Common English Phrases: Phrases Containing Two or More Words

Manik Joshi

Oct 2014 · English Daily Use Book 29 · Manik Joshi

About this ebook

What are Phrases?

 

In simple words, phrases are a ‘group of words’ which have a particular meaning when used together.

 

Phrases may contain two or more words.

 

You can also define ‘phrase’ in the following words:

 

A phrase is a group of words acting as a single part of speech and not containing both a subject and a verb.

 

Or

 

A phrase is said to be an apt, brief and cogent expression.

 

Or

 

A phrase is a small group of words that may stand together on its own.

 

NOTE:

Phrases containing two or more words are widely used in daily English. Below is the list of phrases in alphabetical order.

 

 

SAMPLE THIS:

 

Common English Phrases -- A

 

-AFFECTED

[Meaning: suffering]

Common Phrases:

Cyclone-affected areas

Explosion-affected people

Famine-affected region

Flood-affected city

Rain-affected families

Violence-affected community

 

-AFFLICTED

[Meaning: badly affected]

Common Phrases:

Disease-afflicted infant

Drought-afflicted villages

Terror-afflicted countries

 

AGE

Common Phrases:

Advancing age

Age-defying beauty products

Age gap

Age-old conventions / custom / tradition / social norms

Cut-off age

Lower / upper age limit

Marriageable age

Old-age complications

 

ALL-

[Meaning: each and everyone; completely; in the highest degree]

Common Phrases:

All-out offensive

All-state shutdown

All-terrain truck

All-weather roads

All-woman bank

 

ANIMAL

Common Phrases:

Animal instincts

Animal rights groups

Animal-human conflict

Aquatic animal

Stray-animal feeders

 

ANTI-

[Meaning: the opposite of; opposite to; preventing]

Common Phrases:

Anti-aircraft missiles

Anti-auto theft squad team

Anti-bacterial treatment

Anti-biotic drug

Anti-competitive practices

Anti-copying act

Anti-corruption body / watchdog

Anti-drug drive

Anti-encroachment drive

Anti-extremism campaign

Anti-graft activist / court

Anti-hate laws

Anti-inflammatory effect

Anti-liquor stir

Anti-malarial medications

Anti-national destabilizing agenda

Anti-national elements / mindset

Anti-obscene calls cell

Anti-people policies

Anti-poaching steps

Anti-rowdy squad

Anti-sabotage team

Anti-spam legislation

Anti-terror cooperation / system

Anti-terrorism intelligence unit

Anti-theft checking campaign

 

-ARMED

[Meaning: carrying or having weapons]

Common Phrases:

Nuclear-armed countries / state

Rifle-armed guard

Shotgun-armed policeman

 

ATTACK

Common Phrases:

Arial attacks

Attack-site

Cowardly attack

Dreadful terror attacks

Maximum impact attack

Sectarian attacks

Vigilante group attack

 

ATTENTION

Common Phrases:

Attention-grabbing headline / stunts

Attention-seeking behavior

 

ATTITUDE

Common Phrases:

Attitude problem

Broad-minded attitude

Callus / confrontation / negative / obstinate / positive attitude

 

Phrases starting with ‘-ed, -en, etc. Words’

Abandoned dug-cum bore well

Accumulated anger

Agitated mob

Alleged student

Animated cartoons

Appalled silence

Apprehended litigation

Armed conflict / uprising

Assumed name

Attempted robbery

 

Also Note:

Construction-allied industries

Flight-associated headaches

Huge-accounted wealth

Internationally acclaimed poet

State-advised price

 

Phrases starting with ‘-ing Words’

Acting chairman of the city

Adjoining banks

Ailing former leader

Aspiring candidates for MITs

Aspiring immigrants to Germany

Aspiring policeman

Awe-inspiring crafts

 

Other Common Phrases – A

Abode of the gods

Abortive bid

Abrupt departure

Absolute authority

Absorbent paper

Abstract principles

Academic excellence / qualifications

Academically bright student

Access control system

Accident insurance / spot / site

Accused applicant

Aches and pains

Active involvement / part / participation

Actively zealous

Actual fact

Acutely conscious

Adhesive quality

Administrative error / sources

Admissible evidence

Adolescent boys / girls

Advance notice / tax / warning / booking

Adventurous mind

Adverse circumstances / effect / experience / verdict

Advertising campaign

Advisory body / committee

Aerial display fireworks

Agreement of negotiation

Air-conditioned bus

Aluminum foil

Amateur photographer

Ambitious project

Ample hint

An American of Indian descent

Analytical survey

Ancestor worship

Ancient civilization

Ancillary services

Animated cartoons / discussion

Annual ancestor worship

Annual budget / income / meeting / report

Anxious face

Apocalyptic moment

Application form

Approaches and departures

Aptitude test

Aromatic fragrance / oils

Art exhibition

Artificial fertilizer / limb

As above so below

Assembly elections

Asylum-seekers

Atheist ideology

Atomic energy

Attention motion / span

Auspicious day / moment

Autonomous province

Average income community

Award ceremony

Awareness rally

Ratings and reviews

V E R Y B A D B O O K N O T I N G I N I T

AAA

About the author

Manik Joshi was born on January 26, 1979, at Ranikhet, a picturesque town in the Kumaon region of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. He is a permanent resident of the Sheeshmahal area of Kathgodam located in the city of Haldwani in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand in India. He completed his schooling in four different schools. He is a science graduate in the ZBC – zoology, botany, and chemistry – subjects. He is also an MBA with a specialization in marketing. Additionally, he holds diplomas in “computer applications”, “multimedia and web-designing”, and “computer hardware and networking”. During his schooldays, he wanted to enter the field of medical science; however, after graduation, he shifted his focus to the field of management. After obtaining his MBA, he enrolled in a computer education center; he became so fascinated with working on the computer that he decided to develop his career in this field. Over the following years, he worked at some computer-related full-time jobs. Following that, he became interested in Internet Marketing, particularly in domaining (business of buying and selling domain names), web design (creating websites), and various other online jobs. However, later he shifted his focus solely to self-publishing. Manik is a nature-lover. He has always been fascinated by overcast skies. He is passionate about traveling and enjoys solo travel most of the time rather than traveling in groups. He is actually quite a loner who prefers to do his own thing. He likes to listen to music, particularly when he is working on the computer. Reading and writing are definitely his favorite pastimes, but he has no interest in sports. Manik has always dreamt of a prosperous life and prefers to live a life of luxury. He has a keen interest in politics because he believes it is politics that decides everything else. He feels a sense of gratification sharing his experiences and knowledge with the outside world. However, he is an introvert by nature and thus gives prominence to only a few people in his personal life. He is not a spiritual man, yet he actively seeks knowledge about the metaphysical world; he is particularly interested in learning about life beyond death. In addition to writing academic/informational text and fictional content, he also maintains a personal diary. He has always had a desire to stand out from the crowd. He does not believe in treading the beaten path and avoids copying someone else’s path to success. Two things he always refrains from are smoking and drinking; he is a teetotaler and very health-conscious. He usually wakes up before the sun rises. He starts his morning with meditation and exercise. Fitness is an integral and indispensable part of his life. He gets energized by solving complex problems. He loves himself the way he is and he loves the way he looks. He doesn’t believe in following fashion trends. He dresses according to what suits him and what he is comfortable in. He believes in taking calculated risks. His philosophy is to expect the best but prepare for the worst. According to him, you can’t succeed if you are unwilling to fail. For Manik, life is about learning from mistakes and figuring out how to move forward.