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 6913–7008 of 7378 phrases
Verb + noun(1)
Adjective + noun(38)
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legal technicality
a precise rule or procedural detail that affects the outcome of a legal matter
litigious age
a period in which people frequently turn to lawsuits to settle disputes
loathsome disease
an illness described with strong disgust or revulsion
logical methodology
an organized approach based on reasoning and coherent argument
lower bound
a number no greater than any member of a specified set
majestic presence
an impressive personal bearing that suggests dignity or grandeur
matronly figure
a mature, full body shape conventionally associated with a middle-aged woman
meager living
an income that provides barely enough money to support oneself
mean distance
the average of an orbiting body's greatest and smallest distances from the body it orbits
mean time
uniform solar time based on an imaginary Sun moving at a steady rate
melodious song
a tune or bird call that sounds musical and pleasant
mere wisp
a very small or slender person
meritorious conduct
behavior that deserves praise or recognition
mild rebuke
a restrained expression of criticism or disapproval
mindless violence
destructive physical behavior carried out without thought or reason
moonlit landscape
a view of countryside illuminated by the Moon
moribund patient
a person receiving medical care who is close to death
navigable channel
a passage of water that vessels can travel through safely
new evangelization
renewed efforts to spread Christian faith in societies with a Christian historical background
nonchalant manner
a calm, casual way of behaving that shows little apparent concern
nontechnical language
words that can be understood without specialized professional knowledge
nuptial day
the day on which a wedding takes place
odorous air
air carrying a noticeable, pleasant scent
one day
at an unspecified time in the past or future
one time
on a single occasion
one way
in a single direction, without an included return journey
ostensible purpose
a stated or apparent aim that may conceal a different real intention
painstaking research
careful investigation carried out with great effort and attention to detail
palatable food
something to eat that tastes pleasant or acceptable
patchy fog
low cloud occurring in separate areas with clearer spaces between them
pectoral sandpiper
an American sandpiper known for inflating its chest during courtship
pervasive odor
a noticeable smell that spreads throughout a place
pervious soil
earth that allows water or air to pass through it
picaresque hero
a roguish main character who survives through wit and a series of adventures
political ferment
a state of restless change and agitation in public or governmental affairs
polymorphic species
a species containing distinct forms that are not simply differences between males and females
pompous speech
a formal talk delivered in an exaggeratedly grand or self-important way
ponderous stone
a piece of rock made awkward to move by its great weight
Noun + noun(11)
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lip balm
a soothing preparation applied to the lips to protect or soften them
lip reader
a person who understands speech by watching movements of the speaker's lips
marsh wren
a small wren that lives in marshes among reeds and other wetland plants
monkey bread
an African tree fruit with a gourd-like form and edible pulp
monkey bridge
a high, narrow platform above a ship's deck or machinery space
monkey jacket
a short fitted uniform jacket worn by officers at formal dinners
monkey puzzle
a large Chilean evergreen conifer with spreading branches and edible seeds
monkey wrench
a hand tool with one fixed jaw and one adjustable jaw for gripping and turning objects
musk thistle
a spiny thistle with nodding reddish-purple flower heads that attract nectar-feeding insects
penny arcade
an amusement venue containing coin-operated games or entertainment machines
penny bank
a small container for saving coins, especially a child's coin bank
Verb + adverb(31)
-
leave off
to omit something rather than include it
leaves off
comes to an end at a particular point
let off
to excuse someone from a punishment or obligation
level off
to become flat or stop rising or falling
lie around
to spend time resting without doing anything active or useful
lift off
to rise from the ground into the air
log off
to end a signed-in session on a computer or online service
look around
to direct your attention to different parts of the surrounding area
look here
used to insist that someone attend to what you are about to say
lop off
to remove a branch or other part by cutting it away
lounge around
to spend time relaxing idly in a place
lying around
resting in various places without having been put away
made off
escaped or left quickly, often taking something away
make over
to transform something by changing or renewing it
mark off
to show the boundaries of an area or separate it from the surrounding space
mess around
to spend time on aimless or unplanned activities
move ahead
to advance forward in space or progress through a process
move around
to travel or change location from place to place
move over
to shift position so that someone or something else has room
muck around
to spend time idly or on aimless activities, informally
nip off
to remove a small part by pinching or making a short cut
nod off
to begin sleeping unintentionally, often while sitting
paid off
produced a useful or successful result
pass off
to present something under a false identity so that others accept it
pay off
to finish repaying a debt
peel off
to remove an outer covering in a thin piece or layer
pick apart
to examine something critically and identify its faults
pick off
to remove something by pulling it away from a surface
play around
to experiment with something casually or without an expert approach
play off
to set people or groups against one another to gain an advantage
pop off
to leave or go somewhere quickly, informally
Adverb + adjective(7)
-
less prone
not as likely to experience or develop a particular problem
mathematically impossible
unable to happen because it contradicts mathematical rules or constraints
most salubrious
more favorable to health and well-being than the alternatives being considered
most treacherous
more likely than others to betray trust or act disloyally
not bad
an informal expression of strong approval, often using understatement
not guilty
legally cleared of a particular criminal charge
notoriously variable
widely known for changing in a difficult or unpredictable way