Listen to me lord vs Pay attention

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

Listen to me lord

Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Pay attention

 Listen to me lordPay attention
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈlɪs.ən tə miː lɔːd//🇺🇸 //ˈlɪs.ən tə mi lɔrd//
MeaningA request to pay attention to what someone is saying, typically to a higher power.
ExampleIn times of trouble, I often say, 'Listen to me lord, I need your guidance.'-
RegisterNeutral-
How commonTop 5,000 (fairly common)-
CollocationsListen to me, lord of the land, lord I pray, lord help me, my lord-
Common mistakesConfused with 'Listen up!' which is more casual., Omitting 'to me' can alter the meaning., Used too formally outside of religious contexts.-
Usage notesUsed in discussions about faith or prayer. Consider appropriate contexts such as religious settings.-

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Listen to me lord
Pay attention

Frequently asked questions: Listen to me lord vs Pay attention

What's the difference between Listen to me lord and Pay attention?

Listen to me lord: A request to pay attention to what someone is saying, typically to a higher power. Pay attention:

Can I use Listen to me lord and Pay attention interchangeably?

Not always. Listen to me lord and Pay attention 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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