adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a good/keen/acute sense of sth
▪
Pigs have a keen sense of smell.
a keen sense of sth (= a good ability to judge something )
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As a lawyer, he had a keen sense of the value of political connections.
an enthusiastic/keen supporter
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Eisenhower had been an enthusiastic supporter of the regime.
be mad keen (on sth)
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‘Did you enjoy the film?’ ‘I wasn’t mad keen.’
considerable/strong/keen interest
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The results of their work will be of considerable interest.
keen sportsman
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He’s a very keen sportsman .
keen (= extremely good )
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Eagles are known for their extremely keen eyesight.
stiff//tough/fierce/intense/keen competition (= strong competition )
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There is stiff competition for places at the best universities.
superior/considerable/keen etc intellect
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He combined a formidable intellect with a talent for speaking.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
as
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I am a high-handicapper, but as keen as anyone else to improve my game.
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Some freeholders were just as keen as was the average burgh councillor to retain close ties with the government ministers.
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Peasants often have more practical experience than philosophers and are just as keen to make money out of their produce.
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We arrived as keen as a couple of puppies out for their first walkies, full of fun and raring to go!
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But firms have not been as keen to get involved as had been hoped.
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He did not know the people on it and they did not seem as keen to join as he had expected.
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By that stage I was as keen on it as she was.
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By now Nilsson was 56, but the voice, once warmed up, is as keen and steady as ever.
■ NOUN
competition
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Early impressions suggest that there could be keen competition to provide such a service - if the money can be found!
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Within seconds, though, I felt a keen competition .
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Both sales saw keen competition for the more interesting lots.
eye
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At least with her young, keen eyes she would have seen that he was being duped by his own nephew.
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First, each has a keen eye for talent.
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But with being a keen golfer, I developed a keen eye for a golf ball and a distance.
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And he kept a keen eye on the housing department's invoices.
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His thick grey hair was well groomed, his keen eyes looked kind, and his handshake was firm.
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She speaks with warmth of Maxwell, Redpath and Gillies and there's a keen eye too kept on contemporary talents.
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He had keen eyes and quick hands, so it was a long time before he got caught.
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Salford are in the bidding, Oldham are keeping a keen eye on him and St Helens are reportedly interested.
gardener
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At home he was a keen gardener winning many prizes for his efforts.
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Mummy is a keen gardener , and his father loves flowers.
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He was a very keen gardener .
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Finally, for keen gardeners there is the opportunity to recreate at home what you have seen in National Trust gardens.
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He is a keen gardener , and expressed great pleasure at the choice of present.
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Charles Wade was also a keen gardener .
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A speechreader was chatting about roses to a keen gardener .
interest
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He has a keen interest in contemporary music and is a founder member of the ensemble Capricorn.
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The answer is obvious: Symington, via Leckie, had an early and keen interest in procurement matters.
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Hardy took a keen interest in their production, although, with two exceptions, the plays themselves were not his work.
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Both leaders have professed keen interest in the border-its environment, its enforcement, its very being.
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He has a keen interest in popular music and the developing laws and rights in respect of musical performers and songwriters.
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Some people have expressed surprise at learning the U. S. Chamber of Commerce is taking such a keen interest in welfare reform.
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Ideally with keen interest in current affairs, entertainment, health and lifestyle subject areas.
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This part of the action was watched with keen interest by those at Union headquarters across the Antietam.
sense
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And Matt Camplisson, a recently retired bus inspector, will also be there with his keen sense of humour.
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Alexander, of course, had a keen sense of the value of my commentary.
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The most skilled and literate combined the keenest sense of grievance with the ability to articulate their aspirations.
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But his good-ore-boy mannerisms hide a keen sense of opportunity.
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We feel a keen sense of responsibility for the sick and needy.
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Hughes was blessed or cursed by a very keen sense of the social drama of collective life.
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But she too had a keen sense of making the best of whatever was given.
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They lose their keen sense of smell and direction when the wind picks up like this.
sportsman
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Being a doctor was the occupation of his father, a keen sportsman .
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He sang in the choir, was a talented musician and a keen sportsman .
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He is a keen sportsman and enjoys marathon running for charity. joined the purchase ledger department in August.
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He had been a keen sportsman in his youth, and now followed cricket avidly.
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Shocked Shocked friends and colleagues spoke last night of the two brothers who were keen sportsmen .
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He is a very keen sportsman and enjoys football, fishing and rugby.
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A keen sportsman , he'd spent Saturday afternoon playing rugby for his college club.
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A keen sportsman , he has several times completed the Great North Run.
supporter
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Coming from the disciplines of law, economics and politics, they were all keen supporters of the consumer movement.
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But the organisation is a keen supporter of driver training as the best way of making the roads a safer place.
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The right hon. Gentleman was a keen supporter of the poll tax.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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a keen eye for detail
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a keen interest in science
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Chris is a keen photographer - he's won several competitions.
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Gabby was obviously anxious to do well, and Jane was keen to help her.
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Goethe was a keen amateur geologist.
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Greg has a keen mind.
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My parents have always been keen on travelling, whenever they get the chance.
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Paul, a keen sportsman, prided himself on his level of fitness.
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She hasn't much experience but she's very keen .
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There are plenty of after-school opportunities for people who are keen on athletics.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Coming from the disciplines of law, economics and politics, they were all keen supporters of the consumer movement.
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He had a keen brain and he spotted instantly that as addresses went this one was on the vague side.
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He remained keen on jiving and would throw himself all over the place, hair wild and eyes sparkling.
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If you're so bloody keen on accuracy, let's be accurate about this.
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Originally from Plymouth, she was a very keen squash and tennis player before suffering a knee injury at skiing.
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Parr's thin, keen face had narrowed, strangely.
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Sam was also a keen and talented naturalist.
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They are also quite keen on marijuana, feel most masculine during sport and are least inclined to admire Nigel Mansell.