adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a faint/soft click (= not loud )
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There was only a faint click from the gun's trigger mechanism.
a gentle/light/soft tap
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There was a gentle tap on the door.
a gentle/soft/mild breeze
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It was a beautiful day with a blue sky and a gentle breeze.
a hard/soft cover
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I never buy books in hard cover – they’re much more expensive.
a hard/soft wood
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Oak is a hard wood.
a loud/soft laugh
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He let out a loud laugh when he heard what had happened.
a low/soft whisper
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When he spoke, it was in a low whisper.
a soft colour (= pleasant and not very strong )
a soft drink (= which does not contain alcohol )
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Would you like some wine, or a soft drink?
a soft heart (= a kind and sympathetic character )
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Julia’s soft heart had been touched by Minnie’s grief.
an easy/soft target
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Some criminals now regard churches as easy targets.
be soft on crime (= not punish crime severely enough )
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He accused the government of being soft on crime.
faint/soft (= not loud )
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The sound was so faint I wasn’t sure what it was at first.
firm/soft/hard etc mattress
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an old, lumpy mattress
in a loud/soft/deep etc voice
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‘Where is she?’, Kate demanded in a shrill voice.
loud/soft/quiet
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They were kept awake by loud music from next door.
quiet/low/soft (= not loud )
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When he spoke, his voice was soft and gentle.
smooth/soft
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Her skin was smooth and pale.
soft cheese (= that you can spread )
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Camembert is my favourite soft cheese.
soft copy
soft currency
soft drink
soft drug
soft drugs (= less strong drugs such as marijuana )
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Soft drugs are legal in some countries.
soft focus
soft fruit
soft furnishings
soft landing
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Hopes for a soft landing have faded.
soft palate
soft pastels
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a room beautifully furnished in soft pastels
soft porn
soft sell
soft shoulder
soft target
soft toy
soft underbelly
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They needed to find the soft underbelly of their opponents.
soft
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The wheels got stuck in the soft earth.
soft (= not containing much calcium )
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In our area the water is quite soft.
soft
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The texure of the cheese is soft and creamy.
soft/cuddly toy British English (= a toy that looks like an animal and is covered in fur )
soft/loose curls (= gentle curves )
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long brown hair in soft curls
soft/warm (= light that seems slightly yellow or orange )
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the soft light of the candles
subdued/dim/soft lighting (= lighting that is not very bright )
wet/firm/soft etc underfoot
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The wet wood is very slippery underfoot.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
as
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There are litters of kittens that aren't as soft as Maurice Taylor.
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When he was young his hair had been that flaxen gold too, as soft and as fine.
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My daughter feels as soft as a marshmallow, as warm as a hot-water bottle.
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Polyester and polyamide yarns and fibres with ever-greater performance for competition suits as soft to the touch as they are resistant.
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Dole aides believe they can paint the president as soft on crime by hammering his judicial nominees.
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After all, the best washing-up liquid in the world can't keep your skin as soft as we can.
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Our bones are as soft and changeable as those of the fetus we carried for nine months.
so
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The sound was so soft that I could only just hear it.
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He slid his hands over her waist, so soft like baby skin.
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He despatched them and groaned again. So soft , so warm, so irresistible.
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Really these children were getting so soft .
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The bread was so soft our fingertips left dents near the crust.
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The sand proved so soft that the overloaded lorries repeatedly bogged down.
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Your lips are so soft , your hair is silky, your body is warm and so tender.
too
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If your bed is too soft , it may be better to put a mattress on the floor and lie on that.
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They echoed studio executives who found the film too soft .
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Anyway, there are your pears, just nicely poached, not too soft and not too hard.
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Lady Jones was saying something too soft for Denver to hear.
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Add the caster sugar, if using, and sufficient water to cover, then poach until tender but not too soft .
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Avoid shoes with too much cushioning -- they may be too soft or unstable.
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But the course was too soft for him.
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The dough may be too soft .
very
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It will help if you lie down and have some very soft music playing.
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Wrap in foil and bake in a 350 F oven until garlic is very soft and sweet, about 1 hour.
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This makes the wings very soft to the touch and probably cuts down noise from feathers moving against one another during flight.
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It was like eating very soft , uncooked marshmallow or egg pudding.
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His skin felt very soft and cool under her lips.
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What mechanism allows toadstools -- essentially very soft and squashy items -- to push through two inches of asphalt?
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If the skin is very soft , the melon is over-ripe.
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Cover and cook for 5-6min until they are very soft but not brown.
■ NOUN
cheese
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Epoisses is a very popular washed rind soft cheese from Burgundy.
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Because soft cheeses are perishable, they are kept small and / or thin; they are quickly ripened from the surface.
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They inject soft cheeses , as I said, to stop them ripening too quickly.
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Low fat hard and soft cheeses account for 8 percent of sales.
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We've had Salmonella in chickens and eggs, and Listeria in chilled foods and soft cheeses .
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Mix the soft cheese with the sugar, fold in the orange rind. 5 Fold cream into mixture.
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It may be more difficult with soft cheeses and we will be examining this very carefully.
drink
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The nearest supermarket is next door where you can buy some basics, such as soft drinks and beer in reception.
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In the mornings Ruth Rasmussen would be ready with a cooler of sandwiches and soft drinks .
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Their acidic characteristics makes them particularly suitable for the dairy industry, breweries and soft drink manufacturers.
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Scientists will study how the astronauts like the soft drinks to see how space changes taste.
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Don't you think you'd be better off with a soft drink ?
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The packaging costs exceed the cost of basic ingredients in soft drinks , breakfast cereals, soups, and frozen dinners.
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Filled rolls with tea, coffee and soft drinks will be dispensed.
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The rate includes room, all meals, all daytime activities except a nearby archaeological dig, Belikin beer and soft drinks .
drug
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However, is it not time to consider the possibility of legalising soft drugs , especially cannabis?
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If we were to legalise soft drugs , that would no longer be a problem.
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The principal's own inquiries revealed that seven boys had taken soft drugs from the pupil.
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Almost a third admitted doing no work in an average day and more than half said they had used soft drugs .
earth
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It pounded the soft earth and gurgled along the gutters to splash with relentless monotony into the tub outside the back door.
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She was pointing at a recess scraped in the soft earth and pine needles.
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He rolled as soon as he hit the soft earth and crashed into the base of a tree.
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Gradually, as they worked, their feet sank into the soft earth and wet mud oozed up between their toes.
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His hand closed over grass which was instantly torn from the soft earth and his boots were dislodged from their precarious footholds.
fruit
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In the Perth/Borders area tourism and soft fruit occupied the summer and autumn periods.
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It just seemed a pity that Norfolk should have no more appetising soft fruit .
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In summer, the scrubbed slatted shelves inside the fruit house are used as a temporary store for soft fruits.
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Then it had been filled again, but this time there were no soft fruits from her native land.
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September Take cuttings from strong young shoots and root outdoors as for soft fruit .
furnishings
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Thick curtains and other soft furnishings will also help absorb airborne noises.
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Contrasting trimmings will highlight and define the shape of soft furnishings .
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Output - some firms will have departments reflecting a particular product such as furniture, soft furnishings or kitchenware.
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The couple's company designs and makes decorative glassware and soft furnishings as well as offering a full design and decorating service.
ground
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Top weight and soft ground proved his undoing but he ran an absolute cracker to finish third to Sibton Abbey.
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She is an inch long and digs a burrow six inches deep into soft ground .
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The Covenanters drew swords and spears, advanced on to the soft ground , and engaged the Dragoons in bloody hand-to-hand fighting.
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Second Set, whose disappointing fourth in the race last year was blamed on soft ground , could also be pulled out.
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Another soft ground specialist, Green Lane, looks set for his fourth win in a row in the Krug Trophy.
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On soft ground , the familiar rattle was replaced by the occasional noise of tearing metal.
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This Sun Alliance Chase runner-up will be a match for any over three miles plus on soft ground .
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Roundabouts would have firm handrails and soft ground around them.
landing
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He had a soft landing on rough ground, and the foliage closed up again behind him.
leather
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He laid upon the table a drawstring purse of soft leather , that chinked faintly as it shifted and settled.
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With stylish roman numerals, gold-plated case and soft leather strap, these elegant watches are a pure delight to wear.
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I wore it on cold days with soft leather boots, a mouton coat, and a large brimmed black felt hat.
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No couch grass striping her soft leather shoes with cuckoo-spit here she thinks.
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Both front seats are power-adjustable, and the interior is trimmed in soft leather .
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Here muted lights, soft leather , stained wood and anaesthetic chamber music prevailed.
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Select shoes made of soft leather .
light
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On the landing a soft light shone into the dark from the corridor, as in memory.
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The soft light of dusk was thinning, leaving trees and buildings blackened agalnst the evening sky.
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His olive skin seemed to glint in the soft light of the hallway; the flat behind him was almost totally dark.
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She took her place at his side again, and watched the exquisitely etched face in the soft light .
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Street lights are not too bad because they don't shine directly into your face and only cast a fairly soft light.
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The soft light of morning made rainbows through the crystals of the chandeliers.
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As the seconds stretched into minutes so the advance of the soft light across the park unfolded beneath him.
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A soft light glowed by the armchair.
loan
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The production of renewable energy sources should also be promoted through grants, soft loans and fiscal incentives, the report concluded.
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The funding packages-a mixture of soft loans , grants, scholarships and paid work on campus-vary.
money
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Suspecting the worst, editorial boards and other high-minded folks demand an end to soft money .
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Is your toilet paper honestly the softest money can buy?
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But they can give parties any amount of soft money .
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In theory, soft money is supposed to be used only for generic party activities and not to support specific candidates.
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And there is no limit on the size of soft money contributions.
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Dole now backs a ban on PACs, soft money contributions and the use of dues to finance labor union donations.
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I was sinking fast in the mire of soft money .
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The study covered soft money gifts to the national, House and Senate committees of each major party.
option
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Just one proviso and it is one that everyone in our industry knows ... this business is no soft option .
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And if anyone thinks this is a soft option - try a cliff-top route with a storm blowing.
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Probation should in no sense be seen as a soft option by the judiciary.
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It argued that these were not soft options but properly applied would be tough penalties which aided the battle to reduce crime.
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So often in my life, where I've made a mistake, it has been by taking the soft option .
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The soft option of imprisonment is not the answer!
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Organisers deny it's a soft option .
side
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Very few people ever saw his softer side , and she was one of them.
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Enamel, stone and silver combinations are the softer side of the trend.
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Its natural habitat offers water that is on the soft side , slightly acidic and heavily vegetated.
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Then, too, he had a softer side .
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The wind is causing cheeky corners of the sheet to tickle the soft sides of her tummy.
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Raging fury from a new young band that sometimes reveals its soft side .
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It was a defence mechanism her softer side needed at times.
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Pin, tack then machine the soft side of touch-and-close fastener over the raw edges.
skin
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Whatever caused the extinction, it is not soft skin that determined survival.
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His belt buckle was digging into the soft skin of her stomach and she moved agitatedly, unconsciously provocative.
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Kissed the soft skin of her face?
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She has smooth, soft skin which glows softly as though a candle were just below the surface.
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The soft skin on the armpits and inner thighs was covered in huge, raw blisters.
spot
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He had a soft spot for Roy, the same as he did for Benny.
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The length of the piece tends to display the soft spots of dystopian fiction: plot improbabilities, claustrophobic metaphors.
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Below: The Teddy Robber has a soft spot for cuddly toys.
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To find your soft spots , read the following rules and determine which ones you consistently break.
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Chub I have a very soft spot in my heart for chub.
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Most recently, Matt identified soft spots in our proposals including old and irrelevant information.
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She had a soft spot for Jimmy.
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Smart, alert, good hands, finds the soft spots .
target
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First, an overwhelming urge to find a market researcher and kick him or her hard on a soft target area.
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First, Barak was no soft target .
tissue
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X-rays don't reveal much, either, since the inflammation lies in the soft tissues and not in the joints.
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The same laser already is approved for surgery on soft tissue , such as gum surgery for periodontal disease.
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The radio waves, magnetic field and computer technology combine to produce vivid images of the body's soft tissue .
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These include the development of tetany and the deposition of calcium phosphate in soft tissues .
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The only three-dimensional fossil of a dinosaur's soft tissue was unearthed here in the 90s.
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The Bulls' forward has been suffering from a soft tissue injury on the bottom of his left foot.
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Tumours contain a relatively high water content and therefore have a relatively long T1 and T2 compared with normal soft tissue .
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There is just one problem: brains are part of the soft tissue of the body and so do not survive fossilization.
touch
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Middlesbrough showed a resilience that emphasised they are no longer a soft touch on their travels.
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And he knew I was a soft touch , that I did most of the housework so he could be free.
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Cool for Cats at Stennis Head - a soft touch E15b.
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He was the softest touch in the world.
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Terry was such a soft touch .
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And everybody should wonder why land speculators consider Oro Valley a much softer touch when they need a rezoning.
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But Irina was no soft touch .
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Artisans needed more than just fertile imaginations and a soft touch with a trowel to bring their work to life.
toy
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And don't pile soft toys in the cot.
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She is also well known locally for the soft toys she makes for various charities.
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Suppose it has tried to promote a special line of soft toys by selling them next to infants' clothes.
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The couple are pictured with some of the more than 1,000 soft toys they received from wellwishers after their son's death.
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Do you know she's still got two shelves full of soft toys ?
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Their range includes a fine, natural Kapok which makes an ideal filling for soft toys and other items.
voice
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He scarcely heard her soft voice going on about paraffin heaters and electrical wall fans.
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The check was being prepared, he said in a soft voice .
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The softer voices of some of the country's most accomplished actresses were at the bottom of the charts.
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With her soft voice and her calm exterior, she absolutely would not let creditors off the hook.
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Jahsaxa's friends politely praised hir appearance, asking flattering questions in soft voices , always smiling.
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Mrs Sano has a quiet, moonlike beauty and a soft voice that makes you want to listen.
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There were soft voices coming from inside.
water
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Ideally soft water , especially rain-water.
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It requires soft water and some shade.
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Quick tip Want soft water for your fish?
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Very soft water produces excellent specimens.
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Water condition: Very soft water with slight acidity.
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If you keep soft water fish you would need to test for general hardness.
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Very soft water is not suitable, as there is not enough dissolved calcium carbonate, the main material of the shell.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a soft/easy touch
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And he knew I was a soft touch , that I did most of the housework so he could be free.
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Artisans needed more than just fertile imaginations and a soft touch with a trowel to bring their work to life.
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Cool for Cats at Stennis Head - a soft touch E15b.
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Leeds are a soft touch when it comes to transfers.
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Middlesbrough showed a resilience that emphasised they are no longer a soft touch on their travels.
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My client was a soft touch .
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Next to it goes a soft touch 6a, Cocoluche, which has an easily avoidable 6b section.
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Terry was such a soft touch .
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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Soft land prices have helped boost new home sales.
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Soft lighting creates a romantic atmosphere.
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a soft cheese
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a soft pillow
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A good moisturizer will leave your skin softer and smoother.
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a selection of hard and soft cheeses
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a whisper so soft that I could scarcely hear it
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an expensive pair of soft leather gloves
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Analysts expressed fears of a softer U.S. market for large cars.
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Apply the polish with a soft cloth.
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Compared with today's ideal, 19th-century ladies appear much softer.
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He doesn't have the right personality to be an army officer, he's too soft .
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He spoke in a whisper so soft that I could hardly hear it.
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He spoke with a soft Irish accent.
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Her hair was soft and silky.
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I need a softer pillow.
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In the soft evening light Sonya looked ten years younger.
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Just because a guy is bright and plays the guitar doesn't mean he's soft .
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Polish the chrome with a soft cloth.
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She fell over several times, but came to no harm in the soft new snow.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the onion until soft and beginning to brown at the edges.
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I leave the softer grades until the whole drawing is practically finished, to prevent unintentional smudging.
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In the gap between the brassière and the pinched waistband of her skirt, her flesh bulged in a pale soft band.
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Reject any that are even slightly soft or in any way discoloured.
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The guy on the right is younger, with a softer, more expressive face.
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The Lions play a perplexingly soft defense, where they willingly allow teams to throw short, underneath passes.
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The walls were of plaster, painted soft green and decorated with silver and gold lozenges.