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 865–960 of 1339 phrases
Verb + noun (3)
Adjective + noun (60)
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pectoral fin
one of a fish's paired fins near the front of its body, used to control movement
personal god
a deity understood to possess personality and to relate to individual people
persuasive eloquence
skilled, expressive speech or writing that wins people over
poetic insight
a deep perception expressed through or inspired by poetry
poetic romance
a romantic narrative written in poetry
positive economics
the study of what happens in an economy and why, without prescribing what ought to happen
profound regret
a very deep feeling of sorrow about an action or outcome
provincial administration
the government or officials responsible for running a province
questionable reputation
a reputation that raises doubts about someone's honesty or reliability
recurrent event
an event that happens repeatedly at intervals
resident commissioner
Puerto Rico's representative in the United States House of Representatives
ruddy complexion
facial skin with a noticeable reddish color
solid scholarship
academic research that is careful, reliable, and well supported
spatial awareness
the ability to judge where objects and one's body are in relation to each other
spotted owl
a forest owl with pale spots on its brown feathers
statistical data
numerical information collected or organized for analysis
stoic courage
bravery shown through calm endurance without complaint
stoic patience
calm acceptance of discomfort or delay without complaining
temporal adverbial
a word or phrase functioning as an adverb that states when an action occurs
unbounded enthusiasm
excitement and eagerness that seem to have no limit
uncompromising honesty
truthfulness that refuses to bend even when being honest is difficult
unearthly scream
a piercing cry that sounds strange or frighteningly unnatural
unmixed blessing
A benefit that brings no disadvantages or unwelcome consequences.
unseasoned timber
Wood intended for construction or other use that has not yet been sufficiently dried.
unswerving devotion
Steady loyalty or commitment that does not weaken or change direction.
voluntary muscle
A skeletal muscle whose movement can normally be controlled consciously.
wholesale destruction
Destruction affecting a very large area or nearly everything involved.
wretched beast
An animal referred to with strong irritation, contempt, or pity.
absentminded professor
an academic who is so absorbed in thought that ordinary details are forgotten
accumulative effect
a result that grows as smaller influences or additions build up
advanced outpost
a small military position placed farther forward than the main force
affable smile
a friendly smile that makes others feel welcome and at ease
agile mind
an ability to think quickly and move easily between ideas
allegorical painting
a picture whose figures and objects represent deeper ideas or moral themes
alluring prospect
a possible future event or opportunity that seems especially tempting
aloof dignity
a reserved and self-respecting manner that keeps others at a distance
amicable agreement
an arrangement reached in a friendly way without continuing hostility
analogical use
application of an idea or expression through comparison with something else
ancestral home
a family dwelling passed down from earlier generations
ancient manuscript
a handwritten document surviving from a very distant period of history
ancillary support
additional assistance that supplements the main work or service
antarctic expedition
an organized journey to explore or work in the region around the South Pole
apparent dominance
control or superiority that seems evident but may not reflect the full situation
apt pupil
a learner who understands quickly and shows a natural ability to improve
arduous work
a task requiring sustained concentration and considerable mental effort or skill
arid climate
weather conditions characterized by very little rainfall or available moisture
assiduous research
careful investigation pursued with steady attention and persistent effort
austere expression
a stern facial appearance showing little warmth or emotion
baronial mansion
a large residence with the imposing grandeur associated with a noble household
blatant disregard
an open and obvious refusal to pay attention to a rule or concern
bloodless coup
a seizure of political power carried out without bloodshed
boisterous crowd
a gathering of people who are noisy, energetic, and poorly restrained
bourgeois mentality
a way of thinking associated with middle-class conventions and material security
bureaucratic nightmare
a situation made extremely difficult by complicated official rules and procedures
burgeoning population
a number of inhabitants that is increasing rapidly
burly frame
a person's large, muscular body build
calculable risk
a danger whose likelihood or possible consequences can be reasonably estimated
categorical denial
an absolute statement that something is untrue, without qualifications or exceptions
chronic indigestion
digestive discomfort that continues for a long time or repeatedly returns
clayey soil
ground containing much fine clay, making it dense and slow to drain
Noun + noun (27)
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opium poppy
the poppy species from whose unripe seed capsules opium is obtained
outsider art
art made outside established artistic institutions, often by self-taught creators
parrot fever
an infection acquired from infected birds that can cause pneumonia, also called psittacosis
partnership certificate
a document recording the interests of members of a business partnership
pay dirt
earth or ore containing enough valuable material to mine profitably
poll tax
a fixed charge per person historically imposed as a condition for voting
reconnaissance mission
an operation carried out to gather information about an area or opposing force
reed bunting
a small European bunting associated with marshes and reed beds
reindeer moss
a pale branching lichen that serves as food for reindeer and caribou
rhesus factor
a red-blood-cell antigen used in classifying blood as Rh-positive or Rh-negative
rock wallaby
a wallaby adapted to living among rocky slopes and caves
rogue nation
a country regarded as disregarding accepted rules in its dealings with other states
rust fungi
fungi that cause rust diseases in plants
rust mite
a plant-feeding mite that causes reddish-brown discoloration
saloon keeper
a person who owns or runs a saloon
sand martin
a swallowlike bird that nests in tunnels in sandy or clay banks
satin stitch
closely packed flat stitches that form a smooth surface like satin
scorpion fish
a marine fish with an armored head and venomous spines
sea lavender
a salt-marsh plant with clusters of small white or mauve flowers
sea otter
a thick-furred marine otter of the northern Pacific coast
shot putter
an athlete who competes by pushing a heavy ball from the shoulder for distance
snowshoe rabbit
a North American hare with large furry feet and a coat that turns white in winter
sow bug
a small land-dwelling crustacean with an oval segmented body, also called a woodlouse
trade surplus
the amount by which a country's exports exceed its imports
beech tree
a broad-crowned deciduous tree with smooth gray bark and small triangular nuts
birch tree
a deciduous tree known for its thin bark that peels away in layers
chant notation
a written system of signs showing the notes of Gregorian chant
Verb + adverb (2)
Adverb + adjective (4)
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sexually ambiguous
unclear or deliberately open to interpretation about sexual identity or attraction
acutely aware
strongly conscious of something, often a difficulty or risk
almost mythic
so remarkable that it approaches the character of legend
blithely unconcerned
carelessly unworried about something that deserves attention