COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
can/can't cope
▪
Older people can't cope so well with the heat.
don't expect miracles
▪
Don’t expect miracles. A hairdresser can't make a 50-year-old look like a 20-year-old.
suits...to a T
▪
That dress suits you to a T .
T cell
T'ai Chi
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(I) don't mind if I do
▪
"Would you like another piece of cake?" "Thanks - don't mind if I do."
(I/you/he etc) can't complain
(don't) get your knickers in a twist
I can't be doing with sth
I can't be fagged
I can't promise (anything)
I can't rightly say/don't rightly know
I can't say (that)
I can't tell you
▪
"So is Maggie really pregnant?" "I can't tell you."
▪
I can't tell you how grateful I am for your help.
I can't work sb out
I couldn't
I couldn't help myself/she couldn't help herself etc
I couldn't put it down
▪
It's such a good book that I couldn't put it down.
▪
What an amazing book! I just couldn't put it down.
I couldn't say
I couldn't tell you
▪
"Is it going to rain tomorrow?" "I couldn't tell you."
I couldn't wish for a nicer/better etc ...
I don't blame you/you can hardly blame him etc
I don't envy you/her etc
I don't feel too hot/so hot/very hot
I don't know
▪
"I couldn't live there.'' "Oh, I don't know . It might not be so bad.''
▪
"Where's the nearest restroom?" "I don't know ."
▪
Oh, I don't know , we could meet at 3 or 4 o'clock.
I don't know about you, but ...
I don't know how to thank you/repay you
I don't know how/why etc
I don't mind admitting/telling you/saying etc
I don't see why not
▪
"Are you sure they'll let us walk on their land?" "I don't see why not."
I don't suppose (that)
▪
I don't suppose the painting will ever be worth a thousand dollars.
▪
I don't suppose you'd be willing to go get the napkins?
▪
I don't suppose you have any idea where my address book is, do you?
I don't want to sound/be ..., but ...
I don't wish to interfere/be nosy etc
I wasn't born yesterday
▪
You can't expect me to trust you after all the other promises you've broken, you know. I wasn't born yesterday.
I wasn't thinking
▪
Sorry, I wasn't thinking . Do you want a cup too?
I wouldn't be seen/caught dead
I wouldn't know
▪
"When's he coming back?" "I wouldn't know ."
I wouldn't mind (doing) sth
I wouldn't miss it for the world
I wouldn't put it past sb (to do sth)
▪
I wouldn't put it past Colin to lie to his wife.
I wouldn't put it past sb (to do sth)
I wouldn't say no (to sth)
▪
I wouldn't say no to a cup of coffee.
I/we don't have all day
▪
Hurry up, we don't have all day !
▪
But Sally does not have all day here.
I/we won't eat you
I/you can't/couldn't ask for a better sth
Rome wasn't built in a day
a leopard can't change its spots
and don't you forget it!
aren't you forgetting ...?/haven't you forgotten ...?
be sick of/can't stand/hate the sight of sb/sth
beggars can't be choosers
▪
It would be nice to have a suit with a better fit, but as they say, beggars can't be choosers.
better the devil you know (than the devil you don't)
butter wouldn't melt in sb's mouth
can't answer for sb
can't bear sth
can't begin to understand/imagine etc
can't believe your eyes/ears
▪
I couldn't believe my ears when she told me the cheapest flight was $1,100.
can't do sth for toffee
can't face
can't get enough of sth/sb
can't hack sth
can't hold a candle to sb/sth
▪
Basketball stars today can't hold a candle to Michael Jordan.
can't make head or/nor tail of sth
can't place sb
can't say fairer than that
can't stand
▪
Don't invite Alice. Mum can't stand the sight of her.
▪
Europeans never stay there for long. They can't stand the heat.
▪
Her father can't stand liver and onions.
▪
I can't stand the way he's always telling people what they should do.
▪
If there's one thing I can't stand , it's hypocrisy.
▪
She couldn't stand the thought of losing her children.
▪
We used to be quite good friends but now I can't stand her.
can't take your eyes off sb/sth
can't very well (do sth)
can't/couldn't be arsed (to do sth)
can't/couldn't get over sth
can't/couldn't seem to do sth
▪
I just can't seem to come up with lyrics for this song.
can't/don't believe sth
▪
I can't believe you lied to me!
▪
When I saw the video, I was like, I don't believe it!
couldn't be better/worse/more pleased etc
crime doesn't pay
damned if you do, damned if you don't
don't (you) start!
don't ask
▪
"What did he want you to do?" "Oh, don't ask ."
don't ask me
▪
"How does this thing work?" "Don't ask me!"
don't be a stranger!
don't bet on it/I wouldn't bet on it
▪
Maybe he's really a nice guy, but I wouldn't bet on it.
don't blame me
▪
Go ahead, but don't blame me if it doesn't work.
don't come the innocent/victim/helpless male etc with me
don't count your chickens (before they're hatched)
▪
Getting an Oscar would be wonderful, but I think it's too early to count my chickens.
▪
If you want to go on a date sometime, you can ask me. But don't count your chickens.
▪
You'll probably get the job, but don't count your chickens just yet.
don't forget
▪
Don't forget that my mother's coming to visit this weekend.
▪
Don't forget that the car needs gas.
▪
Don't forget to mail that letter, will you?
▪
Don't forget your keys.
▪
Don't forget , we have to be there by five o'clock.
don't get me wrong
▪
Don't get me wrong - I like Jenny, but she can be a little bossy.
▪
Don't get me wrong , I love my family, I just don't want to be with them all the time.
▪
I like Jenny, don't get me wrong , but I do think she acts a little childishly at times.
don't give a hoot/don't care two hoots
don't give it another thought
▪
"I'm really sorry about that." "Don't give another thought ."
▪
"I'm sorry we had to cancel the party.'' "Oh, please don't give it another thought . It wasn't your fault that you were ill!''
don't give me that
don't give me that line
don't go doing sth
▪
It's a secret, so don't go telling everyone.
don't go mad
don't go there
don't hesitate to do sth
▪
Don't hesitate to call me if you need any help.
don't hold your breath
▪
If you're waiting for the Cubs to win the series, don't hold your breath .
don't judge a book by its cover
don't know/can't tell etc which is which
don't look now
▪
Don't look now - here comes Kristen.
don't make me laugh
▪
"Could you finish this by tomorrow?" "Don't make me laugh ."
don't mention it
▪
"Thanks for the lift!" "Oh, don't mention it!"
▪
"Thanks for the ride home!" "Don't mention it."
don't mind her/him etc
don't mind me
▪
Oh, don't mind me, I was just thinking out loud.
don't remind me
don't sweat it
▪
Don't sweat it - you'll pass the test, no problem.
don't sweat the small stuff
don't tell me
▪
"We finally made it here." "Don't tell me - you couldn't find your keys."
▪
Don't tell me we're out of milk!
don't trouble yourself
don't waste your breath
▪
Save your breath . He won't listen.
don't worry
▪
"Don't worry about me -- I'll be fine," said Billie.
▪
"Don't worry , there's plenty of food for anyone who wants to come."
▪
Don't worry - I'll do the laundry this time.
▪
Don't worry about it. You can pay me back tomorrow.
▪
Don't worry ! The flight's not until 9:30. We have plenty of time.
▪
Don't worry . The doctor says it's just a bad cold.
▪
Don't worry; I'll lend you money if you need it.
don't you believe it!
don't you dare!
▪
Don't you dare hang up on me again!
dot the i's and cross the t's
▪
Well, we haven't dotted the i's and crossed the t's, but the contract's nearly ready.
he/she won't bite
▪
Well, go and ask him if he can help you - he won't bite !
if it ain't broke, don't fix it
if it wasn't/weren't for sb/sth
if it wasn't/weren't for sb/sth
if you can't beat 'em, join 'em
if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen
if you don't mind
▪
I'm going to close the window, if you don't mind .
if you don't mind my saying so/if you don't mind me asking
isn't she just/aren't they just etc
it can't be helped
▪
It's not an ideal solution, but it can't be helped .
it doesn't amount to a hill of beans
it doesn't matter
▪
"Do you want white or dark meat?" "Oh, it doesn't matter ."
▪
"I think I taped over your show." "It doesn't matter - I already watched it."
▪
"We've missed the train." "It doesn't matter - there's another one in 10 minutes."
▪
It calls for brown sugar, but it doesn't matter - you can use white.
▪
It doesn't matter if you're a few minutes late. We'll wait for you.
▪
It doesn't matter what other people think. You should do what you think is best.
it doesn't take a rocket scientist (to do sth)
▪
It doesn't exactly take a rocket scientist to realize that the chain of events was no coincidence.
it won't/wouldn't kill sb (to do something)
▪
It wouldn't kill you to do the dishes.
it wouldn't do sb any harm to do sth
▪
It wouldn't do you any harm to get some experience first.
it/money doesn't grow on trees
just because ... it doesn't mean
mustn't/can't grumble
never/don't look a gift horse in the mouth
on the q.t.
people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
sb can dish it out but they can't take it
sb can't abide sb/sth
▪
I can't abide the idea of them getting married.
sb can't do sth to save his/her life
sb can't get it into their (thick) skull
sb can't have it both ways
sb can't help (doing) sth
▪
I can't help it. I hear that song and I have to dance.
▪
I can't help wondering what happened to that little girl.
▪
Ron can't help the way he feels about her.
▪
You talk to the guy for five minutes, and you can't help but like him.
sb can't help noticing sth
sb can't wait/can hardly wait
sb can't/couldn't be bothered (to do sth)
sb couldn't care less
sb doesn't do nice/funny/sensible etc
sb doesn't have much meat on him/her
sb hasn't heard the last of sb/sth
sb won't thank you (for doing sth)
sb wouldn't hurt/harm a fly
sb's face doesn't fit
sb's heart isn't in it
▪
She was doing the best she could, but her heart just wasn't it it.
sb/sth can't compete with sb/sth
▪
Melinda knew she couldn't compete with her sister when it came to boys.
sb/sth/it won't be long
sth can't be bad
▪
The kids get a multicultural education, and that can't be bad .
sth can/can't wait
▪
Go home - the report can wait until tomorrow.
sth doesn't bear repeating
sth doesn't bear thinking about
▪
The reaction I'll get when my parents find out doesn't even bear thinking about.
sth doesn't/can't compare (with sth)
sth doesn't/won't wash (with sb)
sth won't/doesn't hurt
▪
The house looks pretty good, but a fresh paint job wouldn't hurt either.
surprised/angry/pleased etc isn't the word for it
that's all I need/that's just what I didn't need
the apple doesn't fall far from the tree
the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing
there isn't much call for sth
▪
There isn't much call for typewriters since computers got easier to use.
to a T/tee
▪
Application of depth first search Problem: Is there a path im G from s to t ?
▪
One that fits this description to a T is the T-shirt.
trouble with a capital T, fast with a capital F etc
two wrongs don't make a right
why doesn't sb do sth?
▪
Why don't you give me your number, and I'll call you.
▪
Why not have the picnic in Glendale?
won't take no for an answer
won't/can't have sth
won't/wouldn't hear of it
wouldn't dream of (doing) sth
wouldn't say boo to a goose
wouldn't wish sth on/upon sb
▪
James says he wouldn't wish a military career on anyone.
wouldn't you know (it)
▪
"He showed up late again." "Wouldn't you know it."
wouldn't you say?
you can't be too careful
▪
You can't be too careful where computer viruses are concerned.
you can't go wrong (with sth)
▪
You can't go wrong with a dark gray suit.
you can't have it both ways
▪
It's either me or her. You can't have it both ways !
you can't hear yourself think
you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
you can't mistake sb/sth
▪
Their lies are so obvious, you can't mistake them.
you can't say fairer than that
you can't teach an old dog new tricks
you can't win
you can't win them all
you can/can't imagine sth
you don't know
▪
You don't know how long I've waited to hear you say that!
you don't know when you're well-off
you don't say!
▪
"I think Bob and Susan are having an affair." "You don't say ! That's been common knowledge for months."
you haven't lived (if/until ...)
you won't catch me doing sth
▪
You won't catch me ironing his shirts!