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 289–384 of 592 phrases
Verb + noun(86)
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run a restaurant
to manage and operate a restaurant
run a store
To manage and operate a retail shop on a daily basis
save a life
to prevent someone from dying
save a place
keep a seat or spot available for someone
see a difference
to observe or perceive that something has changed or that a contrast exists
see a play
to attend and watch a theatrical performance
sell a house
to transfer ownership of a house in exchange for money
set a date
to decide on a specific day for an event
set up a system
to establish a system so it is ready to use
share a bed
to sleep in the same bed as another person
share a room
to occupy the same room as another person
share a video
to send or make a video available to others
show a pass
present an official permit for inspection
shut down a computer
to close all running programs and switch a computer off properly
sign a card
To write one's name on a greeting card
solve a crime
find the answer to who committed a crime and how
solve a problem
to find an answer or solution to a difficulty
spend a year
to pass a year doing something or being somewhere
start a business
to create and begin operating a new company
start a club
create and establish a new club
start a company
to establish a new business
start a conversation
to initiate talking with someone
start a family
to have your first child
start a fight
to initiate a physical or verbal conflict
start a machine
switch a machine on so that it begins running
start a war
to initiate armed conflict between nations or groups
stream a movie
to watch a movie via an online streaming service
stroke a cat
To run your hand gently along a cat's fur
take a call
to answer a telephone call
take a chance
risk doing something uncertain
take a course
enroll in and attend an educational course
take a month
to require a month of time to complete
take a rest
to stop activity and relax for a period of time
take a road
to travel along a particular road to reach a destination
take a shot
to fire a weapon, attempt to score in a sport, or try something
take a step
to move one foot forward; also to take an action toward a goal
take a trip
to go on a journey or excursion, usually for a short period
take a turn
to act when it is one's time in a rotation or shared activity
take a year
to require a year of time for something to be completed
teach a dance
instruct others in how to do a particular dance
tell a joke
To narrate a joke to an audience
train a dog
to teach a dog commands and appropriate behaviour
unpack a bag
take one's belongings out of a bag after arriving
upload a video
to transfer a video file from a device to the internet
watch a film
to view a film
watch a play
to observe a theatrical performance as an audience member
win a cup
to be awarded a trophy cup in a sporting competition
write a report
to compose a written account or analysis of something
write a song
to compose lyrics and melody for a song
write a story
compose a narrative in written form
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
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