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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Showing 961–1056 of 1744 phrases
Adjective + noun (24)
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single supplement
an extra travel charge paid by someone occupying accommodation alone
sixteenth note
a musical note lasting one sixteenth as long as a whole note
skilled workman
a male worker trained and experienced in a practical trade
small intestine
the long section of the digestive tract where digestion is completed
small investor
an investor who commits relatively limited amounts of money
social mobility
movement between different social or economic positions in society
social reformer
a person who advocates changes to improve society
social unrest
widespread dissatisfaction expressed through disturbances, protests, or conflict in society
social welfare
government assistance provided to people in economic need
southern hospitality
the friendly welcome and generous treatment associated with the southern United States
sporting chance
a reasonable possibility of succeeding
spun silk
Silk yarn made by spinning short fibers recovered from silk waste.
stimulant drug
a drug that temporarily increases activity in the body or nervous system
strategic advantage
a benefit that improves someone's position in achieving an overall objective
subatomic particle
a particle smaller than an atom, including particles that make up atoms
subconscious mind
mental activity that occurs below a person's immediate conscious awareness
subjunctive mood
a grammatical mood expressing possibilities, wishes, or situations not stated as ordinary facts
submarine earthquake
an earthquake occurring beneath the sea
suburban area
a residential district around the outer part of a city
super heavyweight
the heaviest weight division in some combat sports
superior court
a court with authority above that of a lower court
tabby cat
a cat with a coat marked by darker stripes or patches
tactile sensation
a feeling produced through the sense of touch
taxable income
income on which tax must be calculated or paid
Noun + noun (56)
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sine wave
a smooth repeating wave that follows the shape of a sine function
skeleton key
a key shaped to open several different locks
sketch map
a roughly drawn map showing an area's main features without precise measurement
slang term
a very informal word or expression used by a particular group
slant height
the height of a sloping face on a regular pyramid
slime mold
a funguslike organism that can form a moving mass of cell material
slum area
a city district characterized by poverty and poor housing conditions
smallpox virus
the virus responsible for the disease smallpox
sneak thief
a thief who steals quietly without using violence
snow leopard
a large mountain cat of central Asia with thick pale fur
snow thrower
a machine that clears snow by scooping it up and throwing it aside
soap dispenser
a container that releases measured amounts of liquid soap
sociology department
a university division responsible for sociology teaching and research
soda cracker
an unsweetened cracker lightly raised with baking soda
soybean meal
ground material made from soybeans
space probe
an unmanned spacecraft sent to collect information beyond Earth
spaghetti squash
an oval squash whose cooked flesh separates into strands
speaker identification
recognizing who is speaking from the sound of their voice
spice rack
a rack used to hold containers of spices
spinach beet
a type of beet grown for its edible leaves and stalks
spray paint
paint designed to be applied as a fine spray
stag party
a social gathering intended for men only
stage whisper
a deliberately audible whisper intended to be heard by an audience
staple gun
a handheld tool that drives staples into a surface
state senator
a member of a state's senate
stiletto heel
a very narrow, high heel on a shoe
stink bomb
a small device designed to release a very unpleasant smell
storm cellar
an underground shelter used for protection during severe storms
storm sewer
a drainage system that carries away rainwater and other excess surface water
straw mushroom
an edible mushroom commonly cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions
streamer fly
an artificial fishing fly with wings extending beyond the hook's bend
stunt man
a male performer who carries out dangerous actions for film or television scenes
sucker punch
a punch delivered unexpectedly to someone who is unprepared
suction cup
a flexible cup-shaped device that sticks to a surface by reduced air pressure
summit meeting
a meeting between national leaders to discuss important issues
supper club
a small entertainment venue where guests dine and enjoy evening performances
surf music
popular music associated with surfing culture, especially its Southern Californian tradition
surface tension
the effect of molecular attraction that makes a liquid's surface resist being stretched
suspension bridge
a bridge whose roadway hangs from cables secured at its ends
swimming bath
a public pool or facility for swimming, especially in British usage
swivel chair
a chair whose seat can rotate on its base
sword dance
a traditional dance performed with swords or over swords laid on the ground
syllable structure
the way speech sounds are organized within a syllable
sympathy strike
a strike held in support of another group of striking workers
synonym finder
a reference resource that helps users locate words with similar meanings
syntax error
a mistake that breaks the grammatical rules of a programming language
tack hammer
a small light hammer used to drive tacks
task force
a group formed to carry out a specific assignment
taste bud
a small sensory structure involved in detecting tastes
tax assessor
an official who values property for taxation
tax collector
a person or authority responsible for collecting taxes
tax deduction
an amount subtracted from income before tax is calculated
tax haven
a country or territory known for low taxes
tea tray
a tray used to carry tea and the items needed to serve it
teaching certificate
an official document confirming that someone is qualified to teach
telephone booth
a small enclosed space containing a telephone for public use
Verb + adverb (12)
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slapped down
criticized someone sharply to stop behavior considered unacceptable
sniff out
to discover something by smell or careful investigation
soak up
to absorb liquid or take something in
soar upwards
to rise rapidly to a higher position
stack up
to arrange items one above another in a pile
stare down
to make someone look away or yield by staring steadily at them
steer clear
to keep away from someone or something likely to cause trouble
stirred up
caused strong feelings or reactions to arise
stow away
to hide aboard a vehicle in order to travel without permission or payment
straighten out
to resolve a problem or remove confusion
suck up
to draw liquid or another substance inward by suction
sworn in
formally admitted to office by taking an oath