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 2113–2208 of 7341 phrases
Verb + noun(82)
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abandon a plan
to stop pursuing a plan before it is completed
advise a client
to give professional guidance or recommendations to a client
apply a finish
put a protective or decorative coating on a surface
appoint an agent
to officially designate someone to act as an agent on one's behalf
assess the situation
evaluate all the details of a situation before deciding how to act
attend a hearing
to be present at an official formal session
attract clients
to draw new clients to a business or service
avert your eyes
to look away, especially from something unpleasant or shocking
avoid prison
to escape being sent to prison, often through a legal technicality or light sentence
blame the victim
to hold the person who was harmed responsible for what happened to them
brave the wind
to endure strong or unpleasant wind in order to do something
brew beer
to make beer through the brewing process
bring charges
to initiate a formal legal accusation against someone
bring to an end
to cause something to finish or stop
call off a search
cancel or abandon an ongoing search operation
catch a glimpse
see something briefly and only partially
cause wear
to produce deterioration in a material through use or friction
chair a meeting
act as the person in charge of conducting a meeting
challenge someone's thinking
question or push against the way a person reasons or holds their views
cherish a moment
to hold a moment in warm and lasting memory
choose your words
select language carefully, especially in a sensitive situation
cite a figure
to quote a specific number as evidence or reference
cite a study
to refer to a study as evidence or support for an argument or claim
claim a win
to take or achieve a victory, sometimes against expectations
clear one's throat
to make a short cough in order to speak more easily or to attract attention
command respect
to naturally inspire respect in others through authority, skill, or presence
conduct a study
to carry out a formal investigation or piece of research
conduct a trial
to carry out a systematic trial, especially a scientific or medical experiment
convict a killer
to find a murderer guilty in a court of law
damage cells
To harm biological cells physically or chemically
deceive the public
to deliberately mislead ordinary people with false information
deliver a service
to carry out or fulfil a service that has been contracted or promised
depose a king
to formally strip a king of his title and power
draw a weapon
to take a weapon out in readiness to use it
draw applause
to cause an audience to start clapping
draw up a plan
to prepare a detailed written plan or proposal
drop charges
to withdraw formal legal accusations
empower women
to give women greater confidence, authority, or resources to act independently
endure a wait
to tolerate a wait, especially one that is long or difficult
enhance beauty
to improve or intensify the appearance or beauty of something
exert force
put out or apply force, especially in a sustained way
face charges
to be confronted with formal legal accusations
face prison
to be in a situation where imprisonment is a likely consequence
face trial
to be required to appear in court to answer criminal charges
file a return
to submit an official financial or tax document
force a laugh
To produce a laugh insincerely when one does not find something funny
fulfil a wish
to bring about or satisfy a desired outcome
grant a favor
agree to do something someone has formally requested
grant leave
to officially allow someone to be absent from work
hold a hearing
to conduct a formal session at which evidence or testimony is presented
hold a trial
to conduct a formal court hearing
hold shares
To keep shares as a continuing investment over time
identify the cause
to determine what produced a problem or event
impeach a president
to formally charge a president with serious misconduct while in office
influence someone's thinking
have a notable effect on how a person reasons or forms opinions
investigate a shooting
to examine the facts and circumstances surrounding a shooting incident
irritate the throat
to cause discomfort or inflammation in the throat
join the board
to become a member of a board of directors or governing body
launch an attack
begin or initiate an attack
lay down arms
stop fighting and surrender one's weapons
maintain a relationship
To keep a relationship stable and ongoing despite pressures
make a kill
To successfully hunt and kill prey (used of predators or hunters).
make a stand
to firmly resist or oppose something, refusing to yield
mark a year
to commemorate the passing of a year since a significant event
master a language
achieve full fluency and command of a language
master a skill
achieve a high level of competence in a skill
master a subject
gain thorough knowledge and competence in an area of study
master a technique
gain complete command of a method or procedure
mount an attack
organise and begin an attack
overthrow a government
to remove a government from power by force
press charges
to formally accuse someone of a crime through legal channels
provide cover
to offer protection or shelter from something
publish a paper
to have a research document formally released in a journal
publish a study
to make the findings of a research study available in print or online
put a figure on
to state a specific number for something that is difficult to quantify
raise a question
to bring up an issue for discussion or consideration
raise the matter
to introduce a subject for discussion or consideration
reach a decision
to arrive at a conclusion after deliberation or discussion
reduce wear
to lessen the amount of deterioration from use
renovate a building
repair and improve a building
report a shooting
to give an account of a shooting incident to authorities or the public
represent a country
to act officially on behalf of a country at an event or in negotiations
Adjective + noun(14)
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timeless beauty
beauty that does not fade or go out of fashion
torrential rain
extremely heavy, fast-falling rain
true master
someone who has achieved complete mastery of a skill or art
unborn child
a child that has not yet been born; a fetus
undercover police
police officers working in disguise or without revealing their identity
unlawful arrest
a detention carried out without legal authority
urgent matter
an issue that requires immediate attention
utmost respect
the highest possible degree of respect one can show
visiting professor
A professor temporarily based at a university other than their own
well-earned rest
a period of relaxation that is deserved after hard work
wider public
ordinary people beyond a specific group; society at large
wishful thinking
believing something is true or achievable simply because you want it to be, regardless of evidence
written notice
a formal announcement delivered in written form
wrongful arrest
the illegal or unjustified detention of a person