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 1057–1152 of 1744 phrases
Verb + noun (4)
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weigh anchor
to raise a ship's anchor from the bottom so that the ship can leave
accumulate evidence
to collect an increasing amount of information that supports a conclusion
achieve coherence
to make ideas or parts fit together in a clear and consistent whole
amplify sound
to increase the loudness of something that can be heard
Adjective + noun (33)
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temperate climate
a climate with generally moderate temperatures rather than extreme heat or cold
terrorist attack
an act of violence intended to intimidate civilians for political or religious aims
theatrical producer
a person who organizes and finances the production of stage performances
third eyelid
an additional protective fold that can move across the eye in some animals
tidy sum
a fairly large amount of money
total recall
the ability to remember an event or information in complete detail
toxic waste
discarded material that can poison or harm living things
tragic flaw
a character weakness or error that leads a tragic hero toward disaster
transitive verb
a verb used with a direct object
turbulent flow
fluid movement in which speed and direction fluctuate irregularly
typhoid fever
a serious bacterial infection commonly spread through contaminated food or water
umbrella organization
an organization that brings several related groups together
unauthorized absence
being away from a required place without permission
unconscious mind
mental activity that takes place outside a person's awareness
unfavorable position
a situation that puts someone at a disadvantage
urban legend
a widely circulated story often presented as true despite being false or unverified
vacant lot
a plot of land without permanent buildings on it
verbal description
an account of something expressed in words
veteran soldier
a soldier with extensive experience of military service
vice chairman
a man who acts as deputy to the person leading a committee or organization
visual aids
pictures, diagrams, or other things people can look at to help them understand information
visual perception
the process of receiving and interpreting information through sight
vital statistics
official population figures covering events such as births, deaths, and marriages
wealthy man
a man who owns a large amount of money or valuable property
western civilization
the historical societies and cultural traditions associated with Europe and countries influenced by it
woolly mammoth
a thick-haired mammoth adapted to cold northern regions
worldly belongings
all the possessions a person owns
worldly concern
a concern about ordinary earthly life rather than spiritual matters
ample food
more food than is needed for the people present
ancient astronaut
an imagined visitor from space said to have reached Earth in ancient times
annoying interruption
an unwanted break in an activity that causes irritation
anonymous gift
something given by a person whose identity is not disclosed
appreciative laugh
laughter that shows enjoyment or approval of something
Noun + noun (46)
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television newscaster
a person who presents news reports on television
tenant farmer
a farmer who works land rented from someone else
tenor drum
a drum used for a tenor-range part in an ensemble
tent flap
a movable fabric panel covering a tent's entrance or opening
tent peg
a peg driven into the ground to secure a tent or its ropes
thermos bottle
an insulated bottle that keeps a drink hot or cold
tightrope walker
an acrobat who balances and walks along a stretched rope
time capsule
a container preserving objects or records for people to discover in the future
time span
the length of time over which something occurs or continues
tin whistle
a small inexpensive flute played by blowing through a mouthpiece
title deed
a legal document recording ownership rights in property
tobacconist shop
a shop selling tobacco products and smoking accessories
toilet facilities
toilets and the associated equipment provided for people to use
tom turkey
a male turkey
tone arm
the movable arm on a record player that holds the cartridge and stylus
tote bag
a roomy bag used to carry everyday belongings
town crier
an official who publicly announced news in a town before modern mass communication
trace element
an element needed or present in extremely small amounts in biological systems
traction engine
a steam-powered vehicle used to pull heavy loads over roads or ground
trail boss
the person in charge of a cattle drive
trailer truck
a large vehicle consisting of a powered tractor unit and an attached trailer
tree trunk
the main woody stem supporting a tree's branches
trolley car
an electrically powered passenger vehicle running on rails in streets
trombone player
a brass musician whose instrument is the trombone
trunk lid
a hinged panel that closes the luggage compartment of a car
tuition fee
an amount charged for teaching or instruction
twist drill
a drill bit with deep spiral grooves along its length
unemployment compensation
payments provided to eligible people who have lost their jobs
value judgement
an assessment based on beliefs about what is good, important, or desirable
vitamin pill
a tablet containing vitamins intended to supplement food intake
voltage divider
a circuit arrangement that produces an output voltage smaller than its input voltage
vowel shift
a systematic change in how one or more vowel sounds are pronounced
wage hike
an increase in the amount paid to workers
war correspondent
a journalist who reports from a place where fighting is taking place
water vapor
water in its gaseous form
web browser
a computer program used to open and view pages on the internet
wheat flour
powder made by grinding wheat grain, commonly used in baking
wing commander
an officer holding an air-force rank immediately below group captain
woman hater
a person who strongly dislikes women as a group
work stoppage
a collective refusal to work as a protest
yacht club
a club supporting sailing, yachting, and other boating activities
yard marker
a marker showing a yard line on an American football field
youth subculture
a distinctive culture shared by a group of young people
zoo keeper
a person employed to feed and care for animals in a zoo
acorn squash
a small ribbed winter squash shaped like an acorn, with yellow-orange flesh
alcohol abuse
harmful or excessive consumption of alcoholic drinks
Verb + adverb (8)
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throw overboard
to throw something from a boat into the surrounding water
trigger off
to cause a process or reaction to begin
usher in
to mark or help bring about the beginning of something
vomit up
to bring material from the stomach out through the mouth
ward off
to prevent something harmful or unwanted from reaching or affecting someone
while away
to spend a period of time in a pleasant or relaxed way
zip up
to close something by fastening its zipper
zoom in
to focus attention closely on a particular detail