apply to

apply (oneself) to (something)

To put forth effort toward some task or goal. Honey, if you would just apply yourself to your schoolwork, you would get much better grades.
See also: apply

apply to

1. To use for a specific reason or goal. In this usage, a noun appears between "apply" and "to." I want to live debt-free, so I just applied all of my savings to my student loans.
2. To take action for a specific outcome. In this usage, a noun appears between "apply" and "to." If you apply more time to your studies, I'm sure you'll pass your test. Apply more pressure to stop the bleeding.
3. To rub or place something onto another surface. In this usage, a noun appears between "apply" and "to." Apply the cream to your foot once a day to reduce the inflammation. Have you applied the frosting to the cake yet?
4. To submit an application for something, such as a job, school, or program. I applied to the scholarship program, but I haven't heard anything back yet. Which colleges have you applied to?
5. To impact or be pertinent to a person, thing, or group. The new dress code applies to all employees, regardless of seniority. I'm pretty sure that rule only applies to underclassmen.
See also: apply
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

apply something to something

 
1. Lit. to put something onto the surface of something. Apply the decal to the surface of the glass. Apply the paint evenly to each surface.
2. Fig. to use something, such as force, effort, etc., on something or in the performance of some task. Apply more effort in your school work. An even greater effort has been applied to make sure we finish on time.
See also: apply

apply to someone or something

[for rules, laws, etc.] to affect someone or something; to be relevant to someone or something. Does this rule apply to me? These policies apply only to very large companies.
See also: apply
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

apply to

v.
1. To attach something to the surface of something: You must apply the glue to the paper sparingly, or else the paper will wrinkle.
2. To put something to some special use: She applied all her income to the mortgage.
3. To be pertinent or relevant to someone or something: This rule applies to everyone; there are no exceptions.
4. To request or seek assistance, admission, or employment from some organization: I will apply to college next year.
5. To devote someone or someone's efforts to something. Used reflexively: In the summer I relaxed, but in the fall I applied myself to my studies.
See also: apply
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • apply
  • apply (oneself) to (something)
  • apply oneself to
  • applied
  • apply for
  • apply for (something)
  • every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost
  • be (just) as well
  • be as well
  • be there for the taking
References in periodicals archive
A Canadian taxpayer may generally elect to have the FAPI regime, rather than the FIE Rules, apply to a foreign affiliate (32) by electing for that affiliate to be treated as a CFA provided the taxpayer has a minimum 10-percent economic interest in the affiliate.
Canada's foreign investment entity rules: what tax executives need to know
The penalty for substantial valuation misstatements does not apply to any underpayment portion for which there was reasonable cause, assuming the taxpayer acted in good faith.
New guidance helps CPAs minimize tax penalties
2005-75 could apply to a return for a fiscal tax year that begins in 2005 and ends in 2006.
IRS releases 2005 guidelines for "adequate disclosure"
It is expected, however, that Finance will clarify that the rule will not apply to dispositions of excluded property, including inventory or capital property, made in the ordinary course of a taxpayer's active business.
New Canadian technical bill affects foreign affiliates
Taxpayers and their advisers have recently expressed concern about the extent to which the regulations' existing exceptions apply to certain nonrecognition transactions involving asset transfers.
Effect of certain asset reorgs. on gain recognition agreements
The first sentence in Paragraph 10 states that the legislation is not intended to apply to honest mistakes, oversights, and errors in judgment.
Draft CITA information circular on third-party civil penalties
The amendments apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1991, and are set to expire for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996.
Estimated tax payments aren't estimates anymore
2632(c) allows a taxpayer to choose whether he or she wants the automatic allocation rules for indirect skips to apply to a transfer(s) to a particular trust.
New regs. on elections for indirect skips: final regulations on indirect skip transfer elections give taxpayers many generation-skipping transfer tax planning options. This article explains the election rules and available planning opportunities under the new regulations
We continue to recommend that draft section 163.2 of the Income Tax Act and draft section 285.1 of the Excise Tax Act be revised to clarify that they will not apply to corporate employees acting within the scope of their employment at the direction of the employer.
Misrepresentation of a tax matter by a third party
Because these rulings revoke and/or modify prior rulings, they do not apply to certain payments under agreements entered into before Jan.
Current developments (Part I: this two-part article provides an overview of current developments in employee benefits, including executive compensation, welfare benefits and retirement plan requirements. Part I focuses primarily on executive compensation.)
The SRLY rules apply to net operating losses, capital losses, certain business tax credits, and other tax attributes incurred in a tax year before the member with the attribute becomes a member of an affiliated group (in respect of the new member's carryforwards) or after a member leaves the group (in respect of carrybacks).
Notice 98-38: separate return limitation years
Subchapter C provisions (governing corporate formations, reorganizations, redemptions and liquidations, among other areas) specifically apply to S corporations and their shareholders, except to the extent inconsistent with other provisions in subchapter S; see Sec.
Applying the estate freeze special valuation rules to S corporations
(5) The new law adds a new section 6621(d) to the Internal Revenue Code, which provides, as follows: "(d) ELIMINATION OF INTEREST ON OVERLAPPING PERIODS OF TAX OVERPAYMENTS AND UNDERPAYMENTS.--To the extent that for any period, interest is payable under subchapter A and allowable under subchapter B on equivalent underpayments and overpayments by the same taxpayer of tax imposed by this title, the net rate of interest under this section on such amounts shall be zero for such period." In addition, the law amends section 6601(f) (relating to satisfaction by credits) to provide that it does not apply to the extent that section 6621(d) applies." Finally, the legislation contains the following language captioned "EFFECTIVE DATES":
Taxpayer actions required to take advantage of long-awaited interest netting legislation
384 does not limit use of post-acquisition NOLs, nor apply to gains attributed to post-acquisition appreciation or recognized after the recognition period.
Issues and pitfalls in Sec. 384 - limits on NOL use
The new rules apply generally to taxation years or fiscal periods beginning after 1997,(4) although the penalty and its supporting rules, including the new contemporaneous documentation requirements, do not apply until taxation years or fiscal periods beginning after 1998 and in any event do not apply to transactions completed before September 11, 1997, when the rules first were announced in draft form.(5)
Canadian transfer pricing rules keep pace with international developments