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 1153–1248 of 1744 phrases
Verb + noun (1)
Adjective + noun (55)
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artistic invention
the imaginative creation of new forms or ideas in art
attainable goal
an aim that can realistically be reached
authoritative manner
a confident way of behaving that suggests the right to be obeyed
benevolent society
an organized group that provides charitable help to people in need
billiard ball
a hard round ball used in cue sports played on a billiard table
breathless interest
attention so eager and excited that someone seems to hold their breath
burdensome task
a piece of work that imposes considerable difficulty or effort
bustling city
a large town full of movement, noise, and energetic activity
careless grace
elegance of movement that seems effortless and unplanned
centigrade scale
a temperature scale with water freezing at zero and boiling at one hundred under standard conditions
cheery hello
a bright and friendly spoken greeting
cherished friend
a person whose friendship is deeply valued
childish voice
a way of speaking that sounds like a child's
childlike charm
an appealing quality of innocence, simplicity, or trust associated with children
citywide strike
a work stoppage affecting workers or services throughout a city
coherent argument
a reasoned case whose ideas connect clearly and consistently
common core
the central set of features or elements shared by several things
competent testimony
a witness's account that meets the legal requirements for use as evidence
convenient excuse
a reason that usefully allows someone to avoid an unwanted duty or situation
convincing victory
a win that clearly demonstrates the winner's superiority
cruel tyrant
a ruler who deliberately causes suffering through harsh and unjust power
decisive leadership
direction provided through firm choices and prompt action
dizzy blonde
a dismissive stereotype of a blonde woman as silly or scatterbrained
economic cooperation
countries or organizations working together on trade, production, or financial development
enormous boulder
a very large rounded rock
exceptional kindness
unusually generous or considerate behavior toward another person
external ear
the outer part of the ear that collects sound and directs it inward
extraordinary circumstance
an unusual situation that falls outside what would normally be expected
extreme point
a location at the farthest edge of something
fantastic architecture
architecture with strange, imaginative forms that seem to belong to a fantasy
farthest frontier
the most distant boundary of an explored or settled region
floral arrangement
flowers selected and positioned together as a decoration
fond embrace
a hug that expresses affection
foreign minister
a government official responsible for relations with other countries
foul language
rude or offensive words, especially swearing
frank enjoyment
pleasure that is openly shown rather than hidden
free port
an area near a port where goods awaiting onward shipment can be stored without import duties
full complement
the complete number of people or things needed for a task
good boxer
a boxer who performs skillfully in the sport
grave accent
a written accent that slopes down from left to right above a vowel, as in è
grim despair
A deep and bleak feeling that a situation offers no hope.
grim determination
A firm and unsmiling resolve to continue despite serious difficulties.
healthful nutrition
Nourishment that supports health and normal bodily functioning.
hefty bonus
An unusually large extra payment in addition to normal earnings.
highest distinction
The greatest level of honor or recognition awarded for achievement.
humorous vein
A manner or tone intended to amuse people.
impotent rage
Intense anger accompanied by an inability to act or change the situation.
intensive agriculture
Farming that uses substantial labor, materials, or technology to obtain high yields from the available land.
interesting analogy
A comparison between different things that attracts attention or helps reveal a connection.
juicy scandal
a scandal with intriguing details of sexual misconduct or affairs
just reward
A reward that is fair and deserved.
landlocked country
a country with no coastline connecting it directly to the sea
large chunk
a substantial portion of an amount or whole
lawful king
a king whose claim to rule is recognized as legitimate under the law
lonely existence
a way of life marked by isolation and a lack of companionship
Noun + noun (26)
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asparagus bed
a prepared area of garden soil where asparagus plants grow
banana peel
the outer skin removed from a banana
bear paw
an almond-flavored pastry shaped to resemble a bear's broad clawed foot
bent grass
a fine grass commonly grown on lawns and putting greens
blush wine
a pale pink wine made by briefly leaving red grape skins in the juice
buckwheat cake
a pancake prepared using flour made from buckwheat seeds
cable car
a passenger vehicle pulled or supported along its route by a cable
calcium carbonate
a calcium salt that occurs naturally in limestone, chalk, and several minerals
calf bone
the fibula, the thinner bone on the outer side of the lower leg
candle flame
the small region of burning gas above a lighted candle's wick
candy cane
a hard sweet shaped like a curved stick, often with colored stripes
carbon atom
a single unit of the chemical element carbon
chicken broth
a savory liquid made by simmering chicken in water
chimney corner
a sheltered corner immediately beside a fireplace
color blindness
difficulty or inability in distinguishing certain colors from one another
commerce secretary
the government official who leads the United States Department of Commerce
corn stalk
the upright main stem of a maize plant
couch grass
a rapidly spreading grass whose creeping underground stems make it a persistent garden weed
creek bed
the ground forming the channel along which a small stream flows
distributor cap
the cover of an engine's ignition distributor that holds the connections to the spark-plug leads
gender identity
a person's internal sense of their own gender
harbor seal
A small spotted seal commonly found along northern coasts.
hemp seed
A seed of the hemp plant, also used as a food ingredient.
incense tree
A tree that produces fragrant resin used in incense.
larch tree
a conifer that loses its soft needlelike leaves each autumn
linen basket
a basket used to hold household fabrics, especially those waiting to be washed
Verb + adverb (4)
Adverb + adjective (9)
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appropriately dressed
wearing clothes that suit a particular occasion or setting
bitterly disappointed
deeply upset because an important hope has not been fulfilled
broadly similar
alike in the main features despite some differences in detail
carefully balanced
positioned or weighted with attention so that neither side tips
constantly moving
changing position continuously or again and again
conveniently located
situated where it is easy to reach or use
evenly divided
separated into parts or groups of equal size
happily unconscious
Unaware of an unpleasant fact and therefore free from worry about it.
internationally known
Recognized or familiar to people in many countries.