I. adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a grim/sobering/chilling reminder (= making you feel serious and worried or frightened )
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They passed the armed guard, a grim reminder of the ever-present threat of terrorism.
a sobering thought (= one that makes you feel serious )
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We have the power to destroy the world, which is a sobering thought.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
more
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Recently his tone has become more sober and philosophical.
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A more sober protein doctor was the cardiologist Herman Tarnower.
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He was among the better educated of the early Methodist preachers and more sober than some in his attitude to supernatural phenomena.
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Yet somehow he stayed in range of people who could influence him toward a more sober future.
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The lieutenant, Jack thought, looked more sober , but in some ways even stranger.
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I prefer my women a little older and a damn sight more sober .
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We carried on in a more sober mood, each repeating his own prayers.
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But this euphoric rediscovery of the ley theory gave way to quieter and more sober research.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
as sober as a judge
stone-cold sober
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It ends stone-cold sober, with thoughts of careers and family.
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They had drunk a great deal and the night was warm, but on a sudden they were both stone-cold sober.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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a sober -looking man in a grey suit
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a sober gray suit
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He's a sober , thoughtful, intelligent guy.
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I'll drive you home - I think I'm the only one here that's sober .
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I don't think I've ever seen Bill sober .
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I went to see Professor Dandavate, a sober and respected academic.
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Was Garcia sober when he drove off?
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Hallucinations and dreams are to be discriminated from sober waking experience.
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He had not retired to bed sober , but then he rarely, if ever, did.
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I hadn't been sober and I'd quite fancied my chances with one of the birds.
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Now, seeing the sober blue gleam from the Police Station she went in.
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Recently his tone has become more sober and philosophical.
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They'd gone from legless to stone cold sober in nothing flat.
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This fact is the basis for the one-drink-an-hour rule of thumb for remaining sober .
II. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
up
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Parts of the county are still sobering up from the unprecedented celebrations.
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The deputies must process men in all these conditions, seeing them through as they sober up .
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The next day, when he had sobered up , she insisted on playing it back to him.
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But they sobered up , became responsible, democratic adults.
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If they jump for joy today hold off until they sober up again.
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They tried to get her to sober up by offering some coffee and food.
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Sir Richard Springall had sobered up surprisingly quickly.
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House Speaker Newt Gingrich is trying to sober up his party on environmental issues.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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But they sobered up, became responsible, democratic adults.
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Even the hardest of the men there was sobered by her outburst.
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There was a long silence, both of them sobered by the knowledge that casualties were likely.