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 97–192 of 209 phrases
Verb + noun(96)
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lose a life
to die; to cause a death
make a change
alter or modify something deliberately
make a couple
to form a naturally matching or well-suited romantic pair
make a deal
reach or agree on an arrangement with another party
make a film
to produce or direct a film
make a guess
to attempt an answer without being certain
make a joke
To produce a humorous remark or story
make a mark
to create a visible spot or impression on a surface
make a mess
To produce disorder or a dirty, disordered state
make a mistake
do something incorrectly or wrongly
make a movie
to produce or direct a film
make a pass
throw or kick a ball to a teammate
make a point
express a clear argument or draw attention to something
make a rule
to establish or create a rule
make a stop
to halt briefly at a place during a journey
make a turn
to change direction while driving or walking
manage a store
To be responsible for the day-to-day running of a retail shop
miss a call
To fail to answer a phone call, typically because you were unavailable.
miss a chance
fail to use an available opportunity
miss a plane
to fail to board a plane before it departs
miss a step
to fail to place a foot properly, especially on stairs
miss a turn
to lose one's opportunity to act in a game or rotation
need a lawyer
To require legal representation or advice in a situation
notice a smell
To become consciously aware of a scent through the nose
open a bar
to start operating a bar as a business
open a restaurant
to start or establish a restaurant business
open a shop
To start operating a retail business
order a coffee
to request coffee from a server or barista
pack a bag
put belongings into a bag in preparation for travel
park a car
to stop a car and leave it in a chosen location
pay a bill
settle a payment owed
plan a trip
to organise and prepare the details of a journey in advance
plan a weekend
to organise or arrange activities for a weekend in advance
plant a tree
to put a young tree in the ground so that it grows
play a card
To lay down a card from one's hand during a card game
play a piece
to perform a musical composition
play a queen
take the role of a queen in a performance
play a song
to perform a song on an instrument or play a recording
post a notice
put a written announcement in a public place
punch a hole
to make a hole by piercing or pressing through a surface
put on a show
organize or stage a performance
raise a daughter
bring up a female child
raise a family
to bring up children through childhood
raise a glass
To lift a glass as a gesture of celebration or toasting someone
raise a kid
bring up a child from infancy to adulthood
raise a son
to bring up a boy from childhood to adulthood
read a paper
to read a newspaper or an academic article
receive a bill
get a statement requesting payment
receive a call
to get an incoming telephone call
receive a message
get a message sent by someone else
record a video
to capture moving images and sound on a device
remember a birthday
to keep track of and acknowledge someone's birthday
rent a car
To pay for temporary use of a car from a rental company
repair a machine
fix a broken machine
report a crime
inform the police or authorities about an illegal act
rescue a dog
to save or adopt a dog from a shelter or dangerous situation
reserve a seat
set aside a seat for someone
return a call
to telephone someone who has previously called you
rob a bank
to steal money from a bank by force or threat
run a business
to manage and operate a company on a daily basis
run a check
carry out a systematic search or verification, often using a database or system
run a club
manage and organize the activities of a club
run a group
organize and manage a group on a regular basis
run a restaurant
to manage and operate a restaurant
run a store
To manage and operate a retail shop on a daily basis
save a life
to prevent someone from dying
save a place
keep a seat or spot available for someone
see a difference
to observe or perceive that something has changed or that a contrast exists
see a play
to attend and watch a theatrical performance
sell a house
to transfer ownership of a house in exchange for money
set a date
to decide on a specific day for an event
set up a system
to establish a system so it is ready to use
share a bed
to sleep in the same bed as another person
share a room
to occupy the same room as another person
share a video
to send or make a video available to others
show a pass
present an official permit for inspection
shut down a computer
to close all running programs and switch a computer off properly
sign a card
To write one's name on a greeting card
solve a crime
find the answer to who committed a crime and how
solve a problem
to find an answer or solution to a difficulty
spend a year
to pass a year doing something or being somewhere
start a business
to create and begin operating a new company
start a club
create and establish a new club
start a company
to establish a new business
start a conversation
to initiate talking with someone
start a family
to have your first child
start a fight
to initiate a physical or verbal conflict
start a machine
switch a machine on so that it begins running
start a war
to initiate armed conflict between nations or groups
stream a movie
to watch a movie via an online streaming service
stroke a cat
To run your hand gently along a cat's fur
take a call
to answer a telephone call
take a chance
risk doing something uncertain
take a course
enroll in and attend an educational course
take a month
to require a month of time to complete
take a rest
to stop activity and relax for a period of time