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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Mastered
Showing 1921–2016 of 7341 phrases
Verb + noun(12)
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train a teacher
give professional training to someone to teach
train the brain
to improve cognitive ability through regular mental practice or exercise
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
withdraw cash
to take cash out of a bank or ATM
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
Adjective + noun(68)
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a compelling reason
a very strong justification that is difficult to argue against
a nuclear war
a war in which nuclear weapons are used
absent father
A father who is not present in his children's daily lives
acting chief
a person temporarily performing the duties of the chief
advance notice
warning or information given before something happens
amateur detective
a person who investigates crimes as a pastime rather than as a profession
ambitious plan
a plan that aims to achieve something bold or large in scope
analytical brain
a mind skilled at breaking down information and reasoning logically
annual return
a yearly financial profit or mandatory yearly report filed with authorities
authentic feel
a quality of seeming genuine and not artificial
authority figure
a person who has recognized power or influence over others, such as a parent, teacher, or employer
bay window
A window set in a projecting recess that juts out from the main wall of a building
biting wind
a sharply cold wind that feels painful on exposed skin
bold step
a brave or decisive action that involves risk
brute force
raw physical power used without skill or subtlety
building inspector
an official who checks that construction meets legal safety standards
burning shame
an intense, consuming feeling of shame
candlelit dinner
a romantic evening meal lit by candles
casual sex
sexual activity outside of a committed relationship
central bank
the national bank that manages a country's monetary policy and currency
chemical burn
a burn injury caused by contact with a corrosive chemical substance
chief inspector
the senior or head inspector within an organization or department
choral singing
singing performed by a choir or large group in harmony
chronic pain
long-lasting, persistent pain
clinical trial
a scientific study that tests the effects of a medical treatment on people
commercial bank
a bank that provides financial services to businesses and the public for profit
compelling read
a text so engaging that you feel driven to keep reading
complex system
a system with many interconnected and difficult-to-understand parts
confidential information
information that is meant to remain private and not be disclosed
contemporary art
art produced in the present time or very recent past
craft beer
beer produced by a small, independent brewery using traditional methods
criminal charge
a formal legal accusation of a criminal offence
criminal court
a court that deals with offences against the law
criminal law
the branch of law that relates to crimes and their punishment
cross-country running
running over natural terrain such as fields, hills, and mud
crucial moment
a point in time that is extremely important and decisive
crushing blow
a completely devastating setback that is very difficult to recover from
decisive win
a clear, convincing victory that leaves little doubt about the outcome
deep sense
a profound feeling of something
defining moment
a point in time that shapes the nature or outcome of something larger
definitive answer
a conclusive, authoritative response that fully settles a matter
detailed study
a thorough and comprehensive investigation
devastating fire
a fire that causes great destruction to property or landscape
developing country
a country with a lower level of economic and industrial development
devoted husband
a husband deeply committed to his wife and family
double agent
a spy who secretly works for two opposing sides simultaneously
dramatic drop
a very large or striking decrease
draught beer
beer served directly from a barrel or keg through a tap, rather than from a bottle or can
drive-by shooting
a shooting carried out from a moving vehicle against a person or building
dubious honor
a distinction that is not entirely positive or flattering
dying wish
a final desire expressed by someone close to death
economic power
the financial and commercial strength of a country or organization
effortless grace
great elegance achieved without any apparent difficulty
emotional support
comfort and encouragement offered to help someone cope with feelings or difficulties
essential service
a service considered vital for society to function, such as health care or utilities
exclusive club
a club that is difficult to join and limited to a select group
existing client
a client who currently uses a company's services
expectant father
a man whose partner is pregnant; a father-to-be
expectant mother
a woman who is pregnant
extensive search
a search covering a wide area or many sources
extra cover
additional insurance or protection beyond a basic policy
faint hope
a very small or slim chance that something good will happen
faint smell
A scent that is very weak and barely perceptible
fair hearing
an impartial opportunity to present one's case or views
fair trial
a legal proceeding conducted impartially and in accordance with proper procedure
fatal blow
a strike or setback that causes complete failure or irreversible destruction
fatal shooting
a shooting that results in at least one person's death
faulty engine
an engine that is not functioning correctly
Verb + preposition/particle(16)
-
agree on
to reach a shared decision or consensus about something
agree to
to accept or consent to a proposal or plan
decide against
to choose not to do something after deliberation
decide between
to make a choice when comparing two or more options
decide on
to make a choice about something after considering the options
die from
to die as a direct result of an injury or external cause
hear back
to receive a reply or response from someone you contacted
hear of
to have knowledge that someone or something exists
help through
to support someone in getting through a difficult period or situation
listen for
to pay alert attention in order to hear something expected or hoped for
put into
to invest resources, energy, or thought into something
remember as
to be recalled in the role or identity of a particular kind of person or thing (typically in passive constructions)
run for
to compete as a candidate for an elected position
sit on
to be a member of an official body such as a committee, board, or jury
sit through
to remain seated and endure something from beginning to end, especially something long or dull
try for
To make an attempt to obtain, win, or gain entry to something competitive.