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 289–384 of 1744 phrases
Verb + reflexive pronoun (1)
Adjective + noun (34)
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abandoned infant
a baby left without the care of its parents or guardians
academic robe
a formal gown worn for university ceremonies or other academic occasions
acute accent
the slanting mark positioned above a letter, as in é
adjoining room
a room immediately beside another room and sharing a wall with it
administrative body
an organization or committee responsible for managing official business
advisory board
a group appointed to give guidance to an organization or its leaders
aerial photograph
a photograph taken from above the ground, usually from an aircraft
aerial photography
the practice of taking photographs from the air
agricultural laborer
a worker who performs physical jobs on a farm
algebraic equation
an equation involving expressions formed from variables, constants, and algebraic operations
alternative medicine
healthcare practices used outside conventional medicine
amino acid
an organic compound containing both an amino group and a carboxyl group
antiaircraft fire
gunfire directed at aircraft
antibacterial drug
a medicine that kills bacteria or prevents them from multiplying
anticancer drug
a medicine used to treat cancer
aquatic plant
a plant that grows in water or in waterlogged ground
arctic climate
a climate characteristic of the far north, with very cold conditions
artistic creation
the process of making expressive or aesthetically meaningful work
associate professor
an academic rank below full professor and above assistant professor
atomic explosion
an explosion caused by the release of energy from an atomic bomb
automatic firearm
a gun that continues firing while its trigger is held down
bald eagle
a large North American eagle with a white head and a dark body
basic assumption
a central idea taken as true when developing an argument or plan
battered woman
a woman who has been subjected to physical abuse
best seller
a book bought by a very large number of readers
beta version
a preliminary release of software made available for testing before the finished release
bilingual education
teaching in which students learn through two languages
binocular vision
seeing with both eyes working together
biological evolution
changes in inherited characteristics of living populations across generations
black swan
a large Australian swan with dark feathers and a red bill
blind alley
a narrow street that has no exit at its far end
bloody nose
a nose that is bleeding, often after an injury
bony fish
a fish belonging to the group with skeletons made mainly of bone
bottomless pit
a hole so deep that its bottom cannot be seen or seems not to exist
Noun + noun (48)
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form factor
the physical size, shape, and arrangement of a device or hardware component, especially when these follow a standard
absentee ballot
a vote submitted by someone who cannot attend the polling place
achievement test
an assessment of knowledge or skills that someone has already learned
advocacy group
an organization that works to influence decisions on behalf of a cause or interest
air compressor
a machine that increases the pressure of air
air cushion
a pocket of trapped air that provides support or absorbs a shock
airplane propeller
a rotating set of blades that moves an airplane through the air
almond extract
a concentrated almond flavoring used in food
altitude sickness
illness associated with the reduced oxygen available at high elevations
anchovy pizza
a pizza topped with anchovies
army engineer
a military specialist trained in engineering and construction work
assistant foreman
a worker who helps supervise a work crew under a foreman
asteroid belt
the region between Mars and Jupiter where many asteroids orbit the Sun
asthma attack
an episode in which asthma symptoms suddenly become worse
attic fan
a fan that removes warm air from the space beneath a roof
audio amplifier
a device that strengthens an electrical signal representing sound
auto accessory
an extra item added to a car for convenience, comfort, or appearance
automobile mechanic
a person whose job is to repair and maintain cars
baby mama
an informal term for the mother of someone's child
backgammon board
the playing surface used for the game of backgammon
bacon rind
the tough outer skin attached to a piece of bacon
ballad maker
a person who writes or composes ballads
ballet company
a group of dancers and staff who produce ballet performances
bankruptcy court
a court that handles cases involving people or organizations unable to pay their debts
barley water
a drink made by boiling barley in water
battle fleet
a group of warships organized for combat
bear hug
a wrestling hold in which both arms tightly encircle an opponent
beauty salon
a business providing hair care and other beauty treatments
bedside manner
the way a healthcare professional behaves and communicates with patients
bell ringer
a person who rings church bells or plays musical handbells
bidding contest
competition in which buyers try to win by offering successively higher prices
blast furnace
a large furnace that uses a strong flow of air to extract iron from ore
block diagram
a drawing that represents system parts as blocks joined by lines
blood donation
the act of giving blood so it can be used in medical treatment
blood serum
the pale fluid left after blood has clotted
blood transfusion
the transfer of donated blood or blood components into a person's circulation
body armor
protective equipment worn on the body to reduce injury from weapons or impacts
bomb scare
a situation in which people fear that a bomb may be present
boot camp
a training camp where new military recruits learn basic skills and discipline
bowler hat
a hard felt hat with a rounded crown and a narrow brim
brake cylinder
a cylinder in a braking system where a piston pressurizes brake fluid
bran muffin
a small baked cake made with the outer layers of cereal grain
bread dough
an uncooked mixture that is shaped and baked to make bread
broadcast journalist
a reporter who presents news through radio or television
brownie mix
a prepared mixture of dry ingredients used to bake brownies
bubble gum
a type of chewing gum that can be stretched into bubbles with the mouth
bucket seat
a shaped seat designed to hold one person separately in a vehicle
buddy system
an arrangement in which people are paired to help or watch out for each other
Verb + adverb (4)
Adverb + adjective (2)
Verb + preposition/particle (5)
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sit in on
to attend a meeting or class as a silent observer rather than an active participant
understand by
to interpret or take a particular meaning from a word, phrase, or action
ally with
to join another person, group, or country for a shared purpose
amount to
to become something significant or worthwhile
bid for
to offer a price or compete in an attempt to obtain something