I. noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a head/leg/shoulder etc injury
▪
He suffered a shoulder injury while playing rugby.
a shoulder bag (= one that is carried over your shoulder )
▪
Big shoulder bags are fashionable this year.
back/shoulder/throat etc spasm
bear/carry/shoulder the burden (= be responsible for something )
▪
At the age of 16, Suzy bore the burden of providing for her family.
body/shoulder/foot etc massage
▪
A full-body massage lasts around one hour.
clapped...on the shoulder
▪
Ben grinned and clapped me amiably on the shoulder .
cold shoulder
hard shoulder
knee/elbow/shin/shoulder pad (= a pad that you wear to protect a part of your body when you are playing a sport )
lift the burden from sb's shoulders
▪
If I deal with the all the practical problems, that will lift the burden from your shoulders.
shoulder bag
shoulder blade
shoulder pad
shoulder responsibility (= agree to start having a difficult or unpleasant duty )
▪
The city, she said, would shoulder responsibility for caring for the children.
shoulder strap
shrugged...shoulders
▪
I just shrugged my shoulders and ignored him.
slung...over...shoulder
▪
Pete slung his bag over his shoulder .
soft shoulder
take/accept/shoulder the blame (= say that something is your fault )
▪
No one was prepared to take the blame for the disaster.
▪
Parents must shoulder the blame if their kids behave badly.
tap sb on the shoulder/arm/chest etc
▪
He turned as someone tapped him on the shoulder.
weighed...on...shoulders
▪
The burden of responsibility weighed heavily on his shoulders .
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADJECTIVE
broad
▪
The wrist of the tail was thicker, the belly fatter and it was broader across the shoulders .
cold
▪
Giving the cold shoulder to his usual tipple, Ian Knight raises his coffee cup to Drinkwise Day.
▪
Banishment was better than this cold shoulder .
▪
A declaration of love, or the cold shoulder .
▪
Then from then on, we were treated with an absolute cold shoulder , and no one would speak to us.
▪
So they have given girlfriends the cold shoulder .
▪
Rachaela had turned on Ruth, not just the habitual cold shoulder , but with a firework of dislike and alienation.
▪
She was sure that at some point she'd given some one the cold shoulder and hurt them badly without noticing.
hard
▪
She wanted to give in, weaken, her eyes closing and her fingers curling on his hard shoulders .
▪
He left her on the hard shoulder , near Epping, Essex, saying she would only have to wait 15 minutes.
▪
The two children, Mark in Georgina's arms, were spotted along the hard shoulder .
▪
I pictured a man taking leave of his motor; wobbling from the fast lane towards the hard shoulder .
▪
He pulled up on the hard shoulder , switched off and got out.
▪
The body of the pregnant housewife was found near the M-50 motorway after her car broke down on the hard shoulder .
left
▪
She felt a tap on her left shoulder .
▪
Allen slipped and fell and was stabbed three times in his left shoulder and once on top of his head.
▪
The soul followed when fly-half Michael Lynagh dislocated his left shoulder during the recent destruction of Ireland in Dublin.
▪
He aggravated a nagging left shoulder injury and left the ice during the third period.
▪
His left leg was cut off above the knee and he walked with a crutch under his left shoulder .
▪
Hearst sustained a stinger on his left shoulder .
▪
The man was standing by his left shoulder , waiting for the train to stop.
▪
Safety Tim McDonald had bruised a left shoulder in the Rams game, which flared up again Sunday.
right
▪
Place your right hand on your partner's right shoulder and slide your hand firmly all the way up to the neck.
▪
He bruised his right shoulder the week before in the win over the Rams.
▪
Gobbets of pinkish-grey matter exploded from the exit wound below the right shoulder blade.
▪
She survived with muscles in her abdomen, back, right shoulder , and right leg paralyzed.
▪
She went to hospital where she complained of pain in her right shoulder and in the right side of her chest.
▪
Wide receiver J. J. Stokes incurred a right shoulder stinger.
▪
He, poor fellow, was being driven to distraction by the pain in his right shoulder .
▪
The second person stood with his right foot and right shoulder against the wall.
■ NOUN
bag
▪
Tied loosely around the strap of her shoulder bag was a navy and yellow scarf.
▪
No longer will simply-serviceable shoulder bags suffice.
▪
The collection includes two shoulder bags , two duffle bags, a board case, backpacks and briefcases.
▪
Luna almost always carried a flat black shoulder bag .
▪
Claire jams the black box into her shoulder bag .
▪
A fringed cotton shoulder bag hung over one shoulder and he was the very image of a hippy or New-Age traveler.
▪
But the indefatigable Swans, yellow labels flapping from their shoulder bags , would never dream of sitting anything out.
▪
Rain left him supporting himself against a table as she fetched her shoulder bag .
blade
▪
Do not press on the spine or the shoulder blade itself.
▪
When a player took a shot, I felt it through my shoulder blades .
▪
Gobbets of pinkish-grey matter exploded from the exit wound below the right shoulder blade .
▪
With wet clothes clinging to her back, she looked skeletal, her shoulder blades poking up like sharp crags.
▪
Rotating skin on the shoulder blade 6.
▪
Narrow shoulders , indeed the shoulder blades were pronounced and his chest was rectangular.
▪
Place only the fingertips on the shoulder blade .
injury
▪
He suffered head and shoulder injuries and was treated at Newcastle General Hospital.
▪
He aggravated a nagging left shoulder injury and left the ice during the third period.
▪
The heroic all-rounder visited a specialist in London yesterday about a shoulder injury that has dogged him for some weeks.
▪
He suffered a shoulder injury and missed the next eight games.
▪
He left the ice with a shoulder injury during the final period and did not return.
▪
One other remained in hospital for an exploratory operation on a shoulder injury .
▪
Monica Seles has struggled with a shoulder injury .
pad
▪
Cut two little strips to decorate the front of the shoulder pads and press on.
▪
Among the items scientists have unearthed are four-inch clay figurines depicting men wearing hip and shoulder pads .
strap
▪
Forward seat belts each comprised a two-piece lap strap , fastened by a buckle, and an inertial reel diagonal shoulder strap.
▪
Reacher stood outside next to me and handed me the shoulder straps and radio cord from behind the high-backed seat.
▪
Such models also have shoulder straps shaped to fit around the bust.
▪
I clicked the lever over to anchor the shoulder straps to the wide lap belt.
▪
D-ring positioned on each shoulder strap; elasticated chest strap .
▪
The jersey, which was extra small, had shoulder straps that were hanging on by surface tension and willpower.
▪
Shiny plastic and vivid purple padding on the waist and shoulder straps make the sack stand out and guarantee a closer look.
▪
New hand-held bags are introduced this season, double handled or single, with or without shoulder straps .
■ VERB
clap
▪
I clapped Jamie on the shoulder a couple of times and we made for the street.
▪
Jack clapped him on the shoulder .
▪
All around the smoking room, gentlemen seemed to be standing in clusters laughing and clapping each other on the shoulder .
▪
He clapped me on the shoulder .
▪
He clapped me on the shoulder , proclaiming I was a great fellow, before sweeping away to join the dancers.
cry
▪
She needed a real shoulder to cry on.
▪
To offer another shoulder to cry on.
▪
The researcher could share enthusiasms, be a shoulder to cry on and help brainstorm alternatives.
▪
In past years, Diana knew that Earl Spencer would be a shoulder to cry on and a loving counsellor.
▪
She did not seem to realize what she had done, and laid her head on his shoulder , crying with happiness.
▪
When Sam flopped as she hosted the 1989 Brit pop awards Pat was her shoulder to cry on.
fall
▪
I had paid for but not sipped my drink when a heavy hand fell on my shoulder .
▪
Her black hair fell to her shoulders .
▪
For the daily chores fell mainly on the shoulders of the women: shopping, running around to find particular things.
▪
My tank top kept falling off my shoulders as we flew down the stairs.
▪
A heavy weight fell on his shoulders , bearing him down, stunning him with the blow.
▪
The program of abolishing tax support therefore fell on younger shoulders .
▪
Some of the reasons for the caring so often falling on the shoulders of a woman may be unavoidable.
▪
It was long-sleeved and fell loose from the shoulders .
glance
▪
He glanced over his shoulder , the man was coming towards him, pushing through the crowd.
▪
They glance over their shoulders a few times and move closer to each other.
▪
Meh'Lindi glanced once over her shoulder then ran on, taking huge strides.
▪
The physician warily glanced over the shoulder of the chief and recognized Tomahas, a man neighbors called the Murderer.
▪
He never left a low gear yet when I glanced over my shoulder he was miles clear.
▪
Clarisa, flanked and supported by the two older women, glanced back over her shoulder .
▪
It is through being able to see simultaneously both backwards as well as forwards, without the need to glance over his shoulder .
▪
I glanced back over my shoulder , at the same time looking for an escape route.
lift
▪
Raise the arms towards the toes, lifting the head and shoulders off the floor as far as possible without straining.
▪
At these words, immense relief flooded me as the burden of lies I had helped create lifted off my shoulders .
▪
Later she phoned to tell me how much lighter she felt, as if a burden had somehow been lifted from her shoulders .
▪
With Francie Huber and Patrick Corbin, it is an invitation to romance and he succumbs by lifting her across his shoulders .
▪
I bundled up Janir, took him outside and lifted him on to my shoulders .
▪
He looked as though he'd lost twenty years, as though a ten-ton weight had been lifted from his shoulders .
▪
It was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders .
look
▪
Rachel looked over her shoulder and saw a tall, white-haired man in a crumpled dark suit.
▪
She became secretive, wary, looking over her shoulder at the slightest noise.
▪
He put his case on the sidewalk and paid the driver, then he looked over his shoulder .
▪
With wet clothes clinging to her back, she looked skeletal, her shoulder blades poking up like sharp crags.
▪
Ahead, Ember turned into the tunnel-mouth, not even looking over his shoulder .
▪
And how many despatch riders ever look over their shoulders ?
▪
Then the Texas native looked over his shoulder .
pat
▪
She hands Gary a mug, and pats his shoulder affectionately, and smiles at me.
▪
Strangers patted their shoulders and offered words of support.
▪
His big hulking frame-leaned over me as he patted my shoulder .
▪
She strokes her arm, pats her shoulder , smiles up at her.
▪
Jen patted my shoulder and said she was going to look at her e-mail.
▪
When I do not answer, Miss Buechler reaches over and reassuringly pats my shoulder .
▪
They tried to soothe him, pat him on his shoulder .
rest
▪
Richards will have to rest the shoulder for at least four months following the operation to tighten up ligaments.
▪
Her arm tightened around him, her other hand resting loosely on the shoulders of another singer.
▪
Suddenly, the barrel shook as a heavy man sat down and rested his shoulders against it.
▪
Solveig slept softly, her legs drawn up in front of her body, her face resting against his shoulder .
▪
They walked slowly and clumsily, her head resting on his shoulder .
▪
He fastened the beads round his neck, arranging the knife so that it rested hidden between his shoulder blades.
▪
His chin was resting on his shoulder and his face was in profile to her.
rub
▪
The think-tank will have florists rubbing shoulders with the chief of Apple Computers.
▪
The daughter of an itinerant farm worker, Ward now rubs shoulders with the rich, famous and glamorous.
▪
But yesterday, possums, Dame Edna Everage revealed that she was fed up with rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous.
▪
He shows no urge to rub shoulders with the lower orders but, if anything, a tendency to keep his distance.
▪
Claudel strolled into the market, rubbing shoulders , ignoring and being ignored.
▪
Samurai warriors of the Shoguns rubbed shoulders with Eskimos and headhunters.
▪
He sat down on the bed near her and rubbed her shoulders but her body stayed tense.
shrug
▪
Even so people seem to shrug their shoulders .
▪
She looked at her sister, who shrugged her shoulders noncommittally.
▪
I shrugged my shoulders , turned, and walked away.
▪
I shrugged my shoulders and he nodded.
▪
She didn't feel at all able just to shrug her shoulders philosophically and go upstairs again into the sitting-room.
▪
She could see shrugging impatience in his shoulders .
▪
Myra shrugged her shoulders and found something to do that would keep her busy and well out of Claudia's way.
▪
He undid the buttons of his shirt and shrugged it from his shoulders , letting it fall unheeded to the floor.
sling
▪
Some were running: some were striding purposefully; some had rifles slung across their shoulders on rope straps.
▪
A trash bag slung over the shoulder , Santa-style.
▪
Tucking it into one of the saddlebags, he looked up to see Mariana with one Greener slung over her shoulders .
▪
Hicks put the pistols inside it and slung it around his shoulder by one strap.
▪
The lesser bag she slung on to her shoulder .
▪
His Leica was always around his neck, his camera bag slung from his shoulder .
▪
Sweating, he took off his anorak and carried it slung over his shoulder .
▪
He dashed back, picked up Granny Weatherwax, slung her over his shoulder and ran on, downhill.
square
▪
I squared my shoulders , returned to the flat and cleaned the kitchen.
▪
She threw her head back, squared her shoulders and walked briskly toward the elevator.
▪
Then she squared her shoulders and headed indoors.
▪
She hesitated on the back steps a minute, then squared her shoulders and went inside.
▪
She got back on Midnight, in order to look down on Sebastian and Antony, and squared her shoulders .
▪
Pulling himself upright, he squared his shoulders .
▪
Sometimes there was a new seriousness, the supple posture of childhood exchanged for squared shoulders and a stiff spine.
stand
▪
Though short, he stands head and shoulders above most.
▪
We stood on the shoulder and peered down through the thick forest of old fir and knew he was there somewhere.
▪
Susan had entered quietly, and stood looking over his shoulder , watching him work.
▪
Jackson stood head and shoulders above his confreres, and...
▪
He never let Karelin use his size advantage for leverage, standing shoulder to shoulder and chest to chest instead.
▪
The man was standing by his left shoulder , waiting for the train to stop.
▪
So did he, standing behind my shoulder .
tap
▪
He tapped her on the shoulder .
▪
It was 5.06 when he was tapped on the shoulder and told that he was urgently needed on the phone.
▪
When the old man returned from the toilet, he tapped Bedford on the shoulder and gestured for him to stand.
▪
Then Fenella tapped me on the shoulder and I almost had a heart attack.
▪
Still, you never know when the moving finger might tap you on the shoulder .
▪
The friar turned as some one tapped him on the shoulder .
▪
Both were waiting for stardom to tap them on the shoulder .
throw
▪
They catch them with one front paw and throw them over their shoulders on to the bank.
▪
Coats were thrown over the shoulders of some stones.
▪
She threw back her shoulders and swallowed the hard, hot lump in her throat.
▪
Always ready to knock on wood, throw salt over my shoulder , bite my tongue, cross my fingers.
▪
Her figure even looked good; he wanted to weep, or throw her over his shoulder and just run.
▪
They were worn with one end thrown across the shoulder high under the chin, giving the wearer a conspiratorial air.
▪
Katherine threw her shoulders back and walked slowly down the stairs.
▪
Keith throws his right shoulder backwards and forwards, hoping the pads will somehow slide into place.
touch
▪
Another step back, and the back of Ace's head touched Daak's shoulder .
▪
Evening came and the man touched her shoulder .
▪
He read her expression - enquiring - and touched her on both shoulders .
▪
Ruth touched his shoulder and turned back to the stove.
▪
He touched his shoulder , then laid his hand on his head.
▪
Phagu chuckled at me through the window and touched me on the shoulder .
▪
When supper had finished, Fritz touched me on the shoulder .
▪
He touched her shoulder , and her upper arm, and the inside of her elbow.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(give sb/get) the cold shoulder
▪
A declaration of love, or the cold shoulder.
▪
Giving the cold shoulder to his usual tipple, Ian Knight raises his coffee cup to Drinkwise Day.
▪
She was sure that at some point she'd given some one the cold shoulder and hurt them badly without noticing.
▪
So they have given girlfriends the cold shoulder.
a trick knee/ankle/shoulder etc
an old head on young shoulders
be/stand head and shoulders above sb
▪
But the surgery has given him confidence to stand head and shoulders above the rest.
▪
Jackson stood head and shoulders above his confreres, and...
▪
The fourth, who stood head and shoulders above them, was older.
▪
Though short, he stands head and shoulders above most.
give sb the cold shoulder
▪
After I got the promotion, a few of my co-workers started giving me the cold shoulder.
▪
She was sure that at some point she'd given some one the cold shoulder and hurt them badly without noticing.
▪
So they have given girlfriends the cold shoulder.
▪
Vernon regretted giving Harcourt the cold shoulder; he would have been some one to laugh with.
have a chip on your shoulder
▪
The Doyle kid has had a chip on his shoulder ever since his mom and dad divorced.
▪
In some cases folks are just mad and have a chip on their shoulder.
hunch your shoulders
▪
Ballesteros hunched his shoulders, put his palms up in the air, and raised his dark, thick eyebrows.
▪
He hunched his shoulders and stamped his way defiantly down the rest of the stairs and out into the cobbled street.
▪
He put them on, and peered round the room, hunching his shoulders, shamming the old scholar.
▪
Lean away from the flexed knee and keep your guard close to your body, but avoid hunching your shoulders.
▪
Schmidt hunched his shoulders and gobbled like a turkey.
▪
Then, hunching his shoulders against the pounding rain, he lurched towards the barn.
ride on sb's shoulders/back
▪
Better than that was riding on his back while he went down on hands and knees and neighed like a horse.
▪
Dostoevsky wanted to stifle the thought that he was riding on the back of Nechacv's perverse glamour.
▪
Just by riding on your shoulders, Newt.
▪
Oblivious to the emotion riding on their backs, Aureole and Pinza came to Epsom with excellent credentials.
▪
Or you can ride on my back, if you prefer.
▪
People on welfare are not taking a ride on the backs of other people.
▪
Power can not ride on an upright back.
rub shoulders with sb
▪
As a reporter he gets to rub shoulders with all the big names in politics and the media.
▪
But yesterday, possums, Dame Edna Everage revealed that she was fed up with rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous.
▪
He shows no urge to rub shoulders with the lower orders but, if anything, a tendency to keep his distance.
▪
Samurai warriors of the Shoguns rubbed shoulders with Eskimos and headhunters.
▪
The daughter of an itinerant farm worker, Ward now rubs shoulders with the rich, famous and glamorous.
▪
The great Council House of 1879 and the neo-Classical Town Hall rub shoulders with the bold and modern.
▪
The think-tank will have florists rubbing shoulders with the chief of Apple Computers.
▪
Voice over Here the stars for the day rub shoulders with the stars of the show.
square your shoulders
▪
I squared my shoulders, returned to the flat and cleaned the kitchen.
▪
Pulling himself upright, he squared his shoulders.
▪
She got back on Midnight, in order to look down on Sebastian and Antony, and squared her shoulders.
▪
She hesitated on the back steps a minute, then squared her shoulders and went inside.
▪
She threw her head back, squared her shoulders and walked briskly toward the elevator.
▪
Then she squared her shoulders and headed indoors.
straight from the shoulder
▪
Sometimes he spoke straight from the shoulder and sometimes in puzzles and parables.
▪
The jab snaps out straight from the shoulder and bounces back immediately into high guard.
the set of sb's face/jaw/shoulders etc
▪
He hated the set of different faces glaring up at him night after night.
▪
Her husband's brow furrowed as he noted the set of her face.
▪
Something in the set of his shoulders suggested that his pursuers were not far behind.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪
a pork shoulder roast
▪
Ben put his arm around Kari's shoulders.
▪
Several cars with their hoods up were on the shoulder .
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪
Corbett just grinned over his shoulder and led them out on to the beaten track down to the village of Woodstock.
▪
Fredrickson dislocated his right shoulder early in the second quarter and did not return to the game.
▪
He looked as though he'd lost twenty years, as though a ten-ton weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
▪
He pulled the chain that hung above his right shoulder .
▪
I drop her across my shoulder and walk away.
▪
Its dripping wets the front of her dress, its rigid head glares over her shoulder .
▪
Lorton was carrying a bag over his shoulder and humming under his breath.
▪
Our shoulders, arms and legs ache, but we hardly notice.
II. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
blame
▪
Mr Taylor must shoulder much of the blame .
▪
The Republican Party must shoulder some of the blame for the networks' disinterest.
▪
If Labour is being forced to fight old battles, it must shoulder part of the blame .
burden
▪
Coupled with the financial implications if carers decided they could no longer shoulder this burden the case for supporting respite care becomes overwhelming.
▪
Why, he asked, should the taxpayer shoulder the burden of expropriation?
▪
After the publicists, casting directors began to shoulder the burden .
▪
They reflect a tough tradition among rural women of shouldering a heavy economic burden and speaking their mind.
▪
Voice over Swindon is one of the eighties boom towns which has had to shoulder the burden of recession.
▪
Why don't we shoulder all the burdens of this wretched country?
way
▪
She shouldered her way between Anne and Derek.
▪
Nicolo shouldered his way through the crowd towards the Princess.
▪
Erlich shouldered his way through the crowd and went after her.
▪
Or sometimes Andrew had been so drunk that Iain shouldered him all the way home.
▪
He was curious and, shouldering his way through the crowd, made his way to St Mary Le Bow.
▪
Henry gave a short run and shouldered his way past the door.
▪
She then attempted a drowsy recap on the Royal Family but I shouldered my way out of there as soon as I could.
▪
Bringing up the rear, Duke shouldered his way into the kitchen.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(give sb/get) the cold shoulder
▪
A declaration of love, or the cold shoulder.
▪
Giving the cold shoulder to his usual tipple, Ian Knight raises his coffee cup to Drinkwise Day.
▪
She was sure that at some point she'd given some one the cold shoulder and hurt them badly without noticing.
▪
So they have given girlfriends the cold shoulder.
a trick knee/ankle/shoulder etc
an old head on young shoulders
be/stand head and shoulders above sb
▪
But the surgery has given him confidence to stand head and shoulders above the rest.
▪
Jackson stood head and shoulders above his confreres, and...
▪
The fourth, who stood head and shoulders above them, was older.
▪
Though short, he stands head and shoulders above most.
give sb the cold shoulder
▪
After I got the promotion, a few of my co-workers started giving me the cold shoulder.
▪
She was sure that at some point she'd given some one the cold shoulder and hurt them badly without noticing.
▪
So they have given girlfriends the cold shoulder.
▪
Vernon regretted giving Harcourt the cold shoulder; he would have been some one to laugh with.
have a chip on your shoulder
▪
The Doyle kid has had a chip on his shoulder ever since his mom and dad divorced.
▪
In some cases folks are just mad and have a chip on their shoulder.
straight from the shoulder
▪
Sometimes he spoke straight from the shoulder and sometimes in puzzles and parables.
▪
The jab snaps out straight from the shoulder and bounces back immediately into high guard.
the set of sb's face/jaw/shoulders etc
▪
He hated the set of different faces glaring up at him night after night.
▪
Her husband's brow furrowed as he noted the set of her face.
▪
Something in the set of his shoulders suggested that his pursuers were not far behind.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪
He shouldered his ax and began walking into the woods.
▪
The burden of supporting the poor is shouldered mainly by charities.
▪
The company is unwilling to shoulder the cost of installing a daycare center.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪
After the publicists, casting directors began to shoulder the burden.
▪
Dorfman plays keyboards -- an injury preventing him from shouldering his usual accordion.
▪
Family graves may occasionally receive a visit by a lone person shouldering a glum aura.
▪
The capacity of the fourteen divisions to shoulder this responsibility, and the load placed on each division both varied enormously.