Collocations
Collocations
Explore English words that belong together, with meanings, examples, and sentence practice. Browse by CEFR level or pattern, and add collocations to your deck for regular review.
Phrases containing a, including its inflections. Clear word filter
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Showing 1–96 of 209 phrases
Verb + noun(89)
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add a drop
to put a very small amount of a liquid into something
ask a favor
request a kind act from someone
attend a meeting
be present at a meeting
become a mother
have a child for the first time; take on the role of a mother
become a queen
take on the role or title of queen
become a teacher
take up the profession of teaching
block a street
obstruct a street so that traffic cannot pass
blow a kiss
send an air kiss by kissing one's hand and blowing it toward someone
board a plane
to get on a plane in preparation for a flight
board a train
to get onto a train
book a hotel
reserve accommodation at a hotel in advance
book a place
reserve a spot or position in advance
book a restaurant
to make a reservation at a restaurant
book a room
to reserve a room in a hotel or other accommodation
book a seat
reserve a seat in advance
book a stay
reserve accommodation for a visit
book a table
reserve a table at a restaurant in advance
book a trip
to reserve transport and accommodation for a journey
borrow a book
to take a book temporarily from a library or another person
break a record
to surpass a previously established best performance or highest figure
break a window
To shatter the glass of a window
build a fire
to arrange wood and other fuel and ignite it to create a fire
build a road
to construct a new road
carry a gun
to have a gun on your person
catch a cold
become ill with a cold
catch a killer
to apprehend someone who has committed murder
catch a plane
to board a plane before it departs, often implying a rush
cause a problem
to create a difficulty for someone or something
celebrate a birthday
to mark the occasion of a birthday with festivities
change a life
to transform someone's circumstances fundamentally
clean a window
To wash and polish the glass of a window
come to a stop
to cease moving
commit a crime
carry out an illegal act
copy a key
to make a duplicate of a key
correct a mistake
fix or put right something done incorrectly
cross a road
to go from one side of a road to the other
cut down a tree
to fell a tree by cutting through its trunk
decorate a tree
to hang ornaments, lights, or other items on a tree, especially a Christmas tree
do a favor
perform a helpful service for someone
drill a hole
to create a circular opening in a surface using a drill
enjoy a stay
To have a pleasant experience at a place during a visit.
expect a baby
to be pregnant
fight a fire
to work to extinguish a blaze
film a scene
to record a particular scene for a film or television production
find a girlfriend
To meet and begin dating a romantic partner
find a husband
to meet and choose a man to marry
fire a gun
to shoot a gun
follow a plan
to act in accordance with a set strategy
follow a rule
to act in accordance with a rule
form a group
bring people together to create a new group
get a joke
To understand the humour in a joke
get a mark
to receive a grade or score on a piece of work
get a pass
obtain an official permit allowing entry or access
get a push
to receive a physical push, moving one forward or setting one in motion
get a shot
to receive an injection of medicine or vaccine
give a chance
offer an opportunity to someone
give a cry
emit a single cry
give a knock
knock on a door or surface, usually once
give a push
to apply force to someone or something to move it forward or start it
give a reason
to explain why something happened or was done
give a talk
to deliver a speech or presentation to an audience
grant a wish
to make someone's desire come true
have a child
to become a parent; to give birth to or father a child
have a conversation
to engage in a spoken exchange with someone
have a feeling
to experience an emotion or intuition
have a fight
to engage in a quarrel or physical conflict with someone
have a read
to spend some time reading something (informal)
have a reason
to possess a justification or motive for an action
have a rest
to pause from work or exertion in order to relax
hear a knock
perceive the sound of someone knocking on a door
hire a car
to pay temporarily for the use of a car
hire a lawyer
To pay a lawyer to represent or advise you
hold a meeting
organize and conduct a meeting
host a party
be the organizer and main provider of a social event
install a system
to put a new system in place and make it operational
introduce a boyfriend
present one's boyfriend to others for the first time
join a church
To become a member of a church congregation
join a company
to become an employee of a business organization
join a conversation
to begin participating in a discussion already in progress
last a month
to continue or endure for the duration of a month
lead a group
be in charge of and direct the activities of a group
learn a song
to memorize and practice a song until you can perform it
leave a club
end one's membership of a club
leave a husband
to end a marriage by departing from one's spouse
leave a job
to stop working at a job, especially voluntarily
leave a mess
To depart without tidying the disorder one has caused
light a fire
to ignite fuel so that it burns
lose a friend
to no longer have someone as a friend
lose a job
to no longer have employment, typically involuntarily
Adjective + noun(7)
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a good shot
a well-placed, accurate shot; also, a person who shoots accurately
a happy couple
two people in a relationship who appear content and well-matched
a home office
a dedicated workspace set up in someone's home
a lucky shot
a shot that succeeds by chance rather than skill
a married couple
two people who are legally joined in marriage
a world war
a war involving many of the world's nations simultaneously
a young couple
two people who are romantically involved and are both relatively young