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.
New
Mastered
Showing 6817–6912 of 7378 phrases
Adjective + noun(60)
-
gnomic verse
poetry that expresses general truths in short, compact sayings
good will
friendly intentions and a desire for others to do well
granular sugar
sugar present as small, distinct grains rather than a fine powder
greek ethos
the characteristic values and outlook associated with Greek culture
green monkey
a savannah monkey with greenish-gray fur on its back and a yellowish tail
gruff manner
a brusque, unfriendly way of speaking or behaving
haphazard system
an arrangement of methods put together carelessly and without a consistent plan
hapless victim
a person harmed or deceived in unfortunate circumstances that invite pity
hardscrabble life
a way of living in which hard work brings barely enough to survive
holy day
a day set aside for religious observance
holy man
a man respected for exceptional religious devotion or spiritual qualities
holy oil
consecrated oil, often mixed with fragrant balsam, used in religious ceremonies
holy place
a sacred location that people visit for religious reasons
holy water
water blessed by a priest for use in religious ceremonies
homicidal rage
anger so extreme that it involves an urge or readiness to kill
homologous tissue
biological tissue corresponding in structure or origin to other tissue
horizontal slab
a thick flat piece of solid material positioned level rather than upright
hornless cattle
cows and bulls that have no horns
idyllic life
a peaceful and happy way of living that seems free of problems
ignoble part
a role in events that is dishonorable or morally unworthy
ill will
hostile feelings or unfriendly intentions toward someone
immediate vicinity
the area very close to a particular place
impassioned appeal
an urgent request expressed with intense feeling and conviction
impeccable french
French used with exceptionally accurate and fluent command
impenetrable jargon
specialized language that is extremely difficult to understand
imperial splendor
magnificence associated with an emperor or imperial court
implacable enemy
an opponent whose hostility cannot be softened or reconciled
imposing edifice
a large building whose scale or appearance commands attention
impregnable fortress
a strongly defended place considered impossible to capture
inarticulate cry
a loud expression of feeling that contains no clear words
incautious remark
a comment made without enough care for its possible consequences
inconclusive evidence
information that does not establish a definite answer
incongruous behavior
conduct that seems out of place in its surroundings or situation
incontrovertible proof
evidence so clear that it cannot reasonably be disputed
incorporeal spirit
a supernatural being believed to exist without a physical body
indefinable feeling
an emotion or sensation that is difficult to describe precisely
indignant denial
an angry rejection of an accusation considered unfair
indiscriminate reading
reading a wide range of material without choosing carefully
indivisible union
a joined body whose parts cannot be separated
inestimable value
worth so great that it cannot reasonably be measured
inextinguishable flame
a fire described as impossible or extremely difficult to put out
inextricable knot
a tangle of tied material that cannot be untied or separated
infallible memory
an ability to recall things without making mistakes
inferential reasoning
thinking that draws conclusions from evidence or known facts
infertile couple
two partners who are unable to conceive a child together
ingratiating manner
a way of behaving intended to win approval through excessive friendliness or flattery
inhospitable mountain
a mountain whose harsh conditions make living or traveling there difficult
inimitable style
a distinctive way of doing something that others cannot successfully copy
initiatory step
an action that begins a process or prepares the way for further action
inordinate length
an amount of time or extent that is far greater than reasonable
insular culture
the customs and way of life associated with an island
insuperable odds
chances of success so unfavorable that they seem impossible to overcome
intolerable degree
an amount or intensity that cannot reasonably be endured
ironic novel
a long fictional work marked by humorous mockery or ironic expression
irreducible minimum
the smallest amount that cannot be reduced any further
irreproachable character
personal qualities and conduct that offer no reasonable grounds for blame
jocund company
a cheerful and high-spirited group of companions
lapidary art
the creative skill of cutting, shaping, or polishing precious stones
learned jurist
a legal scholar or judge with extensive knowledge gained through study
least resistance
the smallest amount of opposition or difficulty encountered in doing something
Noun + noun(3)
Verb + adverb(21)
-
grew apart
became less close in a personal relationship over time
hand over
give something to another person, especially by surrendering possession
hang around
stay in a place without doing much or having an obvious purpose
haul off
to transport something away, especially in a vehicle
haze over
to cover something with a misty layer that makes it difficult to see clearly
head off
to prevent a problem or unwanted event from happening
held off
delayed taking an action until a later time
hold off
to wait before doing something
hold over
to postpone something until a later occasion
hunch over
to bend forward with the back rounded and the shoulders drawn inward
hung around
remained in a place without doing much or having a clear purpose
keel over
to topple sideways or collapse
kick around
to discuss ideas informally without making a final decision
kidded around
joked or teased one another playfully
kill off
to cause many members of a living group to die
knock off
to stop working or end an activity, informally
knock over
to hit or push something so that it falls from an upright position
laid off
dismissed workers because an employer no longer had enough work or money for them
lay aside
to save money for use at a later time
lay off
to dismiss workers because their jobs are no longer required or affordable
lay over
to interrupt a journey with a temporary stay somewhere
Adverb + adjective(7)
-
handsomely bound
fastened together in an attractive, well-made cover, especially of a book
highly idiosyncratic
strongly marked by features peculiar to one person
highly viscous
thick and strongly resistant to flowing
hopelessly outmoded
so outdated that it is no longer practical or suitable
immeasurably sad
unhappy to a degree that seems impossible to measure
insufficiently prepared
not ready enough for a task or situation
insuperably difficult
so hard that the obstacle appears impossible to overcome