4 ms·

What's "an ask"?

• slazaro 10y ago
  It might sound weird to you, but it's correct. Noun ask ‎(plural asks) 1. An act or instance of asking. 2. Something asked or asked for; a request. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ask https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ask
  • userbinator 10y ago
    More information here: http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/4246/can-or-should-ask-ever-be-used-as-a-noun http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/4246/can-or-shoul... Personally I never use it because it can sound far too close to "ass" especially through low-fidelity channels.
    • morgante 10y ago
      According to that link, it's been part of "Microsoft-speak" for over a decade. It's definitely a noun, but the kind of noun that only annoying business people use.
  • nutheracc 10y ago
    Now try to find it in a real dictionary.
    • Sacho 10y ago
      Here's oxford dictionaries on the word: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ask http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ask > [WITH ADJECTIVE] informal A demand or situation that requires a specified degree of effort or commitment: > it is a big ask for him to go and play 90 minutes > it was a tough ask, but they delivered Or OED: http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/11505?rskey=xAEeZD&result=1#eid http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/11505?rskey=xAEeZD&result=1#ei... > Westm. Papers 1 Nov. 107 Who has not suffered when he has played correctly second hand..from his partner assuming that there has been an ask for trumps? > 2014 D. Chapman Ascendant lxxiii. 301 A plane? Full of people?.. That is an enormous ask.
• kentt 10y ago
  When used liked that it's synonymous with request. If heard it often used as "that's a big ask". Some example usages[1] since you seem a bit skeptical. [1] https://scholar.google.ca/scholar?hl=en&q=%22big+ask%22&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C5&as_sdtp= https://scholar.google.ca/scholar?hl=en&q=%22big+ask%22&btnG...