BACK collocations
back noun
1 part of the body
ADJ.
broad | lean, slender | muscled, muscular, powerful, strong | bent | erect, straight | lower, upper | bad, stiffHe's off work with a bad back.VERB + BACK
bend, stiffen, straighten | stretchHe yawned and stretched his back as he got out of bed.| break, hurt, injure | archThe cat arched its back and hissed at the dog.| support | knead, massage | scratchBACK + VERB
arch | stiffenHis back stiffened as he saw the photographers waiting.| acheBACK + NOUN
injury, pain, trouble | muscles | supporta seat with good back supportPREP.
behind your ~They blindfolded him and tied his hands behind his back.(figurative) People say bad things about him behind his back, but never to his face.
| flat on your ~I was flat on my back for six weeks when I broke my leg.| on your ~He was carrying a small child on his back. She was lying on her back on the sofa.| in the/your ~I've got a nagging pain in my lower back.| ~ toHe was standing with his back to the fire.PHRASES
sb's back is turned(figurative) The boss was certain that the staff would stop working as soon as his back was turned.| back to backThe children sat back to back so they couldn't see each others' drawings.| a pat/slap on the backHe smiled and gave me a hearty slap on the back.(figurative) She deserves a pat on the back for her efforts.
| the small of your backShe felt a sharp pain in the small (= the lowest part of) her back.| turn your back (on sb/sth)Actors should never turn their backs on the audience.(figurative) She decided to turn her back on Paris and return to her home town.
2 part furthest from the front
PREP.
around/round the ~If you'd like to come round the back (= to the area behind the house), I'll show you the garden.| at the ~We could only get seats at the back.| down the ~My money's all fallen down the back of the cushion.| in the ~Two passengers sat in the back of the car.| to the ~The man was refusing to go to the back of the queue.| towards the ~The arts page is usually towards the back of the newspaper.PHRASES
back to frontI had my pullover on back to front (= with the back where the front should be).
What is a collocation?
A collocation is two or more words that often go together. These combinations (for example collocations with “BACK”) just sound “right” to native English speakers, who use them all the time. On the other hand, other combinations of “BACK” may be unnatural and just sound “wrong”.
Using collocations list of “BACK” improves your English, especially your English speaking skills, and increases your vocabulary words in English.
Why learn collocations with “BACK”?
- When using collocations with “BACK”, Your language will be more natural and more easily understood.
- You will have alternative and richer ways of expressing yourself.
- It is easier for our brains to remember and use language in chunks or blocks such as Common Collocations with “BACK” rather than as single words ( BACK | Translation, Meaning in Persian (Farsi) )
How to learn collocations with “BACK”?
- Be aware of collocations with BACK , and try to recognize them when you see or hear them.
- Treat collocations as single blocks of language. Think of them as individual blocks or chunks, and learn strongly support, not strongly + support.
- When you learn a new word ( e.g. BACK | Translation, Meaning in Persian (Farsi) ), write down other words that collocate with it.
- Read as much as possible. Reading is an excellent way to learn vocabulary and collocations of “BACK” in context and naturally.
- Revise what you learn regularly. Practice using new collocations with “BACK” in context as soon as possible after learning them.
- Learn collocations with “BACK” in groups that work for you. You could learn them by topic (time, number, weather, money, family) or by a particular word (take action, take a chance, take an exam).
Types of collocation with “BACK”
- adverb + adjective: completely satisfied (NOT downright satisfied)
- adjective + noun: excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy)
- noun + noun: a surge of anger (NOT a rush of anger)
- noun + verb: lions roar (NOT lions shout)
- verb + noun: commit suicide (NOT undertake suicide)
- verb + expression with preposition: burst into tears (NOT blow up in tears)
- verb + adverb: wave frantically (NOT wave feverishly)
Using Collocations of BACK to Boost Your IELTS Score
The correct use of collocations of “BACK” is an essential part of improving your English level and boosting your IELTS score. Using collocations + “BACK” in sentence examples correctly allows you to write and speak more like a native speaker and they are also one of the things that examiners look out for when marking your tests.
BACK Collocation Frequently Asked Questions
Why are BACK collocations important? BACK collocations are important because they make your language sound natural. If you master BACK collocations, your English will be more idiomatic, that is, more similar to the way it is spoken by native speakers. It is acknowledged that knowledge of BACK collocations helps to improve learners' language skills, enhance learners' communicative competence, and achieve native-like fluency.
BACK Collocation is one of the most important aspects of knowing word "BACK". That is to say, in order to deepen the understanding of word "BACK", students of English must know its collocation.
"BACK" Collocations reveal restrictions on which words can go with "BACK" and which words do not. "BACK" Collocations are not like grammar rules; they depend on probability rather than being absolute and fixed. They are examples of how languages normally or typically put words together.
It is acknowledged that knowledge of "BACK" collocations helps to improve learners' language skills, enhance learners' communicative competence, and achieve native-like fluency. Hence, knowledge of "BACK" collocations is essential for EFL learners, and "BACK" collocation instruction in EFL courses is required.
"BACK" Collocations are words that are commonly used together. "BACK" Collocations are usually categorised according to the words that form them: adjective + noun, adverb + adjective, verb+ adverb, etc.
A "BACK" collocation is two or more words that often go with "BACK". These combinations just sound "right" to native English speakers, who use them all the time. On the other hand, other combinations may be unnatural and just sound "wrong".
Your language will be more natural and more easily understood. You will have alternative and richer ways of expressing yourself. It is easier for our brains to remember and use word "BACK" in chunks or blocks rather than as single word "BACK".
Be aware of collocations of "BACK", and try to recognize them when you see or hear them. Treat "BACK" collocations as single blocks of language. Think of them as individual blocks or chunks. When you learn word (for example : "BACK"), write down other words that collocate with it. Read as much as possible. Reading is an excellent way to learn vocabulary and collocations in context and naturally. Revise what you learn regularly. Practise using new collocations of "BACK" in context as soon as possible after learning them. Learn "BACK" collocations in groups that work for you. You could learn them by topic or by a particular word.