Nuance "suit his purpose"

Posted by Miri Barak on November 09, 2004

In Reply to: Nuance "suit his purpose" posted by R. Berg on November 09, 2004

: : : : Hello to you all

: : : : I would like to know the exact meaning of the expression suit his purpose in this context:

: : : : "To help the client find the right binoculars, telescope or barometer, the optician will show a selection that suits the client's purpose."

: : : : I want to be sure that this is not "to satisfy him" which is more common in my language than suit the purpose.

: : : : Thank you very much

: : : No, it doesn't mean to satisfy him. The author is saying that the paraphernalia offered by the optician will be beneficial to the customer because he can use it for (i.e. it agrees with) his needs. Of course, in such a case the customer will indeed be satisfied, but that is not what is meant by "suits the client's purpose".

: : Bookworm's got it. A direct and common synonymous phrase would be "fits his needs".

: The customer's purpose, in this context, means the use to which he intends to put the instrument.

Thank you all so much - fits his needs - that is what I need.