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 385–480 of 592 phrases
Verb + noun(96)
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correct a fault
to fix or remedy a defect or error
create a mess
To cause a state of disorder or confusion
crown a king
to formally make someone king in a ceremony
crown a queen
officially invest someone with the title of queen in a ceremony
cut a key
to shape a new key by cutting metal
deliver a blow
to strike someone or something with force
deliver a talk
to give a prepared presentation
demolish a building
tear down a building completely
deserve a mention
to be worthy of being noted or acknowledged
design a system
to plan and create a system from scratch
detect a smell
To identify or sense a smell, especially a faint or subtle one
develop a relationship
To allow a connection between people to grow and deepen
develop a sense
gradually build an awareness or perception of something
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
draw a gun
to take a gun out of its holster quickly, ready to use
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
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
evacuate a building
remove all occupants from a building in an emergency
exchange a kiss
kiss each other mutually
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
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
file a report
to officially register or lodge a report with an authority
fill a position
appoint someone to an open role
find a fix
to discover a solution to a problem
find a reason
to identify or come up with a justification for something
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
form a government
to establish or constitute a government after an election
found a company
to formally establish a company as its original creator
get a laugh
To cause others to laugh with a joke or remark
get a mention
to be briefly referred to
handle a case
to manage and deal with a particular investigation or legal matter
handle a situation
manage and deal with a situation effectively
hang a picture
fix a picture to a wall
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
hire a professor
To recruit someone into a professorial role
hire a teacher
employ someone as a teacher
hold a conversation
to sustain a coherent spoken exchange
hold a position
keep or maintain a job, role, or stance
hold a record
to currently possess or be the holder of a record
hold a wake
organize a gathering to mourn and remember a deceased person
host a show
present or compere a television or live show
hunt a killer
to actively search for a murderer who has not yet been caught
identify a killer
to determine who is responsible for a murder
issue a pass
officially provide someone with a permit or access ticket
keep a date
to honor a previously arranged appointment
keep a record
to maintain a written or stored log of information over time
launch a drive
to begin an organized campaign or effort toward a particular goal
launch a search
officially begin a search operation
lead a life
to live in a particular way
lead a team
to be in charge of and guide a group of people
leave a mark
to create a visible stain, impression, or trace on a surface
line a street
be arranged in a row along both sides of a street
load a gun
to put ammunition into a gun so it is ready to fire
lose a bet
to fail in a wager
make a bet
to agree to a wager with someone
make a date
to arrange to meet someone at a specific time
make a decision
to choose between options and commit to a course of action
make a difference
to have a significant effect or produce a noticeable change
make a move
to take an action or step toward achieving something
make a save
to stop a ball from entering the goal, as a goalkeeper
make a start
to begin a task or activity
make a trip
to carry out a journey to a particular place, often a practical or purposeful one
manage a team
to organize and direct the work of a group over time
notice a difference
to become aware that something has changed or that two things are not the same
offer a course
make a course available for students to enroll in
offer a service
to make a service available to potential customers
open a case
to officially begin an investigation or legal proceeding
operate a machine
work or control a machine
operate a system
to run or manage a system on a day-to-day basis
overcome a fear
gradually stop being afraid of something through effort
own a bar
to possess and be the proprietor of a bar
pass a bill
officially approve a piece of legislation
pass a law
to formally approve and put into force a new piece of legislation
patrol a street
walk up and down a street in order to guard or monitor it
pay a visit
To go to see someone or a place, often in a somewhat formal or deliberate way
perform a dance
carry out a dance in front of an audience
perform a piece
to give a formal public performance of a musical or artistic work
perform in a play
to act as a cast member in a theatrical production
place a bet
to wager money on an outcome