Conquer vs He's gonna lick this thing

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Conquer

Top 2,000 (common)C1verb

He's gonna lick this thing

InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: ConquerMost common: Conquer
 ConquerHe's gonna lick this thing
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒŋkə(r)/","/ˈkɒŋkəz/","/ˈkɒŋkəd/","/ˈkɒŋkərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːŋkər/","/ˈkɑːŋkərz/","/ˈkɑːŋkərd/","/ˈkɑːŋkərɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //hiːz ˈɡɒnə lɪk ðɪs θɪŋ//🇺🇸 //hiːz ˈɡɑːnə lɪk ðɪs θɪŋ//
MeaningTo gain control over something or someone, often by force.He will defeat or handle this situation well.
ExampleThe Normans conquered England in 1066.He’s gonna lick this thing and impress everyone at work.
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR levelC1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsconquer fears, conquer a battle, conquer challenges, conquer territorygonna handle it, gonna defeat, gonna master it
Antonymssurrender, yield, submit-
Common mistakes'Conquer' is often confused with 'conqueror' when referring to a person., Learners sometimes use it intransitively without an object (e.g., 'conquer' instead of 'conquer the enemy').Misunderstanding 'gonna' as a standard verb instead of informal speech., Overusing 'gonna' in formal writing or presentations., Confusing 'lick' with its literal meaning instead of its slang usage.
Usage notesUse 'conquer' in contexts of overcoming challenges or defeating opponents. It's neutral and suitable for both formal and casual discussions, but avoid using it in contexts where violence is inappropriate.Used mostly in spoken English among friends. Avoid in formal situations.

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He's gonna lick this thing

Frequently asked questions: Conquer vs He's gonna lick this thing

What's the difference between Conquer and He's gonna lick this thing?

Conquer: To gain control over something or someone, often by force. He's gonna lick this thing: He will defeat or handle this situation well.

Which is more formal: Conquer and He's gonna lick this thing?

Conquer is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Conquer and He's gonna lick this thing?

Conquer is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Conquer: The Normans conquered England in 1066. He's gonna lick this thing: He’s gonna lick this thing and impress everyone at work.

Can I use Conquer and He's gonna lick this thing interchangeably?

Not always. Conquer and He's gonna lick this thing are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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