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 97–192 of 1339 phrases
Adjective + noun (41)
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centripetal force
a force directed toward the center of an object's curved path
cervical canal
the narrow passage through the cervix connecting the uterus and vagina
characteristic curve
a graph showing how a device's behavior changes with another measured quantity
chief constable
the officer who leads a regional police force
civic pride
a feeling of satisfaction and attachment associated with one's town or city
civilian clothing
ordinary clothes worn instead of a military or other official uniform
clinical psychologist
a psychologist who assesses and treats mental or emotional difficulties
collateral damage
unintended harm to civilians or civilian property during military action
collective noun
a noun that names a group while having a singular form
commercial bribery
bribing someone responsible for purchasing to influence a business transaction
communist party
a political organization that supports communist ideas and policies
complementary color
one of a pair of colors that produces white light or a neutral pigment mixture when combined
compulsory process
a defendant's right to require relevant witnesses to appear through court authority
conditional probability
the chance of an event when another specified event is known to have happened
congressional district
an area that elects one representative to the United States House of Representatives
conical projection
a map-making method that projects the globe onto a cone
constitutional court
a court responsible for questions about compliance with a constitution
contextual definition
an explanation that gives a term's meaning through a larger expression in which it appears
convertible bond
a bond that may be exchanged for another security under specified conditions
cosmetic surgery
surgery performed to change or improve physical appearance
courtly love
an idealized form of romantic devotion governed by conventions in medieval culture
credible witness
a witness whose account is considered believable
criminal contempt
conduct that seriously disrespects or obstructs a court's administration of justice
criminal prosecution
legal proceedings brought against someone accused of committing a crime
crustal plate
a large rigid section of the Earth's outer layer that moves slowly
culinary art
the skill and practice of preparing food
cultural anthropologist
a researcher who studies human customs, relationships, and ways of life
cumulative vote
an election in which a voter can distribute several votes among candidates or give them all to one
deductive reasoning
thinking that applies a general rule to reach a conclusion about a particular case
defensive attitude
a way of reacting that treats criticism or questions as personal attacks
dental plaque
a layer of bacteria and other material that builds up on teeth
dependent variable
a quantity whose value changes according to another quantity
depressive disorder
a mental health condition involving persistent depression and reduced ability to enjoy things
diplomatic corps
the diplomats serving collectively in a particular country or setting
diurnal variation
a pattern of change that occurs over the course of a day
divergent thinker
a person who explores unusual directions and alternative solutions to a problem
divine providence
protective care believed to be exercised by a god over human affairs
divine revelation
knowledge believed to have been communicated by a god or supernatural power
dominant gene
a gene variant whose effect can appear when only one copy is present
dorsal fin
a fin positioned along an aquatic animal's back
double bassoon
a large bassoon that plays below the ordinary bassoon range
Noun + noun (42)
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channel capacity
the highest rate at which a communication channel can carry data
character assassination
a deliberate attack intended to destroy a person's reputation
charter member
one of the people who belonged to an organization when it began
chin strap
a band that passes under the chin to hold headgear in place
chlorine dioxide
a chlorine and oxygen compound used for bleaching and water treatment
chromium steel
steel containing chromium to improve its resistance to corrosion
citation form
the basic form of a word used as the heading of its dictionary entry
clam chowder
a thick soup containing clams
clan member
a person belonging to a group linked by family descent or kinship
cluster headache
a very painful headache that returns in repeated episodes
clutch pedal
the foot-operated control that connects or disconnects an engine from its transmission
collision course
a path that will cause moving objects to hit each other if unchanged
combat fatigue
psychological distress caused by the strain of active warfare
compression ratio
the discharge pressure of a gas compressor divided by its intake pressure
compromise verdict
a verdict produced by improper bargaining among jurors over important issues
computer simulation
a computer-based model used to imitate a real situation or process
con man
a man who gains people's trust in order to cheat them
confirmation hearing
a Senate hearing examining whether to approve a nominee for a senior federal position
coordinate system
a framework that uses numbers to specify positions
crack cocaine
a form of cocaine intended to be smoked
crisis intervention
short-term psychological help focused on an immediate severe emotional or mental crisis
crop rotation
the practice of growing different crops on the same land in successive seasons
crown jewel
a precious stone forming part of a monarch's ceremonial royal possessions
crumb cake
a cake topped with a crumbly mixture of flour, butter, and sugar
crystal chandelier
a decorative hanging light fitted with crystal pieces
cutting implement
a tool designed to cut or slice material
dark adaptation
the process by which the eyes become able to see in dim light
death instinct
in psychoanalytic theory, an unconscious drive toward one's own death
defense contractor
a company or person hired to develop or manufacture military equipment or systems
deficit spending
government spending financed through borrowing rather than current revenue
delay line
an electronic circuit designed to hold back a signal for a set amount of time
depreciation allowance
an amount recognized for the reduction in an asset's value over time
design criteria
requirements that a proposed design must satisfy
discount rate
an interest rate charged by a central bank on loans to other banks
disk harrow
a soil-working implement fitted with angled metal disks
dividend warrant
a payment order issued to a shareholder for a dividend
dogwood tree
a tree of the dogwood group, often grown for its conspicuous flowerlike bracts
dollar volume
the total monetary value of sales or other activity expressed in dollars
domino theory
the political idea that communist control of one country would spread to neighboring countries
dot product
the sum of the products of corresponding components of two vectors
draft board
a group responsible for selecting people for compulsory military service
drag coefficient
a number used to describe the resistance an object experiences moving through air
Verb + adverb (5)
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chew up
to criticize someone severely and angrily
chill out
to become calm and relaxed after feeling tense or upset
clap together
to assemble something quickly and carelessly
clutter up
to fill a place with so many things that it becomes untidy
conjure up
to bring something into existence or into the mind, seemingly by magic
Verb + preposition/particle (8)
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cling to
to hold something tightly and refuse or struggle to let go
comply with
to act according to a rule, requirement, or request
conceive of
to imagine something or form an idea of it
confer with
to consult someone for advice or discussion
confide in
to tell someone private information because one trusts them
conform to
to follow or meet a stated rule, standard, or expectation
dispense with
to manage without something or decide it is unnecessary
dispose of
to get rid of something or arrange for it to leave your possession