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 289–384 of 1339 phrases
Adjective + noun (59)
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gymnastic apparatus
equipment used to perform gymnastics exercises
hairy tongue
a tongue condition in which enlarged surface projections create a hairlike appearance
heavy machinery
large powerful machines used for demanding industrial or construction work
hereditary disease
a disease passed from parents to children through genes
hidden reserve
financial value held by a business but not shown fully on its balance sheet
hierarchical menu
a menu that opens further menus within its main choices
high commissioner
a senior diplomatic representative with ambassadorial status
hostile witness
a witness whose hostility or bias works against the party that called them to give evidence
human ecology
the study of human populations and their relationships with their surroundings
human genome
the complete set of genetic information characteristic of humans
human sacrifice
the ritual killing of a person as an offering to a deity
hybrid vigor
the tendency of offspring from crossbreeding to show stronger qualities than either parent
hydraulic ram
a pump that uses flowing water to lift part of that water to a higher level
hydrochloric acid
a strongly acidic solution of hydrogen chloride in water
hypodermic needle
a hollow needle used to introduce substances beneath the skin
ideal gas
a theoretical gas whose particles have negligible size and no mutual forces
ideological barrier
an obstacle to cooperation caused by conflicting systems of belief
idle wheel
a wheel or pulley that guides a belt or keeps it under tension
ill repute
a bad reputation or unfavorable public opinion
imaginary part
the real-number coefficient of i in a complex number written as a + bi
imperial gallon
the gallon used in the British imperial system of volume measurement
improper fraction
a fraction whose numerator is at least as large as its denominator
inaugural address
a formal speech given when someone begins an important office
incandescent lamp
a lamp that produces light from an electrically heated filament
indefinite pronoun
a pronoun that refers to an unspecified person or thing
indelible ink
ink that leaves a mark which is very difficult to remove
indentured servant
a person bound by a contract to work for a specified period
indigenous language
a language originating among the people of a particular place
indirect discourse
reported speech expressed through another speaker's wording rather than direct quotation
industrial espionage
secretly obtaining a company's confidential information to benefit a competitor
inertial navigation
determining position by measuring a vehicle's motion through onboard instruments
inevitable accident
an accident that reasonable precautions could not have prevented
inflammatory response
the body's reaction to injury or infection that produces inflammation
infrared spectrum
the range or recorded distribution of infrared radiation
initial rhyme
repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of nearby words
inorganic phosphate
a phosphate salt that is not part of an organic compound
institutional religion
religion organized through established bodies, offices, and shared practices
intangible asset
a valuable resource that has no physical form
integrated circuit
an electronic circuit whose components are formed together on a small chip
intellectual nourishment
ideas or experiences that stimulate and sustain the mind
intermediate host
an organism in which a parasite develops during part of its life cycle
internal auditor
an employee who examines an organization's records and procedures for accuracy and compliance
internal revenue
government income raised within a country rather than through customs duties
interrogative sentence
a sentence that asks a question
interstitial fluid
fluid occupying the spaces between the body's cells
intestinal bypass
a surgical alteration that routes digestive contents around part of the intestine
intestinal colic
cramping pain arising in the intestines
intravenous injection
an injection delivered directly into a vein
intuitive feeling
an understanding or impression reached without deliberate reasoning
irregular warfare
warfare using forces or methods outside conventional military organization and practice
irreparable harm
damage that cannot be repaired or put right
irreversible process
a sequence of changes that cannot be undone to restore the original state
isosceles triangle
a triangle with two sides of equal length
joint resolution
a legislative measure approved by both chambers of a legislature
judicial proceeding
a formal legal process conducted before a court
judicial review
examination by a court of a decision's legality or correctness
judicial torture
torture authorized within a legal system to obtain evidence or a confession
judicial writ
a formal written order issued by a court
jugular vein
one of the large neck veins carrying blood away from the head
Noun + noun (32)
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group psychotherapy
psychological treatment in which several people meet together with a therapist
guerrilla warfare
fighting by small mobile groups using surprise attacks in enemy-controlled areas
gunnery sergeant
a marine noncommissioned officer with a rank above staff sergeant
gypsum board
a building panel with a gypsum core covered by paper or fiberboard
hack writer
a dismissive term for a writer considered unoriginal or mediocre
hair follicle
a small cavity in the skin from which a hair grows
handling charge
a fee for preparing, packing, or processing an order
handwriting expert
a practitioner who claims to infer personality from handwriting
helper cell
an immune cell that helps activate other cells in an immune response
hero worshipper
someone who admires a hero with intense devotion
hoof pick
a hooked tool used to remove dirt from an animal's hoof
household appliance
a device used to carry out a practical task in the home
ignition switch
a switch that activates the electrical system used to start an engine
incidence angle
the angle between an incoming ray and a line perpendicular to a surface
inheritance tax
a tax connected with property or money passed on after someone's death
insect repellant
a chemical preparation that discourages insects from approaching
insider trading
trading securities using important confidential information unavailable to the public
insurance coverage
the types and amounts of protection provided by insurance
insurance premium
the amount paid to maintain an insurance policy
intake valve
a valve that controls fluid or gas entering a machine or chamber
investment banker
a finance professional involved in raising capital and arranging securities transactions
ionization chamber
a radiation detector that measures electrical charge produced when gas becomes ionized
iron foundry
a factory where iron is melted and cast into shapes
iron overload
an excessive accumulation of iron in the body
jet propulsion
forward movement produced by ejecting a stream of gas or liquid backward
jockey club
an organization that oversees or organizes horse racing
judge advocate
a military legal officer who advises on law or handles military court cases
junction transistor
a transistor whose operation depends on junctions between different semiconductor regions
keynote address
the main speech that establishes the central theme of an event
kidney transplant
an operation that places a donated kidney into a recipient
kilogram calorie
a unit of heat equal to one thousand small calories
kilowatt hour
the energy used by one kilowatt of power operating for one hour