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 193–288 of 1744 phrases
Verb + noun (95)
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call off a search
cancel or abandon an ongoing search operation
catch a glimpse
see something briefly and only partially
cause wear
to produce deterioration in a material through use or friction
chair a meeting
act as the person in charge of conducting a meeting
challenge someone's thinking
question or push against the way a person reasons or holds their views
cherish a moment
to hold a moment in warm and lasting memory
choose your words
select language carefully, especially in a sensitive situation
cite a figure
to quote a specific number as evidence or reference
cite a study
to refer to a study as evidence or support for an argument or claim
claim a win
to take or achieve a victory, sometimes against expectations
clear one's throat
to make a short cough in order to speak more easily or to attract attention
command respect
to naturally inspire respect in others through authority, skill, or presence
conduct a study
to carry out a formal investigation or piece of research
conduct a trial
to carry out a systematic trial, especially a scientific or medical experiment
convict a killer
to find a murderer guilty in a court of law
damage cells
To harm biological cells physically or chemically
deceive the public
to deliberately mislead ordinary people with false information
deliver a service
to carry out or fulfil a service that has been contracted or promised
depose a king
to formally strip a king of his title and power
draw a weapon
to take a weapon out in readiness to use it
draw applause
to cause an audience to start clapping
draw up a plan
to prepare a detailed written plan or proposal
drop charges
to withdraw formal legal accusations
empower women
to give women greater confidence, authority, or resources to act independently
endure a wait
to tolerate a wait, especially one that is long or difficult
enhance beauty
to improve or intensify the appearance or beauty of something
exert force
put out or apply force, especially in a sustained way
face charges
to be confronted with formal legal accusations
face prison
to be in a situation where imprisonment is a likely consequence
face trial
to be required to appear in court to answer criminal charges
file a return
to submit an official financial or tax document
force a laugh
To produce a laugh insincerely when one does not find something funny
fulfil a wish
to bring about or satisfy a desired outcome
grant a favor
agree to do something someone has formally requested
grant leave
to officially allow someone to be absent from work
hold a hearing
to conduct a formal session at which evidence or testimony is presented
hold a trial
to conduct a formal court hearing
hold shares
To keep shares as a continuing investment over time
identify the cause
to determine what produced a problem or event
impeach a president
to formally charge a president with serious misconduct while in office
influence someone's thinking
have a notable effect on how a person reasons or forms opinions
investigate a shooting
to examine the facts and circumstances surrounding a shooting incident
irritate the throat
to cause discomfort or inflammation in the throat
join the board
to become a member of a board of directors or governing body
launch an attack
begin or initiate an attack
lay down arms
stop fighting and surrender one's weapons
maintain a relationship
To keep a relationship stable and ongoing despite pressures
make a kill
To successfully hunt and kill prey (used of predators or hunters).
make a stand
to firmly resist or oppose something, refusing to yield
mark a year
to commemorate the passing of a year since a significant event
master a language
achieve full fluency and command of a language
master a skill
achieve a high level of competence in a skill
master a subject
gain thorough knowledge and competence in an area of study
master a technique
gain complete command of a method or procedure
mount an attack
organise and begin an attack
overthrow a government
to remove a government from power by force
press charges
to formally accuse someone of a crime through legal channels
provide cover
to offer protection or shelter from something
publish a paper
to have a research document formally released in a journal
publish a study
to make the findings of a research study available in print or online
put a figure on
to state a specific number for something that is difficult to quantify
raise a question
to bring up an issue for discussion or consideration
raise the matter
to introduce a subject for discussion or consideration
reach a decision
to arrive at a conclusion after deliberation or discussion
reduce wear
to lessen the amount of deterioration from use
renovate a building
repair and improve a building
report a shooting
to give an account of a shooting incident to authorities or the public
represent a country
to act officially on behalf of a country at an event or in negotiations
request a hearing
to formally ask for a legal or official proceeding to take place
resist change
oppose or fight against modifications to the existing way of doing things
rev an engine
to increase the speed of an engine, especially while the vehicle is stationary
reverse a decision
to change a decision that was previously made
run a bank
to manage and operate a bank as its leader
seize power
to take authority by force or sudden decisive action
serve a cause
to work in dedication to a particular aim or purpose
serve a client
to attend to and meet the needs of a client
shape someone's thinking
influence and form the way a person develops their opinions over time
soothe one's throat
to relieve irritation or pain in the throat
stage an escape
arrange and deliberately carry out an escape
stand trial
to appear in court as a defendant in a criminal case
stimulate the brain
to actively engage mental processes and keep the mind alert
strain one's voice
put excessive stress on the vocal cords
strike a deal
reach a mutually agreed arrangement, especially after negotiation
strip the bed
to remove all the linen from a bed
support a cause
to back or advocate for a social, political, or moral aim
suppress a cry
hold back or prevent a cry from escaping
survive a shooting
to remain alive after being shot
take a decision
to make a formal or considered choice
take a stand
to declare and maintain a firm position on an issue
take up arms
begin to fight, especially by picking up weapons
tighten security
to make security measures stricter and more thorough
verify someone's age
confirm that a person is old enough for a product or service
wage war
to carry on armed conflict or a sustained campaign against someone
withstand wear
to endure prolonged use without deteriorating significantly
witness a shooting
to see a shooting incident happen directly