tailor
gb/tˈeɪlɚ/ us/tˈeɪlɚ/
B1
English
~ 7400
testre szab, szabó, méretre igazít, méretre szab, kékhal
VERB
B2
1
testre szab
B2
Usage pattern:
to tailor [something] to [someone/something]
The company tailors its training programs to the needs of each client.
A cég az egyes ügyfelek igényeire szabja a képzési programjait.
Teachers are encouraged to tailor the lessons to the level of the class.
A tanárokat arra ösztönzik, hogy az órákat az osztály szintjéhez igazítsák.
We can tailor the software to your specific business processes.
The ad campaign was carefully tailored to younger audiences.
This diet plan can be tailored to different lifestyles.
Learner examples
We can tailor this course to your needs.
Az igényeidre tudjuk szabni ezt a tanfolyamot.
The hotel can tailor your trip to your interests.
A szálloda az érdeklődési körödnek megfelelően tudja alakítani az utazásodat.
She tailored her speech to the people in the room.
The website lets you tailor the settings.
The coach tailored the exercises to each player.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *tailor for* when the meaning is ‘adjust exactly to a need’. In many cases, **tailor [something] to [someone/something]** is more natural, for example: “tailor the course **to** your needs”, not “tailor the course for your needs.” They may also confuse this sense with the clothing sense and think it can only be used about clothes.
Meaning
Adapt something to a need
Collocations
tailor a program
|tailor services
|tailor content
|tailor a solution
|tailor training to
|tailor advice to
Synonyms
customize (Very close in meaning; often used for products, services, or software that are adjusted for a user.)
|
adapt (More general; can describe changing yourself or something else, not always for a specific person.)
Antonyms
standardize (Means to make things the same for everyone, without special changes for individuals.)
Themes
business
|education
|technology
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To change something so it is right for a special person, use, or situation.
To adjust or modify something so that it is suitable for a particular person, purpose, or situation.
B1
2
szabó
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] goes to a tailor
I took my new suit to the tailor to have the sleeves shortened.
Elvittem az új öltönyömet a szabóhoz, hogy rövidebbre vegye a zakó ujját.
A good tailor can make even a cheap jacket look expensive.
Egy jó szabó még egy olcsó zakót is képes drágának láttatni.
She works as a tailor in a small shop near the station.
The groom hired a tailor to make a custom wedding suit.
He inherited his skills from his father, who was also a tailor.
Learner examples
I need to find a good tailor.
Keresnem kell egy jó szabót.
The tailor made this suit for me.
Ezt az öltönyt a szabó készítette nekem.
My pants are too long; I will go to a tailor.
Her uncle is a tailor in our town.
The tailor changed the dress so it fit better.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse **tailor** (a person) with **seamstress** and think the word is only for women. In modern English, **tailor** is gender-neutral. Some also use it as a place (*I will go to the tailor* is fine, but *I will go to a tailor shop* or *tailor’s* is more precise for the shop).
Meaning
Person who makes or alters clothes
Collocations
go to the tailor
|local tailor
|bespoke tailor
|master tailor
|tailor shop
|custom tailor
Synonyms
dressmaker (Often used for someone who makes women’s clothes; slightly more traditional or gendered.)
Antonyms
mass-produced clothing (Not a person but an opposite idea: clothes made in large numbers, not made one by one by a tailor.)
Themes
fashion
|work
|daily life
|clothing
Definition
A person who makes or changes clothes, especially suits, so they fit one person well.
A person whose job is to make, repair, or alter clothing, especially formal clothing such as suits, to fit individual customers.
VERB
B2
3
méretre szab
B2
Usage pattern:
to tailor [a piece of clothing] (for [someone])
She had the blazer tailored to fit her shoulders perfectly.
Méretre igazíttatta a blézert, hogy tökéletesen álljon a vállán.
The pants were too loose, so the store agreed to tailor them for free.
A nadrág túl bő volt, ezért az üzlet vállalta, hogy ingyen méretre igazítja.
We can tailor this dress to your exact measurements.
He tailors all his own suits instead of buying standard sizes.
The uniform is tailored individually for each employee.
Learner examples
I will tailor this skirt for you.
Méretre igazítom neked ezt a szoknyát.
The shop can tailor the coat if it is too big.
Az üzlet méretre tudja igazítani a kabátot, ha túl nagy.
My uncle can tailor shirts at home.
They tailored the suit, and now it looks great.
She tailors clothes for many customers.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think **tailor** in this sense can be used for any kind of object, not just clothing. For non-clothing things (like a course or a plan), the meaning shifts to the more general ‘customize’ sense, often with **tailor [something] to [someone/something]**.
Meaning
Make or alter clothing to fit
Collocations
tailor a suit
|tailor a jacket
|tailor a dress
|tailor the trousers
|expertly tailored
|tailored to fit
Synonyms
alter (More general; commonly used for changing the size or length of clothes, not necessarily making from scratch.)
Antonyms
buy off the rack (Means to buy ready-made clothes in standard sizes, without having them specially adjusted.)
Themes
fashion
|work
|clothing
Definition
To make or change clothes so they fit a person’s body well.
To make, shape, or alter a piece of clothing so that it fits a particular person well.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
4
kékhal
C2
We caught several large tailor off the coast at dawn.
Hajnalban több nagy kékhalat fogtunk a part közelében.
Tailor are known for their strong fight when hooked.
A kékhalak arról ismertek, hogy horogra akadva erősen küzdenek.
The restaurant serves grilled tailor as a seasonal special.
Learner examples
He went fishing and caught a big tailor.
Horgászni ment, és fogott egy nagy kékhalat.
Tailor live in the sea near the coast.
A kékhalak a tengerben, a part közelében élnek.
People in Australia like to fish for tailor.
Meaning
A type of marine game fish
Collocations
tailor fishing
|schools of tailor
|catch tailor
|fresh tailor fillets
Synonyms
bluefish (Common name in many English-speaking areas outside Australia; refers to the same species.)
Antonyms
freshwater fish (Contrasts with tailor as a saltwater species, though not a strict lexical opposite.)
Themes
nature
|food
|animals
Definition
A kind of sea fish, called tailor in Australia, that people often catch for sport and food.
A marine game fish (Pomatomus saltatrix), known as tailor in Australia and some other regions, prized by recreational fishers and also called bluefish elsewhere.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tailor
IPA
GB/tˈeɪlɚ/
US/tˈeɪlɚ/
Syllables & stress
tail - or (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tail)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tailor
- Plural: tailors
Verb
- Base: tailor
- 3rd Person Singular: tailors
- Present Participle: tailoring
- Past: tailored
Word family
Forms
tailors
noun
tailoring
verb
tailored
verb
Expressions
tailor to
1/tˈeɪlɚ tə/
phrasal verb
Adjust something for a specific target
To change something so it is right for a particular person, group, or situation.
Examples
- The website tailors ads to your recent searches.
- The training was carefully tailored to new employees.
- We should tailor this product to older customers.
tailor-made
1/tˈeɪlɚ mˈeɪd/
fixed phrase
Made especially for someone or something
Made or changed especially for one person, purpose, or situation; not general or standard.
Examples
- They offered a tailor-made package for small businesses.
- This job is tailor-made for someone with your skills.
tailor-made for
1/tˈeɪlɚ mˈeɪd fɚ/
fixed phrase
Perfectly suited to something
To be exactly right or perfect for a person, use, or situation.
Examples
- This apartment is tailor-made for a young couple.
- The role was tailor-made for her personality and experience.