Collocations for duty - noun
1. sth that you have to do because it is right or expected
ADJ.
contractual, legal, mandatory, statutory
Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose.
Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose.
general, primary
the general duty of the police to preserve the peace
the general duty of the police to preserve the peace
professional | civic, public
I feel it is my civic duty to vote.
I feel it is my civic duty to vote.
patriotic | family, filial, parental | ethical, moral
He felt it was his moral duty to help his neighbour.
He felt it was his moral duty to help his neighbour.
absolute, bounden, fundamental, sacred, solemn
I feel it''s my bounden duty to try and help her.
I feel it''s my bounden duty to try and help her.
VERB + DUTY
have, owe
(law) You have a legal duty to take reasonable care. | The railway company owes a duty of care to all its customers.
(law) You have a legal duty to take reasonable care. | The railway company owes a duty of care to all its customers.
carry out, do, fulfil, meet, perform
She put down the phone and went out, her duty done. | She felt she had fulfilled her duty by providing him with a son.
She put down the phone and went out, her duty done. | She felt she had fulfilled her duty by providing him with a son.
fail in
He had failed in his duty towards his daughter.
He had failed in his duty towards his daughter.
neglect, shirk
I''d be shirking my duty if I didn''t warn him.
I''d be shirking my duty if I didn''t warn him.
assign, charge sb with, impose
It was a duty imposed by her father.
It was a duty imposed by her father.
assume, take on
He took on the duty of maintaining the family home.
He took on the duty of maintaining the family home.
DUTY + VERB
call
I wanted to stop and chat, but duty called and I went back to the office.
I wanted to stop and chat, but duty called and I went back to the office.
PREP.
under a/the ~
You are under a statutory duty to keep accurate records.
You are under a statutory duty to keep accurate records.
~ of
It''s the duty of each and every one of us to do their best for the team. | They have a duty of confidentiality.
It''s the duty of each and every one of us to do their best for the team. | They have a duty of confidentiality.
~ to, ~ towards
They have a duty to their parents to work hard.
They have a duty to their parents to work hard.
PHRASES
a breach of duty
It was a clear breach of professional duty.
It was a clear breach of professional duty.
do your duty
I suppose we''d better do our duty and report the accident.
I suppose we''d better do our duty and report the accident.
do your duty by sb
You feel that you have to do your duty by your children.
You feel that you have to do your duty by your children.
be duty bound to do sth
An employer is not duty bound to provide a reference when an employee leaves.
An employer is not duty bound to provide a reference when an employee leaves.
(above and) beyond the call of duty
The time he put in helping new recruits went beyond the call of duty.
The time he put in helping new recruits went beyond the call of duty.
feel it your duty to do sth
I felt it my duty to go to the police.
I felt it my duty to go to the police.
in breach of a duty
(formal) It was ruled that the injured man was in breach of his duty by not wearing the safety equipment provided.
(formal) It was ruled that the injured man was in breach of his duty by not wearing the safety equipment provided.
a sense of duty
I did it out of a sense of duty.
I did it out of a sense of duty.
2. tasks that you do when you are at work
ADJ.
light
When I returned to work after my illness I was put on light duties.
When I returned to work after my illness I was put on light duties.
onerous | day, night
At 10.45 p.m. she reported for night duty.
At 10.45 p.m. she reported for night duty.
beat, escort, guard, point, sentry
Police usually do beat duty in pairs. | The traffic lights were not working so there was a policeman on point duty.
Police usually do beat duty in pairs. | The traffic lights were not working so there was a policeman on point duty.
daily, routine | official | administrative, professional, secretarial | domestic, household
My household duties were not particularly onerous.
My household duties were not particularly onerous.
military
VERB + DUTY
have
The members of staff each have their own duties.
The members of staff each have their own duties.
carry out, discharge, do, perform
She was unable to carry out her duties because she was too ill.
She was unable to carry out her duties because she was too ill.
come on, go on, report for
Colleagues became suspicious when he failed to report for duty.
Colleagues became suspicious when he failed to report for duty.
come off, go off
What time do you go off duty?
What time do you go off duty?
neglect, shirk
He was accused of neglecting his professional duties.
He was accused of neglecting his professional duties.
resume, return to
He leaves hospital tomorrow and is expected to resume his duties at the beginning of next month.
He leaves hospital tomorrow and is expected to resume his duties at the beginning of next month.
be released from
Her son was released from duty in the army to visit her in hospital.
Her son was released from duty in the army to visit her in hospital.
be relieved of, be suspended from
When he failed to turn up for training, he was relieved of his duties as captain.
When he failed to turn up for training, he was relieved of his duties as captain.
DUTY + NOUN
doctor, nurse, officer, pharmacist
He went to the police station and spoke to the duty officer.
He went to the police station and spoke to the duty officer.
PREP.
off ~
I''m off duty tomorrow night.
I''m off duty tomorrow night.
on ~
You''re not allowed to drink alcohol on duty.
You''re not allowed to drink alcohol on duty.
PHRASES
the execution/performance of your duties
The company is liable if you are injured during the execution of your duty.
The company is liable if you are injured during the execution of your duty.
3. tax
ADJ.
heavy, high
the heavy duty on cigarettes
the heavy duty on cigarettes
low | customs, excise, export, import
excise duty on spirits
excise duty on spirits
alcohol, fuel, tobacco, etc.
Tobacco duty is a major source of revenue for the government.
Tobacco duty is a major source of revenue for the government.
death
QUANT.
amount
We tried to estimate the amount of duty we would have to pay.
We tried to estimate the amount of duty we would have to pay.
VERB + DUTY
put on, slap on
They are going to put duty on foreign cars.
They are going to put duty on foreign cars.
take off | increase, put up, raise
They''re going to put up the duty on tobacco.
They''re going to put up the duty on tobacco.
cut, lower, reduce | pay | avoid, evade
They claim that the wine is for personal use and so evade the duty.
They claim that the wine is for personal use and so evade the duty.
be liable to
Perfume is liable to import duty.
Perfume is liable to import duty.
carry
Cider carries duty at the lower rate.
Cider carries duty at the lower rate.
be exempt from
Beer for personal use is exempt from duty.
Beer for personal use is exempt from duty.
PREP.
in ~
By changing its supplier, the company saved thousands of pounds in import duty.
By changing its supplier, the company saved thousands of pounds in import duty.
~ on
You have to pay duty on all electrical goods.
You have to pay duty on all electrical goods.