Read along with the three podcasts, or open the full dictionary entry for Prise for the definition, Arabic meaning, synonyms and example sentences.
Narrator: Today's word is "Prise" — verb, pronounced /praɪz/, with the stress on "prise".
Narrator: To prise means to force something open or apart, usually with a tool.
Narrator: In plain English, you lever it open.
Narrator: It comes from the Old French prise, a grasp or hold.
Narrator: A common collocation is "prise open a lid", which describes forcing a tight lid off.
Narrator: It differs from "prize", which means a reward, though Americans spell the verb prize or pry.
Narrator: In a figurative sense, to prise information out of someone means to get it with difficulty.
Narrator: DIY, archaeology, journalism and police work all rely on the word.
Narrator: So remember: to prise is to force open.
Speaker A: How do I get this paint tin open?
Speaker B: Prise it with a screwdriver! PRISE comes from the Old French for a grip.
Speaker A: And Americans say pry?
Speaker B: Usually, yes.
Speaker A: Example sentences?
Speaker B: "He prised the lid off", opening. "She prised the truth out of him", effort. "They prised the boards apart", DIY.
Speaker A: Common mistakes?
Speaker B: In British English, prise means to force open, while prize means a reward.
Speaker A: Close relatives?
Speaker B: Lever is its cousin, pry is its American twin, and force is the blunt alternative, but prise keeps its crowbar charm!
Speaker B: Let's use "prise" in AI prompts — useful for repair guides and journalism tools.
Speaker A: How would repair guides use it?
Speaker B: Safe steps.
Prompt: Write safe steps to prise open a phone case without damaging the screen.
Speaker A: And journalism tools?
Speaker B: Interview technique.
Prompt: Suggest five open questions to gently prise details from a reluctant source.
Speaker A: Could it help spelling tools?
Speaker B: Yes, homophones.
Prompt: Flag misuses of prize and prise in this British English text.
Speaker A: One more?
Speaker B: Kitchen tips.
Prompt: Explain how to prise open an oyster safely at home.
Prise — meaning in Arabic & definition More P courses GL Dictionary