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Collocation Examples with Adjectives

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Today we’ll be talking about collocations. A collocation is a fixed expression that becomes established through repeated context-dependent use. An example is crystal clear, which means very clear. All the collocations presented here consist of a noun and an adjective (like bone idle) or two adjectives (like flat broke). The whole collocations act as adjectives. The The meaning of the first part is in all cases intensifying, so it can be replaced by the adverb very.

Collocation Examples One by One

In the examples below each collocation is illustrated in an example and in a picture. So, without further ado, let’s jump right in.

bone idle

noun + adjective collocation: bone idle

Mark, Robin and Steve have lost their jobs. Now they spend all days doing nothing. They’re bone idle.

dirt cheap

dirt cheap

I just couldn’t help buying this car. It was dirt cheap.

dog-tired

hyphenated collocation: dog-tired

The puppies fell asleep immediately. They were dog-tired.

stone-deaf

stone-deaf

I wanted to play the piano for my new neighbor but she turned out to be stone-deaf.

brand-new

brand-new

We bought some brand-new chairs for our office.

stark naked

stark naked

It was a stark winter day and the poor snowman was standing out there stark naked.

pitch-dark

pitch-dark

I was holding a candle because it was impossible to read without one. The room was pitch-dark that night.

razor-sharp

razor-sharp

Stella was slicing the peppers with a tool the name of which I can’t recall. I only remember it was razor-sharp.

crystal clear

crystal clear

We could see all the wildlife very well. The water was crystal clear.

bone dry

bone dry

The doctor told him to drink more water because his skin looked bone dry, especially on his face.

flat broke

adjective + adjective collocation: flat broke

Our friends lost all the money they had inherited from the old baker. They’re flat broke.

blind drunk

the last collocation example: blind drunk

His boss can’t remember what he was doing in the park yesterday. He must have been blind drunk.


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