Phrases
10,000+ English phrases, collocations, and idioms, tagged by the CEFR level of the vocabulary they contain. Start with A1 — phrases built from the most common words.
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Mastered
Showing 865–960 of 1744 phrases
Verb + noun (1)
Adjective + noun (30)
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public assistance
financial support provided by government to people in need
public charity
a charity supported mainly by donations from the wider public
public defender
a lawyer paid publicly to represent defendants who cannot afford counsel
public nuisance
a condition or activity that substantially interferes with the public's shared rights
public sector
the part of the economy made up of government organizations and services
radial pulse
the pulse detected over the radial artery at the wrist
rational inference
a conclusion reached through logical reasoning from available information
rational motive
a reason for acting that can be supported by logical argument
raw recruit
a newly recruited person with little training or experience
ready money
cash that is immediately available to spend
rear admiral
a naval officer holding a rank below vice admiral
reasonable care
the degree of caution a reasonably careful person would use in the circumstances
regular pentagon
a five-sided shape with equal sides and equal interior angles
religious rite
a formal ceremony carried out according to a religion's traditions
reproductive organ
an organ involved in producing offspring
resonant circuit
an electrical circuit that responds especially strongly at a particular oscillation frequency
restrictive clause
a clause that narrows the meaning of the noun phrase it modifies
ripe olive
an olive harvested after reaching maturity and prepared for eating
risky venture
an undertaking with a significant chance of loss or failure
ritual dance
a dance performed as part of a religious ceremony
running mate
a candidate seeking a related, lower office alongside another candidate
sacred scripture
writing regarded as holy by a religious community
sanitary napkin
an absorbent pad worn to collect menstrual blood
scheduled maintenance
maintenance planned to take place at a set time
seasonal adjustment
a statistical correction for regular changes associated with the time of year
select committee
a parliamentary committee appointed to examine a particular issue
senior thesis
a substantial research paper completed in the final undergraduate year
serial publication
a publication issued in successive parts at regular intervals
sexual conquest
a sexual encounter viewed as a success in seducing someone
simultaneous operation
the running of two or more processes at the same time
Noun + noun (46)
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pulp magazine
an inexpensive magazine printed on cheap paper, often containing popular fiction
pumice stone
a piece of light volcanic rock used as an abrasive
punk rock
a style of rock music associated with forceful sound and rebellious attitudes
putty knife
a flat-bladed tool for mixing, spreading, or scraping putty
pyramid scheme
a fraudulent arrangement in which participants pay earlier recruits and depend on recruiting others for income
rabbit warren
a connected system of underground tunnels used by rabbits
radio astronomy
the study of space through radio waves emitted by celestial objects
radio operator
a person who operates radio transmitting equipment
radio receiver
electronic equipment that detects and converts transmitted radio signals
radio telescope
an astronomical instrument that collects radio waves from space
railroad tunnel
a tunnel built to carry railway tracks
rainbow trout
a trout commonly found in Pacific-region waters and also eaten as food
razor blade
the thin cutting blade fitted to a razor
recreation room
a room set aside for informal games and leisure activities
refugee camp
a place providing temporary shelter for people forced to leave their homes
relativity theory
the physical theory describing relationships among space, time, motion, and gravity
relief pitcher
a baseball pitcher who enters after another pitcher has started the game
replacement cost
the current amount needed to replace an asset with one of similar usefulness
rib cage
the bony framework of the chest formed by the ribs
ridge tile
a shaped roof tile used to cover the ridge where two slopes meet
road mender
a worker who repairs roads
road rage
aggressive or violent behavior by a driver in traffic
rock outcrop
an exposed part of a rock formation projecting above nearby ground
rocket scientist
an engineer or scientist who designs and tests rockets
rubbish heap
a pile of discarded waste
rudder blade
the flat vertical part of a rudder that turns a vessel
sailing warship
a military vessel powered by sails and equipped with guns
salt lick
a deposit or block of salt that animals lick
sanitation department
a local-government department responsible for collecting and disposing of rubbish
scar tissue
connective tissue that replaces damaged tissue as an injury heals
scatter rug
a small rug placed on part of a room's floor
school superintendent
an official responsible for overseeing a school system
scissors kick
a swimming movement in which the legs open and close like scissors
scout troop
an organized local group of scouts
scratch pad
a pad of paper used for rough notes or quick calculations
screw auger
a hand-operated boring tool with a spiral cutting section
scuba diver
a diver who breathes underwater using self-contained breathing equipment
selector switch
a switch used to choose among several settings or alternatives
self defense
action taken to protect oneself from an attack
sewage disposal
the removal and handling of wastewater and human waste
sex offender
a person convicted of a sexual crime
shadow cabinet
senior opposition politicians assigned to scrutinize corresponding government ministers
shipping company
a business that transports goods, especially by sea
shipwreck survivor
a person who remains alive after a ship is wrecked
shooting preserve
land set aside for hunting during permitted seasons
signal caller
the quarterback who directs a team's offensive play in American football
Verb + adverb (13)
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put differently
expressed again using different words
puzzle out
to work out an answer or meaning through careful thought
raffle off
to award something as a prize in a raffle
rattle off
to recite information quickly and easily
reel off
to recite a sequence of facts or names quickly
rein in
to bring something under control or reduce its freedom of action
sag down
to sink or hang lower under weight or pressure
set ashore
to bring passengers or goods from a vessel onto land
shore up
to support something with solid props so it cannot collapse
shrivel up
to become dry, smaller, and wrinkled
shrug off
to dismiss something as unimportant or refuse to be troubled by it
shy away
to avoid something because of fear, discomfort, or reluctance
simmer down
to become calmer after anger or excitement
Verb + preposition/particle (6)
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quarrel with
to argue angrily or disagree with someone
reckon with
to take account of something important or deal with its effects
revolve around
to move in an orbit around something
ripped into
attacked or criticized someone or something very harshly
sail through
to complete something successfully with little difficulty
shrink from
to avoid something through reluctance or fear