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 97–192 of 1744 phrases
Verb + noun (14)
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abandon a plan
to stop pursuing a plan before it is completed
advise a client
to give professional guidance or recommendations to a client
apply a finish
put a protective or decorative coating on a surface
appoint an agent
to officially designate someone to act as an agent on one's behalf
assess the situation
evaluate all the details of a situation before deciding how to act
attend a hearing
to be present at an official formal session
attract clients
to draw new clients to a business or service
avert your eyes
to look away, especially from something unpleasant or shocking
avoid prison
to escape being sent to prison, often through a legal technicality or light sentence
blame the victim
to hold the person who was harmed responsible for what happened to them
brave the wind
to endure strong or unpleasant wind in order to do something
brew beer
to make beer through the brewing process
bring charges
to initiate a formal legal accusation against someone
bring to an end
to cause something to finish or stop
Adjective + noun (82)
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market share
The proportion of total sales in an industry held by one company
mass arrest
the simultaneous detention of a large number of people
mass shooting
a shooting incident in which multiple people are killed or injured
maximum-security prison
a prison with the highest level of security for the most dangerous offenders
migratory bird
a bird that travels seasonally between different geographic regions
milestone birthday
a birthday marking a particularly significant age, such as 18, 40, or 100
military power
the armed strength and defence capability of a nation
miraculous escape
an escape that seems almost impossible given the danger involved
mixed feelings
conflicting emotions felt about the same thing at the same time
murder trial
a court case in which a defendant is tried for the offence of murder
mutual respect
respect that is shared equally between two or more parties
mutual trust
trust that exists equally between two or more parties
nagging worry
a persistent, low-level feeling of anxiety that will not go away
nervous laugh
A laugh produced from awkwardness or anxiety rather than amusement
net worth
the total value of a person's or company's assets minus their liabilities
nuclear arms
weapons that use nuclear reactions to cause destruction
nuclear power
energy generated by nuclear reactions, used to produce electricity
open prison
a low-security prison with minimal physical restraints for inmates near the end of their sentence
open question
a question that has not yet been resolved or settled
organized crime
criminal activity carried out by structured, professional networks
outgoing president
a president who is about to leave office at the end of their term
overcrowded jail
A prison holding more inmates than it was designed for
passing mention
a casual, non-detailed reference made in passing
passing thought
a brief, fleeting idea that does not linger in the mind
peer pressure
influence from people of the same age or social group to conform or behave in a certain way
petty cash
a small fund of money kept for minor, everyday expenses in an office or organisation
potential client
a person or company who may become a client in the future
premature death
death that occurs earlier than would normally be expected, especially from preventable causes
prior notice
warning or information given in advance
promotional video
a video created to advertise a product, event, or organization
public hanging
an execution by hanging performed openly before spectators
public hearing
a formal session open and accessible to the general public
public shame
humiliation experienced openly in front of others or reported publicly
public trust
the confidence that citizens have in public institutions or officials
quiet grace
a calm, understated dignity or elegance
recurring dream
a dream that one has repeatedly over time
regular client
a client who repeatedly uses a service over a long period
rightful king
the person who has the legitimate hereditary claim to the throne
riot police
police trained and equipped to control large, violent crowds
root cause
the fundamental underlying reason for a problem
rough night
A night that is difficult, uncomfortable, or disturbed.
safety record
the history of accidents, injuries, or incidents within an organisation or industry
satisfied client
a client who is happy with the service they have received
scratchy throat
a throat that feels rough and irritated
senior position
a high-ranking job or role in an organisation
serious charge
a grave legal accusation carrying significant consequences
severe burn
a serious burn injury affecting deep layers of skin
sheer beauty
pure, absolute beauty — used to emphasise how striking something is
sheer force
force that is impressive purely by its magnitude
sheer luck
success resulting completely from chance, emphasizing the total absence of skill or planning
sheer pleasure
absolute, unqualified pleasure
significant difference
a contrast that is large enough to be meaningful or important, often used in formal or academic contexts
slim chance
a very small probability
small arms
light, portable firearms such as rifles and pistols
smooth running
the efficient and uninterrupted operation of a system or process
solar cell
A device that converts sunlight directly into electricity
sound sleep
undisturbed, thorough, restful sleep
spoken word
language expressed orally rather than in writing
stained-glass window
A decorative window assembled from pieces of coloured glass
standing order
a regular automatic bank payment or a permanent standing instruction
stem cell
An undifferentiated cell capable of developing into many different cell types
straight talk
direct, honest speech without evasion or softening
supportive husband
a husband who actively encourages and assists his spouse
tax inspector
an official who examines tax records and ensures legal compliance
tempting offer
an offer that is very attractive and hard to decline
the hard truth
a difficult or painful fact that is nonetheless real and must be faced
the plain truth
the facts stated simply and directly, without softening or decoration
thunderous applause
extremely loud, resounding clapping from an audience
timeless beauty
beauty that does not fade or go out of fashion
torrential rain
extremely heavy, fast-falling rain
true master
someone who has achieved complete mastery of a skill or art
unborn child
a child that has not yet been born; a fetus
undercover police
police officers working in disguise or without revealing their identity
unlawful arrest
a detention carried out without legal authority
urgent matter
an issue that requires immediate attention
utmost respect
the highest possible degree of respect one can show
visiting professor
A professor temporarily based at a university other than their own
well-earned rest
a period of relaxation that is deserved after hard work
wider public
ordinary people beyond a specific group; society at large
wishful thinking
believing something is true or achievable simply because you want it to be, regardless of evidence
written notice
a formal announcement delivered in written form
wrongful arrest
the illegal or unjustified detention of a person