2spare verb
spares; spared; spar·ing [+ obj] 1 a : to choose not to punish or harm (someone)
▪ No one knows why the gunman shot some people and spared others. ▪ No one knows why he spared their lives. [=why he didn't kill them]
b : to not destroy or harm (something)
▪ Somehow the storm spared our house while nearby buildings were destroyed. 2 : to prevent (someone or something) from experiencing or being affected by something unpleasant, harmful, etc.
▪ She was spared from having to answer any more questions. ▪ He wanted to spare his family from the stress he had endured. ▪ Our church was spared the fate of many others that have been closed. [=our church was not closed] ▪ I could have spared myself the trouble. ▪ He spared them the embarrassment of a public apology. 3 : to give (something, such as time, money, etc.) to someone
▪ Can you spare (me) a few minutes? [=can you spend a few minutes with me?] ▪ I can't spare the time to see you today. [=I don't have enough time to see you today] ▪ If you could spare a cup of sugar, it would save me a trip to the store. ▪ You should spare a thought for [=think about] those who are less fortunate than you. 4 : to not do or provide (something)
▪ Nothing was spared by the hotel [=the hotel provided everything possible] to make its guests relaxed and comfortable. ▪ We will spare no effort [=we will do everything we can] to ensure the safety of the tunnels. ▪ When they go on vacation, they spare no expense. [=they do not worry about spending too much money; they spend a lot of money] ▪ He said that he would spare no expense [=he would spend as much money as necessary] to make the restaurant successful. 5 : to use or give out (something) in small amounts — usually used in negative statements ▪ More pancakes, please, and don't spare the syrup. [=give me a lot of syrup]
▪ No one knows why the gunman shot some people and spared others. ▪ No one knows why he spared their lives. [=why he didn't kill them]
b : to not destroy or harm (something)
▪ Somehow the storm spared our house while nearby buildings were destroyed.
▪ She was spared from having to answer any more questions. ▪ He wanted to spare his family from the stress he had endured. ▪ Our church was spared the fate of many others that have been closed. [=our church was not closed] ▪ I could have spared myself the trouble. ▪ He spared them the embarrassment of a public apology.
▪ Can you spare (me) a few minutes? [=can you spend a few minutes with me?] ▪ I can't spare the time to see you today. [=I don't have enough time to see you today] ▪ If you could spare a cup of sugar, it would save me a trip to the store. ▪ You should spare a thought for [=think about] those who are less fortunate than you.
▪ Nothing was spared by the hotel [=the hotel provided everything possible] to make its guests relaxed and comfortable. ▪ We will spare no effort [=we will do everything we can] to ensure the safety of the tunnels. ▪ When they go on vacation, they spare no expense. [=they do not worry about spending too much money; they spend a lot of money] ▪ He said that he would spare no expense [=he would spend as much money as necessary] to make the restaurant successful.
spare someone's blushes
Brit, informal : to prevent someone from being embarrassed
▪ The manager spoke up to spare the blushes of his young employee.
▪ The manager spoke up to spare the blushes of his young employee.
spare someone's feelings
: to avoid doing or saying something that will hurt someone emotionally : to avoid upsetting someone
▪ He admitted that he hadn't told me the whole story because he wanted to spare my feelings.
▪ He admitted that he hadn't told me the whole story because he wanted to spare my feelings.
spare (someone) the details
: to not tell someone all the unpleasant or boring details about something
▪ “I drank too much last night and got sick.” “Please, spare me the details.”
▪ “I drank too much last night and got sick.” “Please, spare me the details.”
to spare
◊If you have money, time, energy, etc., to spare, you have more than enough money, time, energy, etc.
▪ He seems to have energy to spare. [=he seems to have a lot of energy] ▪ We have very little time to spare. [=we do not have a lot of time] ▪ I have no money to spare [=I do not have enough money] for such things. ▪ He got there with (only) minutes/seconds to spare. [=he got there only minutes/seconds before he needed to; he got there just in time] ▪ He got there with time to spare. [=he got there early; he got there in plenty of time]
▪ He seems to have energy to spare. [=he seems to have a lot of energy] ▪ We have very little time to spare. [=we do not have a lot of time] ▪ I have no money to spare [=I do not have enough money] for such things. ▪ He got there with (only) minutes/seconds to spare. [=he got there only minutes/seconds before he needed to; he got there just in time] ▪ He got there with time to spare. [=he got there early; he got there in plenty of time]
