Phrase
noun
A group of words that work together and express an idea.
Good morning is a common phrase in English.
Often appears as...
- catch phrase
- turn of phrase
verb
To put an idea into words in a particular way.
He phrased his criticism very politely.
Often appears as...
- phrase something differently
- phrase a question
noun
In music, a short part of a longer piece.
Each phrase of the song has its own melody.
Often appears as...
- musical phrase
- melodic phrase
Usage tips
Technical
verb
In music, to play notes in a way that they forms a group.
The guitarist phrased the solo perfectly.
Often appears as...
- phrase a solo
- phrase a melody
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A group of words that work together and express an idea.
Good morning is a common phrase in English.
Often appears as...
- catch phrase
- turn of phrase
verb
To put an idea into words in a particular way.
He phrased his criticism very politely.
Often appears as...
- phrase something differently
- phrase a question
noun
In music, a short part of a longer piece.
Each phrase of the song has its own melody.
Often appears as...
- musical phrase
- melodic phrase
Usage tips
Technical
verb
In music, to play notes in a way that they forms a group.
The guitarist phrased the solo perfectly.
Often appears as...
- phrase a solo
- phrase a melody
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Not a Sentence
A phrase is different from a sentence because it doesn't have a subject and verb that express a complete thought.
'Under the weather' is a phrase, not a full sentence.
Pro Tip 2/3Collocations Matter
Pay attention to words often used together; these established combinations can change a phrase's meaning.
The phrase 'break out' changes meaning in the collocation 'break out in song'.
Pro Tip 3/3Common Phrases
Common phrases, like idioms, might not make sense literally, so focus on their implied meanings in context.
The phrase 'piece of cake' actually means something very easy to do.
Pro Tip 1/3Not a Sentence
A phrase is different from a sentence because it doesn't have a subject and verb that express a complete thought.
'Under the weather' is a phrase, not a full sentence.
Pro Tip 2/3Collocations Matter
Pay attention to words often used together; these established combinations can change a phrase's meaning.
The phrase 'break out' changes meaning in the collocation 'break out in song'.
Pro Tip 3/3Common Phrases
Common phrases, like idioms, might not make sense literally, so focus on their implied meanings in context.
The phrase 'piece of cake' actually means something very easy to do.
Pro Tip 1/3Not a Sentence
A phrase is different from a sentence because it doesn't have a subject and verb that express a complete thought.
'Under the weather' is a phrase, not a full sentence.
Pro Tip 2/3Collocations Matter
Pay attention to words often used together; these established combinations can change a phrase's meaning.
The phrase 'break out' changes meaning in the collocation 'break out in song'.
Pro Tip 3/3Common Phrases
Common phrases, like idioms, might not make sense literally, so focus on their implied meanings in context.
The phrase 'piece of cake' actually means something very easy to do.
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Video examples
How visionary leaders...
phrases and even the specific words against a benchmark of everyday communicators what we were trying to do is discover what these people do differently and what we found is that the world's top visionaries communicate three things in common but it wasn't what we expected I obviously expected the top visionaries
Video examples
The benefits of a good...
all of which just goes to affirm the wisdom of the phrase, "Sleep on it." When you think about all the internal restructuring and forming of new connections that occurs while you slumber, you could even say that proper sleep will have you waking up every morning with a new and improved brain,
Video examples
SpaceX's plan to fly you...
that maybe weren't the most reliable or were particularly expensive, so we really were able to let physics drive the design of these systems. I mean, there are other programs started from scratch. That last phrase you said there, you let physics drive the design, what's an example of that?
Video examples
How Magellan circumnaviga...
with a full cargo of cloves and cinnamon, enough to cover the expedition and turn a profit. An obsessive chronicler, Pigafetta described the lands and people they encountered. With the help of a humble slave, he also compiled the world's first phrase book of native languages.
Video examples
What "Orwellian" really...
have been crafted to appeal to you and affect your behavior, as have the soundbites and talking points of political campaigns which rarely present the most nuanced perspective on the issues. And the way that we use ready-made phrases and responses gleaned from media reports
Video examples
The language of lying —...
are far less serious that these examples, and may even be harmless. But it's still worthwhile to be aware of telltale clues, like minimal self-references, negative language, simple explanations and convoluted phrasing. It just might help you avoid an overvalued stock,
Video examples
How misused modifiers...
Modifiers are words, phrases, and clauses that add information about other parts of a sentence, which is usually helpful. But when modifiers aren't linked clearly enough to the words they're actually referring to, they can create unintentional ambiguity.
Video examples
Take the Money... and...
how many of you have heard the phrase if it's too good to be true it probably is wise words to live by right what if we set up an experiment where that wasn't the case when people's distrust keep them from taking advantage of a
Video examples
Seven Superpowered...
the most common predators of port jackson shark eggs but like i said before everyone's gotta eat man i bet the phrase keep your friends close and your enemies closer really hits home for the poor jackson shark
Video examples
Buffalo buffalo buffalo:...
These different interpretations create a sequence of words that is grammatically correct as it stands, though it helps to add in a few implied phrases and punctuation marks to reveal what's really going on.
Video examples
How visionary leaders...
phrases and even the specific words against a benchmark of everyday communicators what we were trying to do is discover what these people do differently and what we found is that the world's top visionaries communicate three things in common but it wasn't what we expected I obviously expected the top visionaries
Video examples
The benefits of a good...
all of which just goes to affirm the wisdom of the phrase, "Sleep on it." When you think about all the internal restructuring and forming of new connections that occurs while you slumber, you could even say that proper sleep will have you waking up every morning with a new and improved brain,
Video examples
SpaceX's plan to fly you...
that maybe weren't the most reliable or were particularly expensive, so we really were able to let physics drive the design of these systems. I mean, there are other programs started from scratch. That last phrase you said there, you let physics drive the design, what's an example of that?
Video examples
How Magellan circumnaviga...
with a full cargo of cloves and cinnamon, enough to cover the expedition and turn a profit. An obsessive chronicler, Pigafetta described the lands and people they encountered. With the help of a humble slave, he also compiled the world's first phrase book of native languages.
Video examples
What "Orwellian" really...
have been crafted to appeal to you and affect your behavior, as have the soundbites and talking points of political campaigns which rarely present the most nuanced perspective on the issues. And the way that we use ready-made phrases and responses gleaned from media reports
Video examples
The language of lying —...
are far less serious that these examples, and may even be harmless. But it's still worthwhile to be aware of telltale clues, like minimal self-references, negative language, simple explanations and convoluted phrasing. It just might help you avoid an overvalued stock,
Video examples
How misused modifiers...
Modifiers are words, phrases, and clauses that add information about other parts of a sentence, which is usually helpful. But when modifiers aren't linked clearly enough to the words they're actually referring to, they can create unintentional ambiguity.
Video examples
Take the Money... and...
how many of you have heard the phrase if it's too good to be true it probably is wise words to live by right what if we set up an experiment where that wasn't the case when people's distrust keep them from taking advantage of a
Video examples
Seven Superpowered...
the most common predators of port jackson shark eggs but like i said before everyone's gotta eat man i bet the phrase keep your friends close and your enemies closer really hits home for the poor jackson shark
Video examples
Buffalo buffalo buffalo:...
These different interpretations create a sequence of words that is grammatically correct as it stands, though it helps to add in a few implied phrases and punctuation marks to reveal what's really going on.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Pamela Meyer
American Author
Truth-tellers who expect others to believe them tend to speak naturally and un-self-consciously. But if they don't expect to be believed, they may try too hard to seem honest. Unfortunately, the result makes them sound less believable. Obviously, then, not every oddly phrased statement is a lie.
Quote examples
Parker Harris
I have employees that are, you know, other types of diversity, coming to me and saying 'Well, why aren't we focused on these other areas as well?' and I said yes, we should focus them, but, you know, the phrase we use internally is, 'If everything is important, then nothing is important.
Quote examples
Serj Tankian
American Musician
I am more interested in how people interpret the phrase 'Elect The Dead' than what I may or may not have intended. I named the album after the track, which is a spiritual song about love, life and death and is the heaviest song on the album without having any heavy instruments.
Quote examples
Paddy Considine
English Actor
I'll admit, sometimes I've paid the bills with acting. You know the phrase, 'It's one for the money, two for the showreel.' I don't want that as a director. I don't want to compromise myself. There's a big old wide world out there. I want to explore it.
Quote examples
Kalvin Phillips
English Athlete
I've been using the phrase Black Lives Matter quite a lot. I'm not saying that all lives don't matter, I'm just saying that right now black people need support and they need help because of the racism going on all around the world.
Quote examples
Jami Attenberg
American Author
Do you often find yourself uttering the phrase, 'I feel like I should go?' You do not need to go. You are busy that night. You are busy every night, forever.
Quote examples
Valerie Jarrett
American Lawyer
Life is full of trade-offs. At different phrases in your life, you're able to do certain things that you can't do at other phases. And you make choices.
Quote examples
Kim Woo-bin
South Korean Actor
My favorite phrase is, 'God only gives struggles to people who can overcome it.' I saw it in a book, and it helped me out so much.
Quote examples
Bette Davis
American Actress
I don't think of myself as a character actress - that's become a phrase which means you've had it.
Quote examples
Harvey Ball
American Celebrity
The catch phrase for the day is 'Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile.
Quote examples
Pamela Meyer
American Author
Truth-tellers who expect others to believe them tend to speak naturally and un-self-consciously. But if they don't expect to be believed, they may try too hard to seem honest. Unfortunately, the result makes them sound less believable. Obviously, then, not every oddly phrased statement is a lie.
Quote examples
Parker Harris
I have employees that are, you know, other types of diversity, coming to me and saying 'Well, why aren't we focused on these other areas as well?' and I said yes, we should focus them, but, you know, the phrase we use internally is, 'If everything is important, then nothing is important.
Quote examples
Serj Tankian
American Musician
I am more interested in how people interpret the phrase 'Elect The Dead' than what I may or may not have intended. I named the album after the track, which is a spiritual song about love, life and death and is the heaviest song on the album without having any heavy instruments.
Quote examples
Paddy Considine
English Actor
I'll admit, sometimes I've paid the bills with acting. You know the phrase, 'It's one for the money, two for the showreel.' I don't want that as a director. I don't want to compromise myself. There's a big old wide world out there. I want to explore it.
Quote examples
Kalvin Phillips
English Athlete
I've been using the phrase Black Lives Matter quite a lot. I'm not saying that all lives don't matter, I'm just saying that right now black people need support and they need help because of the racism going on all around the world.
Quote examples
Jami Attenberg
American Author
Do you often find yourself uttering the phrase, 'I feel like I should go?' You do not need to go. You are busy that night. You are busy every night, forever.
Quote examples
Valerie Jarrett
American Lawyer
Life is full of trade-offs. At different phrases in your life, you're able to do certain things that you can't do at other phases. And you make choices.
Quote examples
Kim Woo-bin
South Korean Actor
My favorite phrase is, 'God only gives struggles to people who can overcome it.' I saw it in a book, and it helped me out so much.
Quote examples
Bette Davis
American Actress
I don't think of myself as a character actress - that's become a phrase which means you've had it.
Quote examples
Harvey Ball
American Celebrity
The catch phrase for the day is 'Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile.
Example 1 of 10
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