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 481–576 of 1744 phrases
Adjective + noun (41)
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direct proportion
a relationship in which two quantities change while maintaining a constant ratio
disorderly conduct
behavior that disturbs public peace or order
distinctive feature
a characteristic that clearly sets something apart from others
divine guidance
direction or help believed to come from a god
domestic violence
violent or physically abusive behavior within a family or household
double saucepan
two fitted saucepans used together, with one placed inside the other
dry dock
a dock that can be emptied of water so a ship can be built or repaired
economic collapse
a severe breakdown in an economy's ability to function
economic geography
the study of where goods are produced, distributed, and consumed
editorial page
a newspaper page devoted to opinions and editorial commentary
elapsed time
the amount of time that has passed since an event began
elective surgery
an operation that is planned in advance rather than performed as an emergency
electrical outlet
a socket where a device can be connected to an electricity supply
electronic surveillance
monitoring people or places using electronic equipment
elite group
a small group distinguished by high status, ability, or privilege
equal protection
the same legal safeguards and treatment for everyone in comparable circumstances
equiangular triangle
a triangle whose three angles are equal
equilateral triangle
a triangle with three sides of equal length
estimated tax
a periodic tax payment calculated from expected income rather than withheld automatically
eternal life
life understood as continuing forever
ethnic minority
a group whose cultural or ancestral background differs from that of the larger population
evil spirit
a supernatural being believed to intend harm
executive director
a senior person responsible for managing an organization's operations
exotic dancer
a performer who provides erotic entertainment through dance, often removing clothing
explosive device
an object designed to explode and release energy suddenly
expressive style
a person's distinctive way of communicating through language or art
extinct species
a species whose members have all died out
false testimony
a witness's account that is untrue
favorable reception
a positive response to something presented or proposed
fictional character
a person invented for a story, film, or play
figurative language
language that uses images or comparisons instead of only literal meanings
financial analyst
a specialist who examines companies' financial performance
financial forecast
an estimate of future financial results based on expected conditions
fiscal policy
government decisions about public spending, taxation, and borrowing
fixed cost
a business expense that remains the same despite changes in activity or output
flexible joint
a connection that allows joined parts to move relative to each other
folk poet
a poet whose work belongs to the traditional culture of a community
foster parent
a person who cares for a child in place of the child's birth parents without adopting the child
free enterprise
an economic system in which private businesses operate mainly through market competition
freshwater fish
fish from rivers or lakes, considered as food
front porch
a covered entrance area at the front of a house
Noun + noun (49)
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disability benefit
a payment provided to someone because of a disability
dive bomber
a military aircraft that drops bombs while descending steeply toward a target
divorce court
a court that handles the legal ending of marriages
dormer window
an upright window projecting from a sloping roof
dormitory room
a sleeping room in a building providing shared accommodation
drainage system
connected drains or channels that carry away unwanted water
drama critic
a person who reviews and evaluates theatrical performances
dress rehearsal
a complete practice performance using the costumes intended for the show
drill instructor
a military trainer who teaches recruits marching and discipline
drug abuse
harmful or excessive use of drugs
drug addict
a person who has become dependent on drugs and struggles to stop using them
drug bust
an informal term for a police operation that seizes illegal drugs
duck pate
a smooth prepared food made from duck liver
dude ranch
a holiday ranch where visitors take part in riding and other ranch activities
dust wrapper
a removable paper cover that protects a book and often carries promotional text
earth goddess
a goddess associated with the earth, fertility, or plant growth
earthenware jar
a container made from fired clay
elbow room
enough physical space to move comfortably
electron microscope
an instrument that uses electrons rather than light to produce highly detailed images
electronics industry
the businesses that make electronic equipment and products
elimination tournament
a competition in which losing participants leave after successive rounds
emperor penguin
the largest type of penguin, native to Antarctica
employee ownership
ownership of a business by the people working in it
endurance contest
a demanding competition or undertaking that tests the ability to continue for a long time
exhaust hood
a cover connected to a vent that removes smoke or fumes
exit ramp
a sloping connecting road used to leave a highway
expansion slot
a socket inside a computer for adding a circuit board
eyebrow pencil
a cosmetic pencil used to darken or shape the appearance of eyebrows
faculty member
a person employed to teach or research at a college or university
fairy godmother
a magical female helper in a fairy tale who brings good fortune
faith healing
an attempt to treat illness through prayer and religious belief
feast day
a day set aside for a religious or communal celebration
file server
a networked computer that stores files for other computers to access
filter tip
the filtering material attached to the mouth end of a cigarette
fir tree
an evergreen conifer belonging to the fir group
fire tongs
a gripping tool used to move burning wood or coal
fish fillet
a boneless or mostly boneless piece cut lengthwise from a fish
fishing tackle
equipment such as rods, lines, and hooks used for catching fish
flesh wound
an injury limited to soft tissue without serious damage to bones or internal organs
flight feather
a large wing or tail feather that helps a bird fly
flip chart
a stand or pad with large sheets that can be turned over during a presentation
flutter kick
a swimming movement in which the legs alternate rapidly up and down
food manufacturer
a person or company that produces food products for sale
forest ranger
an official who protects and manages a forest area
freedom fighter
a person described as fighting against authority to achieve political freedom
friction tape
a tough adhesive insulating tape traditionally used around electrical connections
front stance
a martial-arts stance with one leg forward and weight directed toward it
frontier settlement
a community established at the edge of an area being settled
fruit cocktail
a mixture of small pieces of different fruits