only explanation

collocation in English

meaningsofonlyandexplanation

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withexplanation.
only
adjective[before noun]
uk
/ˈəʊn.li/
us
/ˈoʊn.li/
used to show that there is a single one or very few of something, or that there are ...
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explanation
noun[C or U]
uk
/ˌek.spləˈneɪ.ʃən/
us
/ˌek.spləˈneɪ.ʃən/
the details or reasons that someone gives to make something clear or easy ...
See more atexplanation

(Definition ofonlyandexplanationfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofonly explanation

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Theonlyexplanationgiven was that he had suffered a fall in his blood pressure.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Models of wage bargaining are not theonlyexplanationof involuntary unemployment current in the literature.
From theCambridge English Corpus
However, this is not theonlyexplanation.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Theonlyexplanationis that this is to deal with the case of assets held in trust.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Such a suggestion should not be made except after the gravest consideration, and only when it is quite clear that that is theonlyexplanation.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Theonlyexplanationis that we are faced with a major demand-pull inflation of a long-pent-up and now effective popular demand.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Theonlyexplanationwe have received is that the measure is necessary because they are committed to retaining the previous government's spending limits.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Now, theonlyexplanationof that fact can be improved efficiency in their working.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I know that the economies are different, but the gap is far too wide for that to be theonlyexplanation.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Is not theonlyexplanationfor such perverse outcomes that he has gerrymandered the system to suit his party?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That was theonlyexplanationthat the police could come up with for the collapse in levels of neighbourhood crime.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Theonlyexplanationthat we have heard is that people are getting things they do not need.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I am afraid that theonlyexplanationcan be that the pigeon lost its way.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Theonlyexplanationthey can find is the statutory regulation of the labour market.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That is about theonlyexplanationthat one can follow.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That was theonlyexplanationwhich the defence, in those circumstances.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I have given theonlyexplanationthat has been offered.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Theonlyexplanationof that is that this is the most blatant attempt to bribe the electorate.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
But this seems to me theonlyexplanation, unless they were in fact anticipating a strike.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
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