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 1339 phrases
Verb + noun (1)
Adjective + noun (47)
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subcutaneous injection
an injection delivered beneath the skin
subordinate conjunction
a conjunction that introduces a dependent clause
subversive activity
action intended to undermine or overthrow an established government or authority
sufficient condition
a condition that guarantees a particular result if it is met
sulphuric acid
a strongly corrosive acid containing sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen, widely used in industry
summary judgment
a court decision made without trial when no material factual dispute requires one
superfine sugar
sugar with very small fine crystals
supernatural virtue
one of the virtues regarded in Christian ethics as given by God
superstitious notion
a belief based on superstition rather than reliable evidence
surgical incision
a cut made in body tissue during an operation
swedish turnip
the yellow edible root vegetable also called a swede or rutabaga
syllabic script
a writing system in which symbols represent syllables
symbolic logic
the study of reasoning through symbols representing the forms of statements
sympathetic vibration
vibration caused when an object resonates in response to another vibrating object
symphonic poem
an orchestral composition inspired by a story, poem, or similar subject
symptomatic treatment
treatment aimed at relieving symptoms rather than directly removing their cause
syntactic category
a class of words sharing grammatical properties and roles
synthetic cubism
the later phase of Cubism associated with combining simplified forms and materials
tacit consent
approval understood from conduct or silence rather than stated directly
tactical maneuver
a planned move intended to gain a particular advantage
tangible property
property that has a physical form and can be touched
taxonomic group
a set of organisms classified together according to biological relationships
technical correction
a market-price decline interpreted as an adjustment after earlier rises
telegraphic speech
brief speech that leaves out less essential words while keeping the main meaning
telescopic sight
an aiming device that uses a telescope to magnify distant objects
temporary removal
exclusion from a position or privilege for a limited period
temporary restoration
a dental repair intended to protect or restore a tooth for a limited time
terrestrial planet
a planet with a solid rocky surface like Earth's
tertiary syphilis
a late stage of syphilis that can damage internal organs
theological system
an organized set of religious beliefs and teachings
theoretical account
an explanation of a process or phenomenon based on a theory
timeless existence
a state of existing forever, especially in religious accounts of an afterlife
tribal society
a society organized around tribal groups and relationships
triumphal arch
a monumental arch built to commemorate a victory
troy ounce
a unit of weight equal to one twelfth of a troy pound, used especially for precious metals
tubular cavity
a hollow space shaped like a tube
ultraviolet illumination
exposure to ultraviolet radiation rather than ordinary visible light
unilateral paralysis
loss of movement affecting one side of the body
universal suffrage
the principle that all adults should have the right to vote
urban sprawl
the spread of connected urban development over a wide area
ventral aspect
the view or surface of the side of a body that faces the belly
veterinary surgeon
a professionally qualified doctor who treats animals
vicious cycle
a repeating sequence in which problems make one another worse
virtual storage
computer storage that uses disk space to extend the memory available to programs
vocal music
music written to be sung, with or without instrumental accompaniment
voiceless consonant
a consonant produced without vibration of the vocal cords
volcanic eruption
the release of lava, ash, or gases from a volcano
Noun + noun (43)
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subscriber line
a telephone connection serving an individual customer
subsistence level
a standard of living that barely provides the essentials for survival
suet pudding
a sweet or savory steamed or boiled pudding made with suet
suffix notation
a way of writing expressions with each operator after the values it acts on
sulfur bacteria
bacteria associated with the transformation of sulfur compounds
sun visor
a movable shade that blocks sunlight near a vehicle's windshield
sunset provision
a rule that makes a law or program expire at a specified time
surge suppressor
an electrical device that protects equipment against sudden power surges
survivor guilt
guilt felt after surviving an event in which others died
suspense account
a temporary account holding transactions until their proper classification is determined
swagger stick
a short stick traditionally carried by a military officer
swap file
a file used as disk-based storage for virtual memory
swine influenza
an influenza infection affecting pigs
system administrator
a person responsible for maintaining and managing computer or communications systems
tapeworm infection
an infection caused by parasitic tapeworms in the body
tavern keeper
a person who runs a tavern or public house
tax avoidance
reducing tax obligations through methods that are lawful
telephone directory
a reference list of subscribers and their telephone numbers
tender offer
an offer to purchase shareholders' shares, often at a stated premium
thermos flask
a vacuum-insulated flask used to maintain the temperature of its contents
theta rhythm
a relatively slow pattern of brainwave activity associated with states such as drowsiness
thrift institution
a financial institution focused on personal saving and home finance
thyroid gland
the hormone-producing gland situated near the base of the neck
tobacco mosaic
a disease of tobacco plants that produces mottled discoloration of the leaves
toll plaza
an area containing booths or equipment where road tolls are collected
tonnage duty
a charge on a ship based on its measured tonnage
torch singer
a singer specializing in sentimental songs about unrequited or lost love
torque wrench
a wrench that measures or controls the turning force applied to a fastener
tramp steamer
a cargo steamship hired for voyages without a fixed regular route
transaction file
a computer file containing records used for a particular data-processing operation
transmission mechanism
the process by which an infectious agent passes from its source to a person
trestle table
a table whose top rests on separate supporting frames
triplet code
a genetic coding system in which groups of three nucleotides specify amino acids
turnover rate
the proportion of workers replaced during a particular period
type specimen
a specimen serving as the reference for the description of a species
typewriter ribbon
an inked strip used by a typewriter to print characters on paper
uncertainty principle
a quantum principle limiting how precisely certain paired quantities can be specified together
upholstery material
fabric used to cover padded furniture
user interface
the controls and displays through which a person interacts with a computer system
vacuum aspiration
a method of ending a pregnancy by removing uterine contents with suction
vampire bat
a tropical American bat that feeds on the blood of other animals
ventilation shaft
a vertical passage that allows air to move through a building
vigil light
a candle lit in a church as an act of devotion