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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Showing 7105–7200 of 7378 phrases
Adjective + noun(25)
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slovenly appearance
an untidy, poorly cared-for way of looking
spasmodic jerk
a sudden involuntary movement caused by a muscle contraction
spinal tap
a procedure in which a needle draws fluid from around the lower spinal cord
sprightly dance
a lively, energetic dance
stagnant water
water that remains still instead of flowing or circulating
starlike object
an object that resembles a star in brightness or appearance
starlit darkness
nighttime darkness faintly illuminated by stars
starting vertex
the vertex chosen as the first point in a geometric or computational procedure
staunch defender
someone who firmly and loyally protects a person, right, or principle
stellar performance
a performance in the leading or most prominent role
stolid indifference
an unresponsive lack of interest or concern that shows little emotion
sultry look
a facial expression or gaze that suggests sexual attraction
sunlit room
a room illuminated by natural sunlight
supercilious smile
a smile that shows contempt or a feeling of superiority
synoptic presentation
an account that gives an organized overview of an entire subject
tenacious memory
an ability to retain information or experiences for a long time
tendentious account
a description that strongly promotes a particular, often controversial, viewpoint
tessellated pavement
a paved surface decorated with small pieces fitted into a mosaic
thorny question
a problem or issue that is difficult to resolve
tinny voice
a thin, metallic-sounding voice without warmth or resonance
toothy smile
a smile that reveals many teeth or particularly noticeable teeth
topmost step
the highest step in a flight of stairs or on a ladder
topographical engineer
an engineer who surveys and maps the shape and physical features of land
totemic object
an object connected with a group's belief in or identification with a totem
transcendent reality
a reality thought to exist beyond ordinary human experience or understanding
Noun + noun(12)
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song thrush
a common Eurasian thrush noted for its varied musical song
spider monkey
a tropical American monkey with long slender limbs and a tail used for gripping
squirrel monkey
a small, long-tailed monkey of Central and South America with a dark muzzle
tap dance
a dance in which the feet make audible rhythmic tapping sounds
tap dancer
a dancer who makes rhythms with metal pieces attached to their shoes
tap dancing
dancing in which the shoes create audible rhythms against the floor
tap wrench
a hand tool that turns a cutting tap to form screw threads inside a hole
tear duct
a small passage that carries tears from a tear-producing gland
tear gas
a chemical substance dispersed in the air that irritates the eyes and makes them water
tear gland
a gland near the eye that produces tears
tear sac
a small pouch near the inner corner of the eye that collects tears for drainage
tear sheet
a page designed to be easily removed from a publication
Verb + adverb(48)
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smooth over
to make an awkward disagreement seem less serious without fully addressing it
snap off
to break a piece away with a sudden sharp movement
sneak off
to leave quietly and secretly so that others do not notice
snip off
to remove a small part by cutting it with scissors or a similar tool
sold off
disposed of goods or assets by selling them, often cheaply
spark off
to cause an event, reaction, or activity to begin
spill over
to overflow from an area into surrounding space
spin around
to turn quickly around a central point
spin off
to produce something separate as a result of a larger activity or organization
splay out
to spread outward and apart from a central point
sponge off
to remove dirt or liquid by wiping with a sponge
start over
to begin again from the beginning
stay over
to spend the night somewhere as a guest
step aside
to move a short distance to one side to make room
step off
to measure a distance by walking and counting paces
step over
to walk a short distance to another nearby place
stick around
to remain somewhere instead of leaving
stood aside
positioned oneself to one side to leave room for others
strike off
to remove a name or item from an official list
struck off
removed from a register or official list
stuck out
projected beyond a surrounding surface or edge
swear off
to promise firmly to stop doing or using something
sweat off
to lose body weight through sweating
swing around
to turn quickly to face another direction
switch off
to stop electrical equipment working by operating its switch
switch over
to change from one system, arrangement, or source to another
sworn off
made a firm promise to stop doing or using something
take off
to remove clothing or footwear from the body
take over
to gain control of or responsibility for something
talk over
to discuss something carefully before reaching a decision
tear apart
to criticize something severely and in detail
tear away
to remove something by pulling or ripping it forcefully
tear down
to demolish a building or other structure
tear off
to separate something from a larger piece by ripping it
tear out
to remove something forcefully from where it is attached or embedded
tear up
to rip something into small pieces
think over
to consider something carefully before deciding
threw off
freed oneself from an unwanted burden or controlling power
throw off
to get rid of something unwanted or restrictive
tide over
to help someone manage until a difficult period ends or more support arrives
tip off
to give someone private information or an advance warning
tipped off
gave someone private information or an advance warning
took off
left the ground and began to fly
took over
assumed control of or responsibility for something
top off
to complete or conclude something with a final addition or action
topped off
filled a container almost to its upper edge
tore off
removed something by forceful pulling or ripping
toss off
to write something quickly and with apparent ease
Adverb + adjective(5)
-
spatially limited
restricted to a particular area or amount of space
still undecided
not having reached a decision even after some time
supremely confident
extremely sure of one's ability or of a successful result
tacitly expected
understood to be required although nobody states the requirement directly
tactically useful
helpful for gaining an advantage in a particular planned action
Verb + preposition/particle(6)
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spread over
to extend across something and form a covering
stay off
to avoid entering, standing on, or walking onto a place
stuck to
remained attached to a surface without separating
subsist on
to stay alive using only a limited amount of food or other resources
sweep over
to affect someone suddenly and strongly, especially with an emotion
take after
to resemble a family member in appearance or character