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demand

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bow to someone's demands

Fig. to yield to someone's demands; to agree to do something that someone has requested. In the end, they had to bow to our demands. We refused to bow to their demands that we abandon the project.

See also: bow, demand

demand something from someone or something

 and demand something of someone or something

to command that something be received from someone or a group or something; to demand that someone or a group or something do something. The muggers demanded money from everyone. The petitioners demanded a response from the board of directors. She demanded too much of her automobile.

See also: demand

in great demand

wanted by many people. Liz is in great demand as a singer. Mary's paintings are in great demand.

See also: demand, great

make demands of someone or something

 and make demands on someone or something

to expect someone or something to do something or act in a particular way. Please don't make demands of everyone in the shop. The boss is making a lot of demands on the new machinery.

See also: demand, make, of

rush on something

 and run on something

a large demand for something. There was a rush on bottled water during the drought. During the hot summer, there was a run on air conditioners.

See also: on, rush

supply and demand

the availability of things or people as compared to the need to utilize the things or people; the availability of goods compared to the number of willing customers for the goods. Sometimes you can find what you want by shopping around and other times almost no store carries the items you are looking for. It depends entirely on supply and demand. (Alludes to a principle of market economics.) Sometimes customers ask for things we do not carry in stock and other times we have things in abundance that no one wants to buy. Whether or not we can make money off of a product depends entirely on supply and demand.

See also: and, demand, supply

in demand

needed or wanted When the storm hit our area, snow shovels were so much in demand that the stores ran out of them. Engineering and science graduates are in great demand this year.

See also: demand

on demand

at any time that you want or need something With cable, you can order movies on demand, but naturally you have to pay for them.

See also: demand, on

in demand

Sought after, as in The general was in demand as an after-dinner speaker. [Early 1800s]

See also: demand

make demands on

Urgently require something of someone, as in Her mother's illness has made considerable demands on her time. [Late 1300s]

See also: demand, make, on

on demand

When needed or asked for, as in She's always ready to sing on demand, or Nowadays infants are generally fed on demand. This usage is a broadening of this phrase's meaning in finance, that is, "payable on being requested or presented," as in This note is payable on demand. [Late 1600s]

See also: demand, on

on demand

1. When presented for payment: a note payable on demand.

2. When needed or asked for: fed the baby on demand.

See also: demand, on