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 97–191 of 191 phrases
Verb + noun(95)
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have a shot
to make an attempt at something
hire a professor
To recruit someone into a professorial role
hire a teacher
employ someone as a teacher
hold a conversation
to sustain a coherent spoken exchange
hold a position
keep or maintain a job, role, or stance
hold a record
to currently possess or be the holder of a record
hold a wake
organize a gathering to mourn and remember a deceased person
host a show
present or compere a television or live show
hunt a killer
to actively search for a murderer who has not yet been caught
identify a killer
to determine who is responsible for a murder
issue a pass
officially provide someone with a permit or access ticket
keep a date
to honor a previously arranged appointment
keep a record
to maintain a written or stored log of information over time
launch a drive
to begin an organized campaign or effort toward a particular goal
launch a search
officially begin a search operation
lead a life
to live in a particular way
lead a team
to be in charge of and guide a group of people
leave a mark
to create a visible stain, impression, or trace on a surface
line a street
be arranged in a row along both sides of a street
load a gun
to put ammunition into a gun so it is ready to fire
lose a bet
to fail in a wager
make a bet
to agree to a wager with someone
make a date
to arrange to meet someone at a specific time
make a decision
to choose between options and commit to a course of action
make a difference
to have a significant effect or produce a noticeable change
make a move
to take an action or step toward achieving something
make a save
to stop a ball from entering the goal, as a goalkeeper
make a start
to begin a task or activity
make a trip
to carry out a journey to a particular place, often a practical or purposeful one
manage a team
to organize and direct the work of a group over time
notice a difference
to become aware that something has changed or that two things are not the same
offer a course
make a course available for students to enroll in
offer a service
to make a service available to potential customers
open a case
to officially begin an investigation or legal proceeding
operate a machine
work or control a machine
operate a system
to run or manage a system on a day-to-day basis
overcome a fear
gradually stop being afraid of something through effort
own a bar
to possess and be the proprietor of a bar
pass a bill
officially approve a piece of legislation
pass a law
to formally approve and put into force a new piece of legislation
patrol a street
walk up and down a street in order to guard or monitor it
pay a visit
To go to see someone or a place, often in a somewhat formal or deliberate way
perform a dance
carry out a dance in front of an audience
perform a piece
to give a formal public performance of a musical or artistic work
perform in a play
to act as a cast member in a theatrical production
place a bet
to wager money on an outcome
prove a point
demonstrate that something is true, often to settle a dispute
provide a service
to supply or perform a service for customers or users
publish a book
to prepare and release a book for public distribution
publish a report
to make a report available for public reading
quote a figure
to state a specific number, especially an estimated cost or amount
raise a child
to bring up and care for a child through to adulthood
receive a mention
to be formally acknowledged or referred to
record a win
to achieve a victory, especially as one of a series in a competition
refuse a dare
To decline a challenge that someone has issued
release a film
to make a completed film available to audiences
release a fix
to issue a solution or patch publicly, especially in software
repeat a mistake
do the same wrong thing a second time
return a favor
repay a kind act that someone did for you
run a bar
to manage the day-to-day operations of a bar
run a company
to manage and operate a business organization
run a hotel
manage and operate a hotel as a business
run a shop
To manage and operate a shop on a daily basis
save a marriage
prevent a marriage from ending through effort or counseling
schedule a visit
To arrange a visit for a specific time
secure a win
to ensure or guarantee a victory, often by decisive late action
see a drop
to observe or record a decrease in a quantity or level
set a record
to establish a new best performance or highest figure for the first time
settle a bill
pay the full amount owed, especially at a restaurant or hotel
share a story
recount a personal narrative with an audience
skip a step
to omit a stage in a process or set of instructions
solve a case
to find the answer or resolution to a crime or problem under investigation
spoil a kid
give a child excessive gifts or freedom in a way that harms their development
spot a difference
to identify a specific point where two things are not the same
state a reason
to clearly express a justification, especially in a formal context
strike a blow
to hit someone forcefully, or to achieve a meaningful impact against something
submit a paper
to hand in an academic document for grading or peer review
submit a report
to formally hand in a completed report to someone in authority
suffer a blow
to experience a painful physical strike or a significant setback
suffer a burn
to receive an injury caused by heat, fire, or a corrosive substance
support a family
to earn enough money to cover a family's needs
take a dare
To accept and act on a challenge from another person
take a guess
to try to answer by estimating or guessing
take a position
adopt a clear stance or viewpoint on an issue
teach a course
deliver a structured programme of instruction to students
train a teacher
give professional training to someone to teach
treat a burn
to provide medical care for a burn injury
undergo a change
experience or go through a significant transformation
use a service
to make use of a service that is available
waste a year
to spend a year without achieving anything productive
win a bet
to succeed in a wager
wind a watch
to tighten the mainspring of a mechanical watch to keep it running
write a paper
to compose a formal academic or research document
write a piece
to produce a piece of writing, such as an article or essay
write a play
to compose the script and dialogue for a theatrical work