imposition

Everyday

1. An unfair or unwelcome demand on someone's time, help or kindness. tree →
2. The act of making a rule, tax or punishment apply to people. tree →
3. (UK, old-fashioned school) An extra piece of written work given as a punishment. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday polite talk: «I hope it's not an imposition» means «I hope I'm not asking too much». In history and law it describes rules or taxes put on people. Phrases: an imposition on, the imposition of a tax, not an imposition.

Examples

• I hope it's not an imposition to ask you to feed the cat. tree →
• Staying for a whole week would be an imposition on our hosts. tree →
• The imposition of a new tax made people angry. tree →
• The teacher gave him an imposition of a hundred lines. tree →
• Helping you is no imposition at all. tree →
• The imposition of a curfew kept everyone indoors. tree →

Note

Verb: impose (to force something on someone; «I don't want to impose» means «I don't want to be a bother»). Countable.