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 191 phrases
Verb + noun(86)
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accept a dare
To agree to carry out a challenge that someone has issued
admit a mistake
acknowledge that one has done something wrong
adopt a child
to legally take responsibility for and bring up a child not born to you
apply a fix
to implement a solution or repair to a known problem
appoint a lawyer
To officially assign a lawyer to a case or role
appoint a president
to formally select someone to serve as president of an organization
appoint a professor
To officially give someone the position of professor
arrange a marriage
organize a marriage between two people, typically by their families
attempt a jump
try to jump, especially a difficult or risky one
attend a course
go to the sessions of a course
attend a party
go to a social gathering
attend a show
go and be present at a live performance
attend a wake
be present at a gathering held after someone's death
avoid a question
to deliberately not answer a question
become a victim
to enter the state of being harmed or wronged by someone or something
block a road
to obstruct traffic flow on a road
bring to a stop
to cause something or someone to cease moving or operating
build a business
to develop and grow a company over time through sustained effort
build a relationship
To develop a connection or bond with someone through sustained effort over time
build a team
to create and develop a group of people to work effectively together
call a meeting
arrange for a meeting to take place
cancel a visit
To call off a visit that had been planned
capture a moment
to preserve a specific point in time in memory, a photograph, or a recording
carry a weapon
to have a weapon on one's person
carry out a search
perform a systematic search
cause a drop
to bring about a decrease in a quantity, price, or level
clean up a mess
To restore order or cleanliness after disorder has occurred
clear a jump
jump successfully over an obstacle
close a case
to officially end an investigation or legal matter
close a deal
finalize an agreement successfully
complete a course
finish all the requirements of a course
compose a piece
to create an original musical composition
conduct a search
carry out an organized attempt to find something or someone
construct a building
build or erect a structure
consult a doctor
seek professional medical advice from a doctor before acting
consult a lawyer
To seek professional legal advice from a lawyer
correct a fault
to fix or remedy a defect or error
create a mess
To cause a state of disorder or confusion
crown a king
to formally make someone king in a ceremony
crown a queen
officially invest someone with the title of queen in a ceremony
cut a key
to shape a new key by cutting metal
deliver a blow
to strike someone or something with force
deliver a talk
to give a prepared presentation
demolish a building
tear down a building completely
deserve a mention
to be worthy of being noted or acknowledged
design a system
to plan and create a system from scratch
detect a smell
To identify or sense a smell, especially a faint or subtle one
develop a relationship
To allow a connection between people to grow and deepen
develop a sense
gradually build an awareness or perception of something
direct a film
to be in charge of the creative and technical production of a film
discipline a kid
teach a child to behave correctly through consistent rules and consequences
draw a gun
to take a gun out of its holster quickly, ready to use
drop a weapon
to let a weapon fall to the ground, typically as an act of surrender
dump a girlfriend
To abruptly end a romantic relationship
elect a government
to choose a government through a democratic vote
elect a president
to choose a president by voting
end a marriage
bring a marriage to its conclusion through separation or divorce
end a relationship
To bring a personal or professional connection to a deliberate close
enforce a law
to ensure a law is obeyed and to punish those who break it
enforce a rule
to ensure that a rule is obeyed and applied consistently
evacuate a building
remove all occupants from a building in an emergency
exchange a kiss
kiss each other mutually
expect a child
to be pregnant; to be waiting to become a parent
expect a return
to anticipate profit or repayment for an investment or favor
express a wish
to state or communicate a desire formally
extend a stay
lengthen the period of time one spends somewhere
face a fear
confront something you are afraid of directly
face a problem
to be confronted with a difficulty that must be dealt with
face a situation
confront and deal with a situation directly
file a report
to officially register or lodge a report with an authority
fill a position
appoint someone to an open role
find a fix
to discover a solution to a problem
find a reason
to identify or come up with a justification for something
fire a professor
To dismiss a professor from their position
fire a shot
to discharge a weapon once
fit a kitchen
install the units and appliances of a kitchen
fix a date
to arrange and confirm a specific date for something
form a government
to establish or constitute a government after an election
found a company
to formally establish a company as its original creator
get a laugh
To cause others to laugh with a joke or remark
get a mention
to be briefly referred to
handle a case
to manage and deal with a particular investigation or legal matter
handle a situation
manage and deal with a situation effectively
hang a picture
fix a picture to a wall
have a guess
to try guessing, often when invited to do so
have a laugh
To share laughter and amusement with others
Adjective + noun(10)
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a branch office
a secondary location of a company, separate from the main headquarters
a brisk walk
a walk done at a fast, energetic pace
a civil war
an armed conflict between opposing groups within the same country
a clean shot
a well-aimed, accurate shot with nothing obstructing the path
a government office
a building or department where public administration is carried out
a head office
the main administrative centre of a company or organisation
a leisurely walk
a relaxed, unhurried walk with no time pressure
a market town
a town that holds a regular market, particularly in Britain
a valid reason
a justification that is acceptable and logically sound
a winning shot
a shot that decides the outcome in favour of the scorer