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be reasonable
/biː ˈriːznəbl/
fair and sensible
You should be reasonable about your expectations.
You should have fair and sensible expectations.
informal
To be fair, sensible, and moderate in one's actions or demands
The manager asked the employees to be reasonable with their requests.
The manager asked the employees to make fair and sensible requests.
Be reasonable—you can't expect to finish this project in one day.
Be fair and sensible—you can't expect to finish this project in one day.
Often used to encourage moderation or fairness in behavior or expectations.
Collocations
be reasonable aboutto have fair expectations or demands regarding somethingbe reasonable withto be fair or moderate in one's actions or treatment of someone
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
This phrase is often used to calm a situation or to encourage compromise.
Gold Rule
Encourage Fairness
Use 'be reasonable' to promote fairness and moderation in discussions or negotiations.
Word Origin
Derived from the adjective 'reasonable,' which comes from the Latin 'rationabilis,' meaning 'rational.' The phrase emphasizes fairness and moderation.
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in conversations to encourage someone to be fair or to avoid being overly demanding or extreme.
Word Breakdown
be
to exist or act in a certain way
verbreasonable
fair, sensible, or moderate
adjectiveEnglish Dictionary