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.
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Showing 961–1056 of 1187 phrases
Adjective + noun(69)
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poignant grief
deep sorrow that is painfully moving or emotionally affecting
pointed allusion
an indirect reference whose intended target is clear, often carrying criticism
potent liquor
a distilled alcoholic drink with a strong intoxicating effect
psychological crutch
something relied on for emotional reassurance or confidence
rectilinear propagation
the travel or spread of something along straight lines
residuary beneficiary
a person entitled to what remains of an estate after debts and specific gifts are paid
rigid disciplinarian
a person who enforces strict rules without adapting to individual circumstances
scholarly treatise
a formal, detailed written work based on serious academic study
serene composure
calm self-control that appears peaceful and untroubled
silver wattle
an evergreen Australasian acacia with silvery young foliage or bark and yellow flowers
sloppy workmanship
poor-quality making or repair caused by carelessness
social anarchism
anarchist thought that emphasizes social equality and voluntary cooperation among people
socialist realism
a style of realistic art developed in the Soviet Union to express socialist ideals
sordid avarice
greed for wealth that is mean and morally disreputable
striking resemblance
a similarity in appearance or character that is especially noticeable
sylvan glade
an open space within a wood or forest
sympathetic stimulation
activation of the part of the nervous system that prepares the body for action
translucent amber
fossil resin that allows light through without making objects behind it fully clear
uncritical admirer
a person who approves of someone without seriously considering their faults
unenviable notoriety
a bad reputation that no one would reasonably wish to share
vascular constriction
narrowing of blood vessels that reduces the space through which blood can flow
verbal aptitude
a natural ability to understand and use words effectively
widespread disaffection
discontent with an authority or loss of loyalty shared by many people
yellow warbler
a small songbird of the Americas, recognizable by its yellow throat
bottomless perdition
an apparently endless abyss associated with eternal spiritual punishment
capillary rise
the upward movement of a liquid inside a very narrow tube or space
curvilinear tracery
decorative interlacing work or lines arranged in curved patterns
deep torpor
a severe state of physical and mental inactivity with reduced awareness
elegiac lament
an expression of sorrow that mourns a person, time, or ideal that has been lost
embattled city
a city organized and prepared to defend itself in battle
episcopal hierarchy
the ranked leadership structure of a church in the Episcopal tradition
equable climate
a climate with few sharp changes or extremes in conditions
exalted ideal
a principle or goal regarded as having very high moral or intellectual value
fast tempo
a quick speed at which a piece of music is played
fiery oratory
public speaking filled with intense emotion and force
fifth wheel
a circular bearing that lets a wagon's front axle turn beneath its body
florid speech
a formal talk expressed in elaborate and excessively decorative language
friable sandstone
sandstone that breaks or crumbles easily into small particles
giant bamboo
a very large tropical bamboo with thick, hollow woody stems
giant petrel
a large brownish petrel found in the Antarctic region
giant salamander
a very large salamander found in parts of Asia
giant silkworm
the caterpillar of a saturniid moth that spins a strong silk cocoon
giant squid
a very large marine squid with an elongated body and long tentacles
giant tortoise
a very large land tortoise native to islands such as the Galapagos or Seychelles
gnomic verse
poetry that expresses general truths in short, compact sayings
greek ethos
the characteristic values and outlook associated with Greek culture
homicidal rage
anger so extreme that it involves an urge or readiness to kill
homologous tissue
biological tissue corresponding in structure or origin to other tissue
horizontal slab
a thick flat piece of solid material positioned level rather than upright
ignoble part
a role in events that is dishonorable or morally unworthy
immediate vicinity
the area very close to a particular place
impenetrable jargon
specialized language that is extremely difficult to understand
imperial splendor
magnificence associated with an emperor or imperial court
implacable enemy
an opponent whose hostility cannot be softened or reconciled
imposing edifice
a large building whose scale or appearance commands attention
impregnable fortress
a strongly defended place considered impossible to capture
inarticulate cry
a loud expression of feeling that contains no clear words
incongruous behavior
conduct that seems out of place in its surroundings or situation
incontrovertible proof
evidence so clear that it cannot reasonably be disputed
incorporeal spirit
a supernatural being believed to exist without a physical body
indiscriminate reading
reading a wide range of material without choosing carefully
indivisible union
a joined body whose parts cannot be separated
inextinguishable flame
a fire described as impossible or extremely difficult to put out
inextricable knot
a tangle of tied material that cannot be untied or separated
inferential reasoning
thinking that draws conclusions from evidence or known facts
ingratiating manner
a way of behaving intended to win approval through excessive friendliness or flattery
initiatory step
an action that begins a process or prepares the way for further action
insular culture
the customs and way of life associated with an island
insuperable odds
chances of success so unfavorable that they seem impossible to overcome
Noun + noun(9)
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plague spot
a mark on the skin associated with plague infection
poke bonnet
a traditional bonnet tied beneath the chin, with a brim projecting around the face
sal soda
an older name for sodium carbonate, also called washing soda
swamp fever
a traditional name for leptospirosis, an infection that can cause fever and jaundice
tick fever
a fever-producing illness caused by rickettsial bacteria transmitted through tick bites
velvet bean
a climbing legume with hairy pods, grown as a cover crop or animal forage
water parsnip
a stout perennial plant with white flowers that grows in shallow fresh water
wax myrtle
a shrub or small tree with fragrant leaves and berries covered in wax
globe thistle
a prickly plant with round, usually blue flower heads
Verb + adverb(9)
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brim over
flow beyond the top edge of a full container
bugger off
go away, used as a rude British command
fend off
protect oneself by keeping an attacker or threat away
firing off
discharging a firearm so that it sends out a shot
flake off
come away from a surface in small thin pieces
glaze over
become glassy and lose an alert or focused expression, especially of eyes
haul off
to transport something away, especially in a vehicle
haze over
to cover something with a misty layer that makes it difficult to see clearly
hunch over
to bend forward with the back rounded and the shoulders drawn inward
Adverb + adjective(9)
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absolutely livid
furiously angry to an extreme degree
almost indiscernible
so faint or slight that it can barely be perceived
completely unmoved
showing no emotional response at all
emotionally labile
liable to rapid changes in feelings or emotional expression
extraordinarily prescient
unusually accurate in understanding what is likely to happen later
finitely many
a limited number of, rather than an infinite number of
highly idiosyncratic
strongly marked by features peculiar to one person
highly viscous
thick and strongly resistant to flowing
hopelessly outmoded
so outdated that it is no longer practical or suitable