Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense phrases, present participle phrasing, past tense, past participle phrased
1. countable noun
A phrase is a short group of words that people often use as a way of saying something. The meaning of a phrase is often not obvious from the meaning of the individual words in it.
He used a phrase I hate: 'You have to be cruel to be kind.'
...the American phrase 'laying an egg' meaning to fail at something.
2. countable noun
A phrase is a small group of words which forms a unit, either on its own or within a sentence.
It is impossible to hypnotise someone simply by saying a particular word or phrase.
3. verb
If you phrase something in a particular way, you express it in words in that way.
I would have phrased it quite differently. [VERB noun adverb]
The speech was carefully phrased. [VERB noun adverb]
They phrased it as a question. [VERB noun + as]
Synonyms: express, say, word, put More Synonyms of phrase
4.
See turn of phrase
5. to coin a phrase
More Synonyms of phrase
English Easy Learning GrammarParts of speechSentences are made up of words. A sentence can be made up of any number of words. He left us. The man in the corner lowered his newspaper. Whenever I see ... Read more
phrase in British English
(freɪz)
noun
1.
a group of words forming an immediate syntactic constituent of a clause
a small group of notes forming a coherent unit of melody
4.
(in choreography) a short sequence of dance movements
verb(transitive)
5. music
to divide (a melodic line, part, etc) into musical phrases, esp in performance
6.
to express orally or in a phrase
Word origin
C16: from Latin phrasis, from Greek: speech, from phrazein to declare, tell
phrase in American English
(freɪz)
noun
1.
a manner or style of speech or expression; phraseology
2.
a short, colorful or forceful expression
3.
a connected series of movements in a formal dance
4. Grammar
a sequence of two or more words conveying a single thought or forming a distinct part of a sentence but not containing a subject and predicate
see also clause
5. Linguistics
a group of words that functions as a syntactic unit
6. Music
a short, distinct part or passage, usually of two, four, or eight measures
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: phrased or ˈphrasing
7.
to express in words or in a phrase
8. Music
to mark off or divide (notes) into phrases
Word origin
L phrasis, diction < Gr < phrazein, to speak
More idioms containing
phrase
to coin a phrase
Examples of 'phrase' in a sentence
phrase
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
His turn of phrase is more reminiscent of a populist politician than an academic theorist.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Here fast thinking and problem solving become just as valuable as your ability to turn a phrase.
The Sun (2016)
He has a good turn of phrase, too.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He's got an old-fashioned turn of phrase.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The phrase 'You 're filming?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
To most people the phrase "to make a motion "involves some kind of movement.
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
Try reading the sentences without those phrases and it will be obvious where we have gone wrong.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
My interest is in the phrase one of the only services.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It helps if you can phrase this particular target in terms of negatives and positives.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Characters can be caught in a phrase or line.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They studied thousands of volunteers and found their favourites all had long and detailed musical phrases.
The Sun (2011)
Freedom of speech is not the right to speak bland and uncontroversial phrases about people.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Insider trading could be one phrase for that.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The exams were sometimes confusing with the way they phrased the questions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Translation of the outline into a draft consists of taking the rough outline and putting it into phrases and sentences.
Pressley, Michael & McCormick, Christine Advanced Educational Psychology For Educators, Researchers and Policymakers, (1995)
He coined a phrase which continues to epitomise the theological way in which to understand the fact of an evolutionary world.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
B. Use commas to set off long introductory phrases and clauses.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
His secret is simple and expressed in a phrase he often uses: make your players feel important.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Employers can look at the stresses in a particular job and phrase interview questions so that they get the best person for the job.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I asked the question again, phrased differently.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The familiar phrase 'You get what you pay for' remains largely true.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
More than half of employees said they did not hear the phrase often enough at work, according to the survey for an online recruitment agency.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Hope fluttered, like butterfly wings, out of lines and phrases.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
History, to coin a phrase, is coming home.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The song thrush is a classic example, and a top thrush is reckoned to have more than 100 musical phrases in his vocabulary.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
phrase
British English: phrase /freɪz/ NOUN
A phrase is a short group of words that are used as a unit and whose meaning is not always obvious from the words contained in it.
I hate the phrase: You have to be cruel to be kind.
American English: phrase
Arabic: عِبَارَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: frase
Chinese: 短语
Croatian: izraz
Czech: fráze
Danish: frase
Dutch: uitdrukking
European Spanish: frase
Finnish: lauseen osa
French: expression
German: kurzer Satz
Greek: φράση
Italian: frase
Japanese: 慣用句
Korean: 문구 문장
Norwegian: uttrykk
Polish: wyrażenie
European Portuguese: frase
Romanian: frază
Russian: фраза
Latin American Spanish: frase
Swedish: fras ordvändning
Thai: วลี
Turkish: sözcük grubu
Ukrainian: фраза
Vietnamese: cụm từ
British English: phrase VERB
If you phrase something in a particular way, you express it in words in that way.
I would have phrased it quite differently.
American English: phrase
Brazilian Portuguese: expressar
Chinese: 用言语表达
European Spanish: expresar
French: exprimer
German: ausdrücken
Italian: esprimere
Japanese: 述べる
Korean: 말로 표현하다
European Portuguese: expressar
Latin American Spanish: expresar
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'phrase'
buzz phrase
a phrase that comes into vogue in the same way as a buzz word
noun phrase
A noun phrase is the same as a → noun group .
phrase book
A phrase book is a book used by people travelling to a foreign country . It has lists of useful words and expressions, together with the translation of each word or expression in the language of that country.
verb phrase
a constituent of a sentence that contains the verb and any direct and indirect objects but not the subject. It is a controversial question in grammatical theory whether or not this constituent is to be identified with the predicate of the sentence
adverb phrase
An adverb phrase or adverbial phrase is a group of words based on an adverb, such as 'very slowly' or ' fortunately for us.' An adverb phrase can also consist simply of an adverb.
catch-phrase
A catch-phrase is a sentence or phrase which becomes popular or well-known , often because it is frequently used by a famous person.
parrot phrase
a remark , complaint , etc that is repeated or imitated mechanically without understanding
phrase marker
a representation , esp one in the form of a tree diagram , of the constituent structure of a sentence
adjective phrase
a group of words including an adjective and its complements or modifiers that functions as an adjective, as too openly critical in His latest article is too openly critical of the administration
phrase structure
the relations among the words and morphemes of a sentence
turn of phrase
If someone has a particular turn of phrase , they have a particular way of expressing themselves in words.
prepositional phrase
A prepositional phrase is a structure consisting of a preposition and its object . Examples are 'on the table ' and 'by the sea '.
to coin a phrase
You say ' to coin a phrase ' to show that you realize you are making a pun or using a cliché.
phrase-structure rule
a rule of the form A → X where A is a syntactic category label , such as noun phrase or sentence , and X is a sequence of such labels and/or morphemes , expressing the fact that A can be replaced by X in generating the constituent structure of a sentence
phrase-structure grammar
a grammar in which relations among the words and morphemes of a sentence are described , but not deeper or semantic relations
catchphrase
a well-known frequently used phrase, esp one associated with a particular group, etc
rewrite rule
a rule of the form A → X where A is a syntactic category label , such as noun phrase or sentence , and X is a sequence of such labels and/or morphemes , expressing the fact that A can be replaced by X in generating the constituent structure of a sentence
rewriting rule
a rule of the form A → X where A is a syntactic category label , such as noun phrase or sentence , and X is a sequence of such labels and/or morphemes , expressing the fact that A can be replaced by X in generating the constituent structure of a sentence
PSG
phrase-structure grammar
Chinese translation of 'phrase'
phrase
(freɪz)
n(c)
(= expression) 习(習)语(語) (xíyǔ) (个(個), gè)
(in phrase book, dictionary) 短语(語) (duǎnyǔ) (个(個), gè)
(= not clause) 词(詞)组(組) (cízǔ) (个(個), gè)
(= quotation) 警句 (jǐngjù) (个(個), gè)
(Mus) 短句 (duǎnjù) (个(個), gè)
vt
(= word)
(in speech) 表达(達) (biǎodá)
(in writing) 措辞(辭) (cuòcí)
set phrase固定词(詞)组(組) (gùdìng cízǔ)
turn of phrase措辞(辭) (cuòcí)
(noun)
Definition
an idiomatic or original expression
the Latin phrase, `mens sana in corpore sano'
Synonyms
expression
He uses some remarkably coarse expressions.
saying
that old saying: `Charity begins at home'
remark
motto
What is your regiment's motto?
construction
tag
quotation
maxim
I believe in the maxim `if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.
idiom
Proverbs and idioms may become worn with over-use.
utterance
the Queen's public utterances
adage
The old adage `Every baby brings its own love' usually turns out true.
dictum
the dictum that it is preferable to be roughly right than precisely wrong
way of speaking
group of words
locution
`Sister boy' - that's an odd locution if ever there was one.
(verb)
Definition
to express orally or in a phrase
The speech was carefully phrased.
Synonyms
express
He expressed grave concern at their attitude.
say
I hope you didn't say anything about me.
word
If I had written the letter, I might have worded it differently.
put
To put it bluntly, he just doesn't care.
term
present
voice
Scientists have voiced concern that the disease could be passed to humans.
frame
He framed his question three different ways.
communicate
convey
utter
They departed without uttering a word.
couch
This time the proposal was couched as an ultimatum.
formulate
I was impressed by how he formulated his ideas.
put into words
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adage
Definition
a traditional saying that is generally accepted as being true
The old adage `Every baby brings its own love' usually turns out true.
Synonyms
saying,
motto,
maxim,
proverb,
dictum,
precept,
by-word,
saw (old-fashioned),
axiom,
aphorism,
apophthegm (rare)
in the sense of couch
Definition
to express in a particular style of language
This time the proposal was couched as an ultimatum.
Synonyms
express,
word,
frame,
phrase,
utter,
set forth
in the sense of dictum
Definition
a popular saying or maxim
the dictum that it is preferable to be roughly right than precisely wrong
Synonyms
saying,
saw (old-fashioned),
maxim,
adage,
proverb,
precept,
axiom,
gnome
Synonyms of 'phrase'
phrase
Explore 'phrase' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of formulate
Definition
to express in a formula
I was impressed by how he formulated his ideas.
Synonyms
express,
detail,
frame,
define,
specify,
articulate,
set down,
codify,
put into words,
systematize,
particularize,
give form to
in the sense of frame
Definition
to construct (a statement) in a particular kind of language
He framed his question three different ways.
Synonyms
express,
word,
phrase,
couch,
put into words
in the sense of idiom
Definition
a group of words which, when used together, have a different meaning from the one suggested by the individual words, eg it was raining cats and dogs
Proverbs and idioms may become worn with over-use.
Synonyms
phrase,
expression,
turn of phrase,
locution,
set phrase
in the sense of locution
Definition
a word, phrase, or expression
`Sister boy' - that's an odd locution if ever there was one.
Synonyms
expression,
wording,
term,
phrase,
idiom,
collocation,
turn of speech
in the sense of maxim
Definition
a brief expression of a general truth, principle, or rule of conduct
I believe in the maxim `if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.
Synonyms
saying,
motto,
adage,
proverb,
rule,
saw (old-fashioned),
gnome,
dictum,
axiom,
aphorism,
byword,
apophthegm
in the sense of motto
Definition
a short saying expressing the guiding maxim or ideal of a family or organization, esp. when part of a coat of arms
What is your regiment's motto?
Synonyms
saying,
slogan,
maxim,
rule,
cry,
formula,
gnome,
adage,
proverb,
dictum,
precept,
byword,
watchword,
tag-line,
saw (old-fashioned)
in the sense of put
Definition
to express
To put it bluntly, he just doesn't care.
Synonyms
express,
say,
state,
word,
phrase,
set,
pose,
utter,
frame,
convey,
articulate
in the sense of say
Definition
to speak or utter
I hope you didn't say anything about me.
Synonyms
speak,
utter,
voice,
express,
pronounce,
come out with (informal),
put into words,
give voice or utterance to
in the sense of saying
Definition
a well-known phrase or sentence expressing a belief or a truth
that old saying: `Charity begins at home'
Synonyms
proverb,
maxim,
adage,
saw (old-fashioned),
slogan,
gnome,
dictum,
axiom,
aphorism,
byword,
apophthegm
in the sense of utter
Definition
to express something in sounds or words
They departed without uttering a word.
Synonyms
say,
state,
speak,
voice,
express,
deliver,
declare,
mouth,
breathe,
pronounce,
articulate,
enunciate,
put into words,
verbalize,
vocalize
Additional synonyms
in the sense of utterance
Definition
something expressed in speech or writing
the Queen's public utterances
Synonyms
speech,
words,
statement,
comment,
opinion,
remark,
expression,
announcement,
observation,
declaration,
reflection,
pronouncement
in the sense of voice
Definition
to express verbally
Scientists have voiced concern that the disease could be passed to humans.
Synonyms
express,
say,
declare,
air,
raise,
table,
reveal,
mention,
mouth,
assert,
pronounce,
utter,
articulate,
come out with (informal),
divulge,
ventilate,
enunciate,
put into words,
vocalize,
give expression or utterance to
in the sense of word
Definition
to state in words
If I had written the letter, I might have worded it differently.