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 673–768 of 1744 phrases
Adjective + noun (38)
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last breath
the final breath a person takes before dying
leafy vegetable
a vegetable grown mainly for its edible leaves
legal residence
a person's officially recognized home for legal purposes
legal separation
a formally recognized arrangement in which spouses live apart while remaining married
legendary creature
a being described in traditional stories rather than established as a real animal
legislative assembly
a body of representatives empowered to debate and make laws
liberal party
a political party that advocates liberal principles or reforms
lightweight concrete
concrete made less dense by adding air spaces or lightweight materials
liquid nitrogen
nitrogen cooled until it becomes a liquid
literal interpretation
an understanding based on the direct meaning of the words
literary composition
a piece of creative writing such as a story or poem
literary criticism
the analysis and evaluation of literature
manual labor
work performed mainly through physical effort using the hands
manufacturing plant
a factory or group of buildings where goods are made
martial law
military control over civilian affairs during a war or severe emergency
medical evacuation
moving an injured or ill person to a place where treatment is available
medical examiner
an official who investigates deaths that may have unnatural causes
medieval times
the historical period known as the Middle Ages
mental anguish
deep and persistent emotional suffering
mental imagery
pictures or sensory impressions formed in the mind
mental suffering
emotional or psychological pain
metallic element
a chemical element with the characteristic properties of a metal
metric ton
a unit of mass equal to one thousand kilograms
metropolitan area
a large city together with its closely connected surrounding communities
mild steel
steel containing a small proportion of carbon
minimum wage
the lowest pay rate permitted by an applicable law or agreement
minor mode
a musical key or mode based on a minor scale
mint condition
a state as good as new, without noticeable wear or damage
missionary work
organized religious activity intended to spread a faith
mixed metaphor
an expression combining incompatible metaphors in a confusing or absurd way
moderate breeze
a wind classified as force four on the Beaufort scale
molecular biologist
a scientist who studies biological processes at the molecular level
molecular biology
the study of living systems through the structure and activity of their molecules
molecular genetics
the study of genetic material and its activity at the molecular level
monetary policy
policies affecting money, credit, and borrowing conditions in an economy
moral obligation
a duty based on a sense of right and wrong
mortal enemy
an enemy who wishes to destroy or kill someone
moving stairway
a stairway with continuously moving steps that carry people between levels
Noun + noun (50)
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jug band
a musical group using a jug and other simple or improvised instruments
juniper berry
the small fleshy cone of a juniper, often used as a spice
jury duty
service as a member of a jury
kerosene heater
a heating device that burns kerosene as fuel
labor organizer
a person who helps workers organize collectively, especially into a union
lance corporal
a junior military rank below corporal in some armed forces
land reform
changes to land ownership or distribution intended to improve access and fairness
landing approach
an aircraft's final movement toward a runway before touching down
landscape architect
a professional who plans the layout of outdoor spaces
landscape gardener
a gardener who designs and develops attractive outdoor planting areas
landscape gardening
the planning and creation of attractive gardens and outdoor grounds
laser beam
a narrow, concentrated stream of light produced by a laser
lecture demonstration
a demonstration accompanied by spoken explanation for an audience
lee side
the side sheltered from the wind
lemon zest
the thin, aromatic outer peel of a lemon used for flavoring
library catalog
an organized record of the books and other materials held by a library
life assurance
insurance that provides a payment connected with the insured person's death
life coaching
guidance intended to help someone identify and pursue personal goals
life imprisonment
a prison sentence formally imposed for the remainder of a person's life
lighthouse keeper
a person responsible for operating and maintaining a lighthouse
lightning conductor
a metal system that carries lightning safely from a structure toward the ground
line segment
the part of a straight line bounded by two endpoints
litter basket
a container in a public place for discarded rubbish
loan approval
formal agreement by a lender to provide a loan
lobby group
an organization seeking to influence government decisions in its members' interests
lobster stew
a dish of lobster pieces cooked or served in milk or cream
lotus position
a yoga sitting posture with crossed legs and each foot resting on the opposite thigh
luggage van
a railway carriage used to carry passengers' bags
mandarin orange
a small citrus fruit with sweet flesh and a loose, easily removed peel
mango tree
a tropical evergreen tree grown for its large fleshy fruit
manhole cover
a removable cover over a street opening used to access underground services
marathon runner
a person who participates in marathon races
mass murderer
a person who kills many people in a single incident
maturity date
the date when a debt or financial obligation must be repaid
means test
an assessment of someone's income or assets to determine eligibility for financial assistance
meat cleaver
a heavy knife with a broad, roughly square blade for cutting meat
media consultant
a specialist who advises others about communication through media
messenger boy
a boy employed to carry messages or run errands
microphone boom
a long support that holds a microphone above or beyond the camera's view
midnight sun
the sun remaining visible at midnight in polar regions
migration route
a path regularly followed by migrating birds
milk float
a delivery vehicle, often electric, used to bring milk to homes
milk whey
the watery liquid separated from milk curds during cheesemaking
mine detector
a device used to locate buried explosive mines
miracle worker
someone believed or claimed to perform extraordinary acts through miraculous power
morale builder
something that raises people's confidence or enthusiasm
morality play
an allegorical drama in which characters represent moral qualities
mortgage application
a formal request to obtain a loan secured on property
motor scooter
a small powered two-wheeled vehicle with a low riding platform
mug shot
a photograph of a person's face made for identification, especially police records