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 769–864 of 1339 phrases
Adjective + noun (44)
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weak interaction
the fundamental physical interaction involved in processes such as certain forms of radioactive decay
white burgundy
a white wine produced in the Burgundy region of France
white dwarf
a small, extremely dense star with low luminosity
wry neck
a neck twisted or bent to one side
yellow journalism
journalism that relies on sensational stories to attract attention
zero tolerance
a policy of accepting no instances of a specified unwanted behavior
acoustic wave
a disturbance that carries sound through a material
agreeable warmth
a pleasantly comfortable degree of heat
awesome complexity
an intricacy so great that it inspires wonder or awe
brash newcomer
a recent arrival who behaves with rude or excessive confidence
broad arrow
an arrowhead-shaped mark traditionally used to identify British government property
capable administrator
a person with the skills needed to manage an organization effectively
caustic remark
a sharply sarcastic comment intended to hurt or criticize
chronic shortage
a persistent or repeatedly recurring lack of something needed
congratulatory telegram
a telegraph message expressing pleasure at someone's achievement or good fortune
definitive biography
an account of someone's life regarded as especially complete and authoritative
drastic revision
a major change that substantially alters an earlier version or opinion
dumb show
a dramatic performance that communicates through gestures and movement without speech
ethical objection
opposition based on beliefs about what is morally right or wrong
everlasting flower
a flower that keeps its shape and color when dried
experimental drug
a medicine being investigated to learn whether and how it works
explanatory paragraph
a paragraph that makes a point, process, or situation clearer
frail humanity
human beings viewed as lacking moral strength or the ability to resist temptation
generic term
a word or phrase that names a broad class rather than one specific member
gray substance
nervous tissue rich in nerve-cell bodies and unmyelinated fibers
handy gadget
A small device that makes a practical task easier.
heavy spar
The dense mineral barite, composed of barium sulfate.
impenetrable fortress
A strongly defended building or place that attackers cannot enter.
impressive array
A collection whose size, variety, or quality attracts admiration.
inglorious defeat
A humiliating failure to win or succeed.
innermost chamber
The room or enclosed space furthest inside a structure.
juvenile court
A court dealing with legal cases involving children or young people.
knowledgeable audience
listeners or viewers who already understand a subject well
latent diabetes
diabetes that is present without obvious outward symptoms
long odds
a low probability of success, especially as reflected in betting
loyal opposition
political opponents who accept the legitimacy of the state while challenging its government
lunar crater
a crater on the surface of the Moon
marsupial mouse
a small insect-eating marsupial that resembles a mouse
meticulous craftsman
a skilled worker who pays close attention to every small detail
mitral valve
the heart valve between the left atrium and left ventricle
moral excellence
outstanding goodness in conduct and judgment about right and wrong
notorious outlaw
a fugitive criminal widely known for wrongdoing
numerical control
the operation of machinery through coded numerical instructions
obligatory contribution
a payment or other contribution that rules require someone to make
Noun + noun (41)
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voltage regulator
a transformer whose adjustable ratio allows its output voltage to be controlled
voter turnout
the number or proportion of eligible people who take part in an election
warble fly
a fly whose larvae cause swellings beneath the skin of cattle
wasp waist
an exceptionally narrow waist compared with the chest and hips
wicker basket
a container woven from thin, flexible plant stems or similar strips
wilt disease
a plant disease that causes leaves or stems to droop and shrivel
wind deflection
a sideways change in the path of a moving object caused by wind
windfall profit
an unexpected financial gain caused by circumstances outside normal business activity
wisdom literature
biblical writings concerned with wisdom, conduct, and the meaning of life
withdrawal symptom
a physical or psychological disturbance occurring when someone stops a drug on which they depend
wood chisel
a chisel designed for shaping or cutting wood
word processor
software used to write, edit, and format text documents
yeast cake
a small compressed block of moist yeast
apple orchard
land planted with apple trees for producing fruit
bass fiddle
the large, low-pitched bowed string instrument also called the double bass
batter bread
a soft cornmeal bread made from batter and eaten with a spoon
beacon light
a coastal guiding light, especially one in a tower warning ships of hazards
bottom fermentation
cool fermentation using yeast that settles low in the liquid, as in lager brewing
breathing apparatus
equipment that helps a person breathe when normal breathing is difficult or impossible
bull terrier
a strong, short-haired terrier breed developed from bulldogs and other terriers
bully beef
beef preserved with salt or brine, often supplied in tins
crystal violet
a dye that forms green crystals and produces a violet solution in water
dime bag
an informal name for a small packet of an illegal drug traditionally sold for ten dollars
district attorney
a public official who prosecutes criminal cases within a particular legal district
ego ideal
in psychoanalysis, an ideal image of personal excellence that someone tries to achieve
garter belt
a belt with hanging straps used to hold stockings up
insulin reaction
An episode of low blood sugar caused by an excessive effect of insulin.
jock itch
A fungal skin infection affecting the groin, commonly causing itching and a rash.
lady slipper
an orchid whose flower has a pouch shaped like a small shoe
lake herring
a freshwater food fish of cold North American lakes, also called cisco
lieutenant governor
an official who serves as a deputy to a state governor
lumber room
a room used to store unwanted furniture and miscellaneous household items
maidenhair tree
another name for the ginkgo tree, whose fan-shaped leaves resemble maidenhair fern leaflets
malaria parasite
a Plasmodium organism that causes malaria
malt sugar
maltose, a sugar produced when starch breaks down
marsh marigold
a wetland plant bearing bright yellow flowers that resemble buttercups
mole rat
a burrowing rodent resembling a mole in its body shape or habits
musk turtle
a small freshwater turtle known for releasing a strong musky odor
nerve deafness
hearing loss caused by a problem with the auditory nerve
nettle rash
an itchy rash of raised patches, also called hives
nitrogen fixation
the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into compounds that living organisms can use
Verb + adverb (4)
Adverb + adjective (7)
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apparently arbitrary
seeming to have been chosen without a clear reason or rule
commercially available
offered for purchase through ordinary business channels
furthest removed
least connected with the situation or subject being considered
intellectually arrogant
Showing an exaggerated sense of superiority in intelligence or understanding.
intimately connected
Closely related in a way that strongly affects one another.
merely verbal
concerned only with words or their sound, without sufficient substance
mutually exclusive
unable to exist or be true together in the same situation