I. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a spoilt/spoiled child (= allowed to do or have whatever he or she wants, and behaving badly )
▪
He’s behaving like a spoilt child.
a spoilt/spoiled child (= allowed to do or have whatever he or she wants, and behaving badly )
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He’s behaving like a spoilt child.
be spoiling for a fight (= be very eager to fight with someone )
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The kids went round in gangs, all spoiling for a fight.
destroy/spoil a friendship
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Their friendship was spoilt after a fierce argument.
spoil the view (= make it look bad )
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Some local residents think the wind turbines spoil the view.
spoiled ballot papers (= ones that have been marked incorrectly and so cannot be counted )
spoiled brat
▪
a spoiled brat
spoil...enjoyment
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Unfortunately, a small minority want to spoil everyone else’s enjoyment .
spoil/ruin the countryside
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Too many tourists can spoil the countryside.
spoil/ruin your appetite (= make you not feel like eating a meal )
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Don’t give the children any more sweets – it will spoil their appetite.
spoilt brat (= a spoiled and unpleasant child )
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Ben was a spoilt brat .
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
chance
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I would do anything rather than spoil your chance in life, and you may have heard different stories about me.
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I was beyond fury at this little creature, who had spoiled my chances at amassing a fortune of pink clay.
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But it is equally possible that he could spoil any chances he might have had by making some political slip.
child
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Spare the rod, spoil the child .
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An overempowered child is a spoiled child.
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In spoiling the children they are vicariously spoiling themselves.
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Rather, a spoiled child is the product of parents who have difficulty saying no and meaning it.
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She had spoiled the child rotten.
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This was the Western world, where to spare the rod was to spoil the child .
choice
▪
As the Empire player you are spoiled for choice .
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Often, we seem to be spoiled for choice and hampered, even paralysed, by our fear of the unknown.
day
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They nearly spoiled a great day out.
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Nothing was going to spoil a divine day for a Saturday hike.
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Wet and wintry weather regularly spoils the riding day treat for disabled youngsters from all over Merseyside.
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He spoiled her day in, day out.
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And even the police were reluctant to spoil the bikers day .
effect
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But the Liberal leader did not let its transience spoil the effect .
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They said that twice, which rather spoiled the effect as far as I was concerned.
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Some one had slightly spoiled the effect by putting a kettle on one end.
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There is some fine modelling on the façade although the drainpipes now spoil much of the effect .
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A weak dancer playing Albrecht or James spoils the total effect .
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It's difficult to describe in detail without spoiling the effect for future viewers, something that goes for the whole film.
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Flat braid usually looks better if hand-sewn as lines of machine sewing may spoil the finished effect .
fight
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It seemed to him that Vincent came home spoiling for a fight .
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She is an egocentric, angry, combative woman spoiling for a fight .
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Be that as it may, Cooper was spoiling for a fight , as this unpublished letter shows.
fun
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I won't detain you and spoil your fun .
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But the language gap does not spoil their fun as they learn how to dive in the offshore reefs.
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Cars, of course, could and should have been excluded but that would have spoiled the fun .
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Revealing his conclusion would spoil the fun because Hitt tells his story with a deft touch and a sharp wit.
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Why did he have the feeling he was spoiling her fun ?
party
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Down in London there was only one thing spoiling the continuing party atmosphere.
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It quite spoiled our little party .
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Sadly it was sooner, and it spoiled the whole party .
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However, you can also be firm, to ensure one child does not spoil the party for the rest.
view
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These are likely to meet with opposition on the grounds of spoiling favourite views .
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The whole Wilder Kaiser area is a conservation area, so nothing will spoil the view .
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If building work is likely to spoil a view or block light, they may be able to take action.
■ VERB
let
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I shall not let it spoil my performance.
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He was a terrific guy who never let his tough-streets upbringing spoil his love for the game or the fans.
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I was not going to let Mala spoil the anticipation.
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Why should he let her spoil his pleasure?
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But the Liberal leader did not let its transience spoil the effect.
try
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He really didn't like it the first time we played it, so he tried spoiling it.
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Just as he spoilt the old humanity, he now tries to spoil the new one.
want
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I came with Matthew Preston but I don't want to spoil his fun if he wants to stay on.
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Yet he was put through three trials by the evil king, who wanted to spoil the marriage.
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Now I don't want to spoil your lunch here but we're talking about dieting.
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I haven't told my husband about this and I don't want my ex to spoil what I have now.
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She thinks you don't want to spoil things with careless talk.
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Now I want to spoil you in return.
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She didn't want to spoil the evening.
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I don't want the jacket spoiled .
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
be spoilt/spoiled for choice
▪
As the Empire player you are spoiled for choice.
▪
Often, we seem to be spoiled for choice and hampered, even paralysed, by our fear of the unknown.
spoil sb rotten
▪
Brittany's grandparents spoil her rotten .
too many cooks (spoil the broth)
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If too many cooks spoil the broth, too many Popes tarnish the faith!
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There were too many cooks , they said.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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A badly positioned path can spoil the appearance of a garden.
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Danny was her favourite grandson and she spoiled him rotten.
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Don't let me spoil your plans.
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He got very drunk that evening, and seemed determined to spoil things for all of us.
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His jealousy spoiled their relationship, and she left him after a few months.
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It's too bad her good looks are spoiled by her nose.
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Most of the food in the refrigerator had spoiled.
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New housing developments are spoiling the countryside for everyone.
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One thoughtless comment spoiled the whole evening.
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Roses? You're spoiling me, Bill.
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She wanted to do her own thing, but was afraid of spoiling Christmas for the rest of the family.
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Starting a family so soon would definitely spoil her career prospects for her.
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The assassination attempt has definitely spoilt the previously positive atmosphere between the opposing parties.
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The bad weather completely spoiled our holiday.
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The power station is extremely ugly, and it spoils the view of the sea.
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This scandal could spoil the Senator's chances of becoming President.
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This was her moment of glory, and she wasn't going to let anyone spoil it.
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We've been spoiled by all the good restaurants around here.
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We were going to get married, but then war broke out and spoiled everything.
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Why did you have to invite Jerry? You've spoiled the whole weekend.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Down in London there was only one thing spoiling the continuing party atmosphere.
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He really didn't like it the first time we played it, so he tried spoiling it.
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It seemed to him that Vincent came home spoiling for a fight.
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Oh, but it would spoil Christmas - the last Christmas Day she and Susan would have together.
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Our national supply of top-grade, rugged military leadership material must already be spoiled.
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When giving positive attention, do not spoil the positive message with qualifiers.
II. noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
heap
▪
A daunting task lay ahead, as the spoil heaps covered an area of about 300 square yards.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
be spoilt/spoiled for choice
▪
As the Empire player you are spoiled for choice.
▪
Often, we seem to be spoiled for choice and hampered, even paralysed, by our fear of the unknown.
spoil sb rotten
▪
Brittany's grandparents spoil her rotten .
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Army and nation divide the spoil fifty-fifty.
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At this stage we were not aware of the full significance of the movement of the spoil to form the rampart.
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So rich was the legacy of the ancients that the fund of spoil has lasted into our own times.