Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

8 VERB If you balance your books or make them balance , you prove by calculation that the amount of money you have received is equal to the amount that you have spent. □ [V n] …teaching them to balance the books. □ [V ] To make the books balance, spending must fall and taxes must rise.

9 N‑COUNT The balance in your bank account is the amount of money you have in it. □  I'd like to check the balance in my account please.

10 N‑SING The balance of an amount of money is what remains to be paid for something or what remains when part of the amount has been spent. □  They were due to pay the balance on delivery.

11 → see also bank balance

12 PHRASE If something hangs in the balance , it is uncertain whether it will happen or continue. □  The fate of the project hangs in the balance.

13 PHRASE If you keep your balance , for example when standing in a moving vehicle, you remain steady and do not fall over. If you lose your balance , you become unsteady and fall over.

14 PHRASE If you are off balance , you are in an unsteady position and about to fall. □  A gust of wind knocked him off balance and he fell face down in the mud.

15 PHRASE If you are thrown off balance by something, you are surprised or confused by it. □  She was trying to behave as if his visit hadn't thrown her off balance.

16 PHRASE You can say on balance to indicate that you are stating an opinion after considering all the relevant facts or arguments. □  On balance he agreed with Christine.

▸  balance out PHRASAL VERB If two or more opposite things balance out or if you balance them out , they become equal in amount, value, or effect. □ [V P ] Outgoings and revenues balanced out. □ [V P n] The strenuous exercise undergone could balance out the increased calories. [Also V n P ] COLLOCATIONS balance NOUN 4

adjective + balance : correct, fair, proper, reasonable, right; perfect; delicate

verb + balance : shift, tilt, tip, upset; maintain, strike; redress, restore SYNONYMS balance VERB 3

offset:The increase in pay costs was more than offset by higher productivity.

compensate for:MPs say it is crucial that a system is found to compensate for inflation.

redress:…to redress the economic imbalance between the countries.

counteract:This event will counteract such trends.

bal|anced /bæ lənst/

1 ADJ A balanced report, book, or other document takes into account all the different opinions on something and presents information in a fair and reasonable way. [APPROVAL ] □  …a fair, balanced, comprehensive report.

2 ADJ Something that is balanced is pleasing or useful because its different parts or elements are in the correct proportions. [APPROVAL ] □  …a balanced diet.

3 ADJ Someone who is balanced remains calm and thinks clearly, even in a difficult situation. [APPROVAL ] □  I have to prove myself as a respectable, balanced, person.

4 → see also balance

ba l|ance of pa y|ments (balances of payments ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A country's balance of payments is the difference, over a period of time, between the payments it makes to other countries for imports and the payments it receives from other countries for exports. [BUSINESS ] □  Britain's balance of payments deficit has improved slightly.

ba l|ance of po w|er N‑SING The balance of power is the way in which power is distributed between rival groups or countries. □  …changes in the balance of power between the United States and Europe.