause something to happen for the first time. It is frequently used when talking about movements, journeys, or making a machine or engine begin to work.
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