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
Mark, Robin and Steve have lost their jobs. Now they spend all days doing nothing. They’re bone idle.
dirt cheap
I just couldn’t help buying this car. It was dirt cheap.
dog-tired
The puppies fell asleep immediately. They were dog-tired.
stone-deaf
I wanted to play the piano for my new neighbor but she turned out to be stone-deaf.
brand-new
We bought some brand-new chairs for our office.
stark naked
It was a stark winter day and the poor snowman was standing out there stark naked.
pitch-dark
I was holding a candle because it was impossible to read without one. The room was pitch-dark that night.
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
We could see all the wildlife very well. The water was crystal clear.
bone dry
The doctor told him to drink more water because his skin looked bone dry, especially on his face.
flat broke
Our friends lost all the money they had inherited from the old baker. They’re flat broke.
blind drunk
His boss can’t remember what he was doing in the park yesterday. He must have been blind drunk.