[Vocabulary] Usage of "to secure"

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stayarmy

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Dear members and teachers,

I would like to know about the usage of a verb "secure".
What I'm trying to say is "I made all my effort to get something for you."

Do you think below usage of "secure" is commonly used by native english speakers?

- I finally secured your portion from the supplier, even though the supplier is facing severe shortage.

Please advise me.

Thanks in advance.
 

Tdol

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It doesn't sound natural to me.
 

Matthew Wai

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Does "come by" sound natural?
 

emsr2d2

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I'm happy enough with "secure" but I don't like "portion".
 

stayarmy

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It doesn't sound natural to me.

Thanks for your comment.
Is there any natural word you can suggest instead of "secure"?
 

stayarmy

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I'm happy enough with "secure" but I don't like "portion".

Thank you very much.
If "portion" doesn't sound okay, could you possibly advise me better word?
 

Raymott

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"goods, items, necessities". It depends. If both speaker and hearer know what the 'portion' is, you can use "stuff".
 

Matthew Wai

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I suggested "come by" in my above post, is it acceptable?
 

emsr2d2

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I don't think "come by" works in this context. It sounds more accidental. If I was ordering goods from a supplier, I would say I "obtained" or "procured" them. I would possibly use "secure" if I had been told that an item would be set aside for me and that otherwise it would not have been available.
 

Matthew Wai

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Does "come by" imply "accidental"? My dictionaries just say "to manage to get something".
 

emsr2d2

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It's more commonly used in a situation such as:

- Wow. That's a lovely painting. Where did you get it?
- Oh, I came by it when I was on my honeymoon. It was done by a street artist as I watched so I bought it.

The phrase doesn't make me think of someone setting out specifically to buy something and I definitely don't associate it with business.
 

stayarmy

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Thank you all for advice.
I guess "secure" is not being used commonly when I tried to emphasize how hard I got something for somebody.
 

Raymott

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I guess "secure" is not being used commonly when I tried to emphasize how hard I got something for somebody.
That's a strange conclusion. I don't think anybody has made that link.
"I was able to secure this easily" and "I had a devil of a time securing this" would be just as common, I think.
Emsr2r2 said she had no problem with 'secure' (twice); I find it acceptable. But you've gone with the first reply that says your sentence doesn't sound natural, and asked for alternatives. Most of the posts have given alternatives without commenting on 'secure'.
 
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