Influence

calming influence

Our youngest son, Harry. can get very excited and a little while bad time but his sister has a very calming influence on her.

disruptive influence

I find it hard to teach when your daughter is in class. She has a disruptive influence on the rest of the students. Perhaps she should see someone about her behavior.

positive influence

Will’s a bit depressing at the moment. I think he needs to mix with people who will have a more positive influence on his life.

corrupting influence

Our mother didn't let us watch television when they are children. She believed it would have a corrupting influence on us.

pervasive influence

Today you can't escape the pervasive influence of television. It's everywhere.

profound influence

Of all the teachers I had at school, one sticks in my mind. He was amazing! He had a profound influence on everyone he taught.

undue influence

International observers accused local politicians of interfering with the elections by exerting undue influence on voters.

outside influence

I think that decisions-making in our hospitals and schools should be free from outside influence.

The British were a major influence upon modern-day India and Pakistan.

If you have any influence with Joanne, try to get her to change her mind and withdraw her resignation.

We have no influence over the children: they do as they please.

The driver of the bus involved in the accident was found to be under the influence of drugs when he was tested back at the police station.

I have very little influence on who will get the manager's job.

have influence

My father had no influence whatsoever on my choice of career. He wanted me to go into banking.

fall under the influence

Millie is no longer the quite, well-behaved child she used to be. She has fallen under the influence of some older girls at school and now wants to go out clubbing at all weekend - and she's only just 13.

use influence

My uncle’s a judge. He hopes to exert his influence to make the planning department change their mind. It won't be the first time he has used his influence in this way.

be under the influence

When the teenager was caught driving the stolen car, he was found to be under the influence of alcohol.

lose influence

Religion in the West isn't the force it used to be. It's lost much of its influence.

linger on influence

Although Princess Diana died years ago, her influence is still linger. I think it will continue for many years to come.

 

Notes

• In ‘Millie is no longer the quite, well-behaved child she used to be. She has fallen under the influence of some older girls at school and now wants to go out clubbing at all weekend - and she's only just 13’, ‘come under’ is also possible.

In ‘My uncle’s a judge. He hopes to exert his influence to make the planning department change their mind. It won't be the first time he has used his influence in this way’, ‘exert’ and ‘exercise’ are also possible.

• Note the following ways of describing big influence:

The church no longer has a strong political influence.

The media has a powerful influence on public opinion.

In your teen, your peer group usually takes over from your parents at the major influence on you.

Professor Wilkins had a great influence on the shaping of the government’s education policy.

The Royal Family still exerts considerable influence.