a large favour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a large favour" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when asking someone to do something significant or important for you. Example: "Could you do me a large favour and help me move this weekend?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr Safire did him a large favour, in 1959, by engineering a conversation between him and Nikita Khrushchev Nikk heated, Dick cool) at a trade fair in Moscow.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In a ruthless onslaught in the heart of Kabul, militants attacked a large guesthouse favoured by United Nations workers.

The Economist

For a large crowd, I favour beef.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The miners voted by a large majority in favour of a strike, which went on even after Edward Heath had called (and lost) a general election on 28 February.

The Guardian - Business

In The Science Delusion, Rupert Sheldrake drags ten of the most powerful dogmas out of the basement and into the light of day; and does science, humanity and the world a large, a considerable favour.

Independent

Even if there is a large majority in favour of leave, a prime minister who supports remain could plausibly argue that the legal process should take its course before an irrevocable political decision is taken.

The Guardian - Opinion

Only eight of the 38 provinces are open to changing doctrine on marriage to allow for same-sex unions, leaving a large majority in favour of keeping marriage exclusively as a union between one man and one woman.

The Guardian

"I am told that very active and vigorous canvassing has taken place on this subject and there is a large majority who favour Rajendra Babu," he wrote to Mr. Patel.

The New York Times

In July, MPs voted by a large majority in favour of the bill, but the government was forced to drop another crucial vote on the parliamentary timetable after more than 100 Tory backbenchers and the Labour party signalled they would vote against it.

The Guardian

Liberal Democrat, Labour and pro-European Conservatives are expected to prevent the amendment succeeding, but a large vote in favour would embarrass David Cameron.

BBC

The phylogenetic analysis of 157 gene families indicated a large imbalance in favour of ancient duplications predating the GA split versus more recent duplications postdating the GA split.

BMC Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When requesting "a large favour", be specific about what is needed and why it is important to you. This increases the likelihood of the person agreeing to help.

Common error

Avoid using "a large favour" for trivial requests. The phrase implies a significant undertaking, so ensure the magnitude of the request aligns with the language used.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a large favour" functions as a noun phrase, specifically serving as the object of a verb, such as "do" or "ask for". It denotes a significant act of kindness or assistance. Ludwig confirms its correct usage as seen in provided examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a large favour" is a grammatically correct and recognizable way to describe a significant request or act of assistance. According to Ludwig, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the scale of the request aligns with the implied significance of the language. Consider using related phrases like "a significant favor" or "a considerable kindness" to better convey the intended meaning or level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant favor

Replaces "large" with "significant", indicating the importance of the favor.

a considerable kindness

Substitutes both "large" and "favour" with synonyms emphasizing the act of kindness.

a great service

Replaces "favour" with "service", focusing on the action provided.

a substantial assistance

Uses "substantial assistance" to highlight the amount of help given.

a big help

A more informal alternative, replacing "large" with "big".

a major act of kindness

Emphasizes the act of kindness as being major or significant.

an immense favor

Replaces "large" with "immense" to indicate a greater magnitude of the favor.

a weighty obligation

Focuses on the resulting obligation from the act, rather than the act itself.

a generous deed

Highlights the generosity involved in performing the favour.

an important contribution

Frames the favour as an important contribution to something.

FAQs

How can I politely ask for "a large favour"?

When asking for "a large favour", be upfront and polite, and clearly explain the reason behind your request. For example, you could say, "Would you be willing to do "a significant favor" for me? I need help with..."

What's the difference between "a large favour" and "a small favour"?

"A large favour" implies a significant request requiring considerable effort or resources, while "a small favour" suggests a simple, easily fulfilled request.

When is it appropriate to ask for "a large favour"?

It's appropriate to ask for "a large favour" when you genuinely need significant help and have exhausted other options. Consider the relationship and the potential burden on the other person.

What are some alternatives to asking for "a large favour" if I want to be less direct?

Instead of directly asking for "a large favour", you could start by explaining your situation and then gently asking for assistance. You might say, "I'm facing a challenge with... and I was wondering if you might be able to offer "some assistance"".