act
noun
uk/ækt/ us [ C ]
something that someone does:
A partner may be held responsible for the acts of his co-partners committed in the name of the firm.
He has led an investigation into stock market manipulation and various illegal acts and swindles.
See also
action noun
[ C ] LAW (also Act)
a law or formal decision made by a parliament or other group of elected law-makers:
The 2010 act, with its requirement for a review of financial controls, has helped drive up the cost of corporate audits by as much as 50%.
be a hard/tough act to follow informal
to be so good that it is unlikely that anyone or anything that comes after will be as good:
The company could lose momentum without its chief executive, who will be a hard act to follow.
get in on the act informal mainly UK ( US get into the act)
to take advantage of or become involved with something that someone else started:
There's always a debate in the machine room about the product, long before the marketing men and editors get in on the act.
get your act together informal
to organize yourself so that you do things in an effective way:
Mr Dinsdale said it was crucial that the Department of Trade & Industry got its act together.
See also
consolidating act
act
verb [ I ]
uk/ækt/ usto do something with the intention of achieving a particular result:
act to do sth Engineers will need to act quickly to repair the damaged pipes.
act quickly/swiftly/now Anyone who wants a fixed-rate deal should act now.
act decisively/improperly/responsibly It is now time for management to act decisively.
act against/in sb's interests There were claims that the management was acting against shareholders' interests.
Members should act in the best interests of the company.
act in good faith
to do something believing that it is the right thing to do:
Although errors of judgement were made, at all times the company's staff acted in good faith.
Phrasal verbs
act as sth
act for/on behalf of sb/sth
act on sth