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 1249–1339 of 1339 phrases
Adjective + noun (70)
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indefinable feeling
an emotion or sensation that is difficult to describe precisely
indignant denial
an angry rejection of an accusation considered unfair
inestimable value
worth so great that it cannot reasonably be measured
infallible memory
an ability to recall things without making mistakes
infertile couple
two partners who are unable to conceive a child together
inhospitable mountain
a mountain whose harsh conditions make living or traveling there difficult
inimitable style
a distinctive way of doing something that others cannot successfully copy
inordinate length
an amount of time or extent that is far greater than reasonable
intolerable degree
an amount or intensity that cannot reasonably be endured
ironic novel
a long fictional work marked by humorous mockery or ironic expression
lower bound
a number no greater than any member of a specified set
majestic presence
an impressive personal bearing that suggests dignity or grandeur
meager living
an income that provides barely enough money to support oneself
melodious song
a tune or bird call that sounds musical and pleasant
mindless violence
destructive physical behavior carried out without thought or reason
navigable channel
a passage of water that vessels can travel through safely
nonchalant manner
a calm, casual way of behaving that shows little apparent concern
ostensible purpose
a stated or apparent aim that may conceal a different real intention
painstaking research
careful investigation carried out with great effort and attention to detail
palatable food
something to eat that tastes pleasant or acceptable
pompous speech
a formal talk delivered in an exaggeratedly grand or self-important way
posthumous award
a prize or honor granted after its recipient has died
precocious child
a child who develops intellectual abilities or maturity unusually early
punitive justice
an approach to justice that emphasizes punishment for wrongdoing
raucous party
a loud, disorderly social gathering
reclusive life
a way of living with little contact with other people
red giant
a large, bright star in a late stage of life with a relatively cool surface
rhythmical prose
ordinary written language with a noticeable pattern of beats or stresses
rickety table
a weak, unsteady table that may wobble or collapse
roguish grin
a broad smile showing playful, attractive mischief
scanty harvest
a crop yield that is small or insufficient
seaward side
the part or edge of something that faces toward the sea
shrill whistle
a piercing, high-pitched whistling sound
slavish copy
an imitation that follows an original closely without independent thought or creativity
slovenly appearance
an untidy, poorly cared-for way of looking
sprightly dance
a lively, energetic dance
starlike object
an object that resembles a star in brightness or appearance
starlit darkness
nighttime darkness faintly illuminated by stars
staunch defender
someone who firmly and loyally protects a person, right, or principle
sultry look
a facial expression or gaze that suggests sexual attraction
thorny question
a problem or issue that is difficult to resolve
tinny voice
a thin, metallic-sounding voice without warmth or resonance
topmost step
the highest step in a flight of stairs or on a ladder
tremulous voice
a voice that shakes because of fear, weakness, or strong emotion
unadulterated truth
the complete truth without distortion or misleading additions
unbridled rage
extreme anger expressed without restraint
uncanny sense
an unusually accurate intuitive awareness that is difficult to explain
undemonstrative man
a man who shows little of his feelings openly
undeserved reputation
a public image that a person or thing has not earned or does not merit
undetermined species
a species whose identity has not yet been established
unenforceable law
a law that authorities cannot effectively compel people to obey
unequivocal evidence
evidence that leaves no room for doubt or conflicting interpretation
unimaginative person
a person who shows little originality or creative thought
unintelligible speech
speech that cannot be understood because it is unclear or obscured by noise
unreasoning panic
intense fear that is not guided by reason or evidence
unsavory reputation
a reputation associated with immoral or disreputable conduct
unsportsmanlike behavior
conduct that violates fairness or respect in a sport or competition
unwary reader
a reader who is insufficiently alert to deception or misleading claims
unwholesome food
food considered harmful to physical well-being
unwieldy structure
a structure that is difficult to move or handle because of its size, weight, or shape
valiant soldier
a soldier who displays courage in danger
vehement defense
a forceful and energetic argument supporting someone or something
wan smile
a faint smile that suggests tiredness, illness, or unhappiness
waterless country
a region with little or no available water or rainfall
wayward behavior
behavior that resists guidance, discipline, or accepted expectations
wheaten bread
bread made from wheat flour
wholesome attitude
an attitude that supports healthy or morally sound behavior
workmanlike job
a task completed with competent and practical skill
wrenching pain
severe physical or emotional suffering
Pacific Rim
the countries and coastal regions around the Pacific Ocean, often considered together for trade or economic activity
Noun + noun (11)
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kangaroo mouse
a small rodent with strong hind legs adapted for hopping
marsh wren
a small wren that lives in marshes among reeds and other wetland plants
monkey puzzle
a large Chilean evergreen conifer with spreading branches and edible seeds
monkey wrench
a hand tool with one fixed jaw and one adjustable jaw for gripping and turning objects
prairie chicken
a North American grouse with mottled brown feathers that lives on open grassland
proboscis monkey
a monkey native to Borneo, known for its unusually large projecting nose
sea catfish
a marine catfish belonging to a group whose members often carry young in the mouth
squirrel monkey
a small, long-tailed monkey of Central and South America with a dark muzzle
tear duct
a small passage that carries tears from a tear-producing gland
tear sheet
a page designed to be easily removed from a publication
winter wren
a small wren associated with coniferous forests
Verb + adverb (6)
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keel over
to topple sideways or collapse
roll off
to recite a series of words or facts quickly and easily
scratch off
to write something quickly and roughly
slack off
to decrease in strength, amount, or activity
toss off
to write something quickly and with apparent ease
work over
to beat someone severely
Adverb + adjective (4)
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notoriously variable
widely known for changing in a difficult or unpredictable way
spatially limited
restricted to a particular area or amount of space
tacitly expected
understood to be required although nobody states the requirement directly
tactically useful
helpful for gaining an advantage in a particular planned action