file
file — noun
1. a folder, box, or cabinet that holds papers, letters, and documents so they stay
a folder, box, or cabinet that holds papers, letters, and documents so they stay tidy and can be found easily, common in offices and homes
Gabriel pulled a red file from the shelf and took out the contract.
collocation: pull/take a file from [place]
The office assistant put the invoices into a blue cardboard file.
collocation: put into a file
Each employee has a personal file stored in the locked cabinet.
The doctor's file for patient records sits on the desk near the window.
常見錯誤
2. information and documents that are collected and stored as a record, often relat
information and documents that are collected and stored as a record, often relating to one specific person, topic, or event, whether on paper or in digital form
The police keep a file on all known suspects in the area.
collocation: keep a file on [someone/something]
Mert asked to see his medical file before the appointment.
The journalist checked the company's public file for past court cases.
Our school keeps a file of every student's grades and attendance.
The insurance company said the information was already on file.
用法筆記
Frequently used in the phrase 'on file' meaning 'stored as part of the official records'. The uncountable form appears in the phrase 'on file' and in general references.
3. a piece of digital content, such as a document, picture, or program, that a comp
a piece of digital content, such as a document, picture, or program, that a computer stores under a single name and reads as one unit
Kasia double-clicked the file to open the spreadsheet.
collocation: open a file / click a file
Make sure you save the file before you close the program.
collocation: save a file
Daniel renamed the image file to something easier to find.
The attachment was a PDF file that took a while to download.
Eve deleted the old spreadsheet file to free up space on her laptop.
用法筆記
File names typically include a period and an extension (e.g., .docx, .jpg, .pdf) that tells the computer what kind of data it is.
常見錯誤
4. a straight formation where each person, vehicle, or animal follows directly behi
a straight formation where each person, vehicle, or animal follows directly behind the next, also called single file
The children walked in a file behind their teacher through the museum.
collocation: in a file; walk in file
Visitors formed a single file at the entrance to the temple.
common phrase: single file
The soldiers marched in file across the training ground.
Cars moved in single file along the narrow mountain road.
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'single file' or 'in file'. Rarely used as a standalone countable noun in everyday speech.
5. a hand tool made from a metal bar whose rough face rubs against wood, metal, or
a hand tool made from a metal bar whose rough face rubs against wood, metal, or fingernails to give a smooth finish or alter their shape
Lakan used a metal file to smooth the rough edge of the pipe.
collocation: metal file
Mei-Lin picked up a nail file from the drawer and tidied her nails.
collocation: nail file
The carpenter ran a flat file along the wooden surface to remove splinters.
A round file works best for shaping curved holes in metal.
- rasp
a very coarse type of file used on wood; more specialised
- emery board
a thin cardboard strip coated with abrasive, used for nails
用法筆記
Different files have different coarseness levels — a 'rough file' removes material quickly, while a 'fine file' is used for final smoothing. A 'nail file' is a small file specifically for fingernails.
file — verb
1. to sort and store papers, documents, or information in a particular place and or
to sort and store papers, documents, or information in a particular place and order so that they can be found later
Camila spent the morning filing the customer orders alphabetically.
collocation: file alphabetically
Please file these receipts under the tax folder for this year.
pattern: file [something] under [category]
The secretary filed away all the signed contracts before lunch.
Zola files her notes by date so she can always find the right one quickly.
Old medical records are filed in the basement archive once a year.
- scatter
to spread things without order
文法句型
file + object
file + object + away
用法筆記
Often used with 'away' to emphasise that the items are being stored for future reference. The passive form ('be filed') is common in office contexts.
常見錯誤
2. to send official documents, especially tax returns or legal papers, to a governm
to send official documents, especially tax returns or legal papers, to a government office or authority as required by law or regulation
Devika filed her tax return online before the April deadline.
collocation: file a tax return
The company must file annual reports with the government by March.
Mert filed an insurance claim after the storm damaged his roof.
You need to file the documents at the city hall reception desk.
Eri helped her parents file their visa application forms online.
文法句型
file + document/return/claim
用法筆記
This sense is particularly common in tax and administrative contexts. In the US, 'file' alone often implies filing income taxes ('Have you filed yet?').
常見錯誤
3. to officially start a legal process by submitting the necessary documents to a c
to officially start a legal process by submitting the necessary documents to a court of law
The neighbours filed a complaint against the factory for making too much noise at night.
pattern: file a complaint against [someone]
After months of unpaid rent, the landlord filed a lawsuit to evict the tenant.
collocation: file a lawsuit
The couple decided to file for divorce after years of disagreement.
The company filed for bankruptcy when it could no longer pay its debts.
文法句型
file + lawsuit/complaint
file + for + noun
file + against + person
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 is about submitting documents to an administrative body (tax, visa), while sense 3 is specifically about initiating a legal action in court. Common objects: lawsuit, complaint, petition, motion, appeal.
4. to send a news report, story, or column back to the office from a remote locatio
to send a news report, story, or column back to the office from a remote location, especially by telephone, email, or satellite connection
The war correspondent filed a live report from the capital city this morning.
collocation: file a report
Élise filed her story about the election just minutes before the newspaper's deadline.
collocation: file a story
Reporters are expected to file their articles by five o'clock each evening.
Lukas filed a short piece from the sports stadium after the final match.
文法句型
file + story/report + from + place
file + story/report + to + person
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in journalism and news media. The object is typically a 'story', 'report', 'article', or 'column'.
5. to walk or move one person behind another in a line, often used with a direction
to walk or move one person behind another in a line, often used with a direction word such as in, out, or past
The students filed into the classroom quietly and took their seats.
pattern: file into [place]
Guests filed past the birthday cake to admire the decorations.
pattern: file past [something]
The audience filed out of the theatre after the final curtain fell.
One by one, the jury filed back into the courtroom to deliver their verdict.
- scatter
to move apart in different directions
文法句型
file + in/out/past/through
用法筆記
Always used with a directional adverb or preposition (in, out, past, into, through, out of). The verb itself describes the manner of movement, while the preposition gives the direction.
常見錯誤
6. to rub a rough area with a file tool so that the surface becomes smooth, flat, o
to rub a rough area with a file tool so that the surface becomes smooth, flat, or differently shaped
Gabriel filed down the sharp edges of the metal bracket so no one would get cut.
phrasal verb: file down
Camila filed her nails into a neat oval shape before painting them.
The woodworker filed away the splinters on the handle until it felt smooth.
After cutting the pipe, you should file the end until it is completely flat.
The jeweller carefully filed the gold ring to adjust its size.
- roughen
to make a surface rough
文法句型
file + object + smooth/flat
file + object + down/away
用法筆記
Often used with a particle ('file down', 'file away') to indicate the material being removed. The object can be either the tool's target (file nails) or the unwanted material (file away rough edges).