Basic Details
Word: Detain
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To hold someone back or keep them in a certain place, especially by authority or for a purpose.
Synonyms: Hold, restrain, confine
Antonyms: Release, free, liberate
Idioms and Phrases
- Detain for questioning: Used when someone is held by authorities to ask them questions about a situation. Example: "The police decided to detain him for questioning about the incident."
- Detain in limbo: Referring to someone being left in a state of uncertainty regarding their situation. Example: "She felt detained in limbo while waiting for her visa approval."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The officer had to detain the suspect until the investigation was complete.
Example 2: The school decided to detain students who were late to class for an hour after school.
Example 3: It is not right to detain someone without providing a reason for their confinement.
Fun Fact
The word "detain" comes from the Latin word "detinere", which combines "de-" meaning "down" and "tenere" meaning "to hold". It indicates the act of holding someone in a place against their will.
Famous Quote
"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." Michelangelo. (Though this quote is not about detainment, it reflects on the dangers of not striving for freedom.)
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "detain" mean?
a) To release someone
b) To hold someone back
c) To greet someone
d) To ignore someone
Answer: b) To hold someone back
2. Which of these is a synonym of "detain"?
a) Release
b) Free
c) Hold
d) Liberate
Answer: c) Hold
3. Which sentence uses "detain" correctly?
a) They decided to detain the celebration until everyone arrived.
b) She was happy to detain the gift in her hands.
c) The police had to detain the suspect for further investigation.
d) He will detain his bike in the park tomorrow.
Answer: c) The police had to detain the suspect for further investigation.
4. Which idiom means the same as "detain"?
a) Detain for questioning
b) Free as a bird
c) Let the cat out of the bag
d) Hold your horses
Answer: a) Detain for questioning
5. What is the opposite of "detain"?
a) Bind
b) Keep
c) Release
d) Restrain
Answer: c) Release
