Facts

retain facts

My brother has a good memory and finds it easy to retain facts. I’m the opposite. I forget things easily.

give facts

You’ll find everything you need to know about us in this booklet. It gives you all the basic facts and figures about the company.

check facts

Professional journalists should always take the trouble to check their facts before writing a story. Mistakes can be costly.

stick to the facts

Don’t give us your opinion or tell us who you think is responsible. Just stick to the facts. That’s all we need to know at the moment.

distort facts

Newspapers are often accused of distort the facts. No wonder many people don’t believe what they read these days.

be based on facts

Many of Shakespeare’s plays such as Macbeth and Julius Caesar are based on historical facts.

useless facts

Don’t fill your head with useless facts. Make sure you learn things that can help you get on in life and get a decent job.

interesting facts

The book is full of interesting facts about the British Royal Family. For example, did you know they had to change their name?

necessary facts

Our sales manager, Mr Thompson, will be able to help you. He has all the necessary facts and figures at his fingertips.

well-known fact

It’s a well-known fact that boys develop later than girls.

hard facts

The police will have to support their case with hard facts if they are to prove that Manson was the killer.

disturbing facts

The newspaper claims to have unearthed some disturbing facts about the way the government is wasting taxpayers’ money.

the fact of the matter

The fact of the matter is we can’t afford a new car at the moment.

in fact

I thought the course would be difficult, but in actual fact, it was quite easy.

know for a fact

I know for a fact that she hasn’t paid the bill.

a matter of fact

No, I’m not leaving. As a matter of fact, I’ll be here for another three weeks.

apart from the fact

Lucy was delighted she’d got the job in Singapore – apart from the fact she’d have to leave her dog behind in the UK.

despite the fact

It took me two years to get a decent job, despite the fact I got a first-class degree!

get your facts right

Before you start blaming us, you should get your facts right.

face the facts

Come on, Sue! Face the facts.

the facts of life

My parents made sure I knew the facts of life before I was ten.

a statement of fact

The government is totally corrupt! Is this a statement of fact or just another one of your crazy ideas?

Notes

• Note the following expressions:

How do you account for the fact that crime is actually falling for the first time for years?

I resent the fact that some people get better medical care because they have money.

She’s finding it hard to accept the fact that her husband has left her.

The book contained some interesting facts and figures about the Space Shuttle.

• ‘A fact of life’ is a negative situation that must be accepted:

Unemployment seems to be a fact of life nowadays.

• ‘The facts of life’ explain where babies come from!