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 1633–1728 of 7341 phrases
Verb + noun(96)
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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
discover the truth
to find out the real facts about something
discuss the matter
to talk about an issue in detail
do your part
contribute your own share of effort or responsibility toward a shared goal
donate blood
to give blood to a blood bank as a medical donation
draw a gun
to take a gun out of its holster quickly, ready to use
draw attention
cause people to notice something
draw blood
to take a blood sample from a person's vein for testing
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
earn applause
to deserve and receive clapping through a strong performance
earn marks
to accumulate points or grades through effort and performance
earn respect
to gain the respect of others through one's behaviour or achievements
earn trust
to gain someone's trust through one's actions and reliability
ease pain
reduce the severity of pain
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
ensure security
to make certain that adequate security is maintained
escape prison
to break out of prison without authorisation
establish contact
To successfully create a line of communication, especially in a formal or difficult situation
evacuate a building
remove all occupants from a building in an emergency
exchange a kiss
kiss each other mutually
exchange rings
give and receive rings as part of a marriage ceremony
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
express feelings
to communicate emotions through words or actions
express hope
to state one's optimism about a future outcome
express pleasure
show or communicate that one is pleased
express thanks
to convey gratitude, especially in a formal context
express thoughts
To put one's ideas or opinions into words.
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
face arrest
be at risk of being detained by the police
face death
be in a situation where dying is a real and immediate possibility
face jail
To be in a situation where imprisonment is a likely outcome
fear death
have a strong and persistent fear of dying
feel pain
experience a sensation of physical or emotional hurt
feel shame
to experience the painful emotion of shame
feel the beat
to sense and respond physically to the rhythm of music
file a report
to officially register or lodge a report with an authority
fill a position
appoint someone to an open role
fill the air
to be strongly and widely present throughout the surrounding air, said of a smell, sound, or atmosphere
fill with wonder
to cause someone to feel deep amazement
find a fix
to discover a solution to a problem
find a reason
to identify or come up with a justification for something
find an excuse
to come up with a reason to justify or avoid something
find evidence
to discover evidence of something
find fault
to criticize or point out mistakes in someone or something
find pleasure
discover or experience enjoyment in something
find the cause
to identify the reason something happened
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
follow advice
to act in accordance with guidance that has been given
form a government
to establish or constitute a government after an election
found a company
to formally establish a company as its original creator
furnish an apartment
put furniture and fittings into an apartment
gain control
to obtain authority or power over something that was previously unmanaged or held by another
gain experience
to acquire practical knowledge or skill through doing something
gain power
to acquire political or social authority
gain speed
to gradually become faster
gain trust
to gradually obtain trust from others, often over a period of time
gather evidence
to collect evidence systematically from multiple sources
gather information
to collect information from various sources
gather thoughts
To collect and organise one's ideas before speaking or writing.
get a laugh
To cause others to laugh with a joke or remark
get a mention
to be briefly referred to
get hold
to obtain or grasp something
give notice
formally inform someone in advance of your intentions, especially before leaving a job
give thought to
to deliberately consider or reflect on something
handle a case
to manage and deal with a particular investigation or legal matter
handle a situation
manage and deal with a situation effectively
handle pressure
to manage stress or demanding situations effectively
hang a picture
fix a picture to a wall
hang curtains
put curtains in place on a rail or rod
hang laundry
put washed clothes on a line or rack to dry
hang up the phone
to end a phone call
have a guess
to try guessing, often when invited to do so
have a laugh
To share laughter and amusement with others
have a shot
to make an attempt at something
have first pick
to have the right to choose before anyone else
have sex
engage in sexual intercourse
hide fear
conceal one's fear so others cannot see it
hide feelings
to conceal one's emotions from others
hide one's worry
to conceal feelings of anxiety from others
hide the truth
to deliberately conceal facts from others
hire a professor
To recruit someone into a professorial role